Beginning in the 1500s, europeans plundered the maya and aztec kingdoms in an effort to find gold and silver. what was the primary reason for the european quest for these metals?

spanish royalty saw gold and silver as a means of amassing good fortune in battle

gold and silver were important components in the casting of cooking pots, which were needed to feed a growing population

soldiers quickly discovered that possession of gold and silver could be used to bribe their enemies into switching sides

china demanded gold and silver for payment of all trade deficits