How much gold did the spanish find when they explored south America?

The amount of gold that the Spanish found when they explored South America is not precisely known, but it is believed to be a substantial amount. The Spanish conquistadors were primarily motivated by the search for gold and silver, and they quickly discovered that South America was rich in these precious metals.

One of the most famous examples of Spanish gold exploration in South America is the story of Francisco Pizarro and the Inca Empire. In 1532, Pizarro and his men arrived in Peru and encountered the Inca, who were a highly advanced civilization with a vast empire. The Inca had accumulated a large amount of gold and silver, which was used for religious purposes and to create beautiful works of art.

Pizarro and his men were amazed by the wealth of the Inca, and they quickly conquered the empire. They looted the Inca temples and palaces, and they melted down the gold and silver into ingots. It is estimated that the Spanish took approximately 13,000 pounds of gold and 260,000 pounds of silver from the Inca Empire.

The Spanish also found gold and silver in other parts of South America, such as Chile, Bolivia, and Colombia. In total, it is estimated that the Spanish extracted over 180,000 pounds of gold and 1.2 million pounds of silver from South America.

The influx of gold and silver from South America had a profound impact on the Spanish economy. It allowed the Spanish to finance their military campaigns in Europe and to become a major world power. It also led to a period of inflation in Spain, as the sudden increase in the supply of gold and silver caused prices to rise.

The Spanish exploration of South America was a major turning point in history, and it had a lasting impact on the development of the region. The wealth that the Spanish found in South America helped to shape the course of European history, and it continues to be a source of fascination and intrigue to this day.