The reasons for Columbus's first voyage from Spain include:
- He went in search of an easier route to Asia.
- Spain wanted to control the spice trade.
While Columbus did encounter new cultures during his voyage, the primary motivations were economic (trade routes and spices) rather than a desire to discover new cultures or spread religions. The aspect of seeking to bring back Native Americans for slavery was not a formally stated objective of his voyage but did occur later as a consequence of his exploration.