Summarize Spanish explorations of the Americas. What are the three phases?

At first the Spanish were trying to find and easier sea route to Asia. Later the Spanish conquistadors wanted the gold and silver ornaments from the Americas. They also wanted to establish mines and sugar plantations. They used the encomienda system, so Native Americans would follow their rules (harsh Native American slave labor). Columbus arrived on the shores of Hispaniola and brought items like corn and potatoes back to Spain, starting the Columbian Exchange (the global exchange of foods, crops, and livestock). Columbus seizes the Taino people. Francisco Pizarro captured Atahualpa, ending the Inca empire. Hernando Cortes ends the Aztec empire due to diseases and conflict between the Aztec emperor and his not-so loyal subjects that hated his guts.

Explanation:

At first the Spanish were trying to find and easier sea route to Asia. Later the Spanish conquistadors wanted the gold and silver ornaments from the Americas. They also wanted to establish mines and sugar plantations. They used the encomienda system, so Native Americans would follow their rules (harsh Native American slave labor). Columbus arrived on the shores of Hispaniola and brought items like corn and potatoes back to Spain, starting the Columbian Exchange (the global exchange of foods, crops, and livestock). Columbus seizes the Taino people. Francisco Pizarro captured Atahualpa, ending the Inca empire. Hernando Cortes ends the Aztec empire due to diseases and conflict between the Aztec emperor and his not-so loyal subjects that hated his guts.