Money is the motivating factor in many things. Stern’s book
is no exception. The desire for economic gain is the reason that drove the Spaniards
to the Americas in the first place. This would not change in the later stages
of conquest and colonization. The Spanish sought economic gain in a variety of
ways: precious metals, agriculture, textiles and labor. This lust, however, was
not confined to the Spaniards. As Stern explains, the “Indians joined in the
creation of a colonial society impelled by the hunt for money and commercial profit…they
sought to take advantage of the new trends and opportunities.” Most of which
were the kurakas. The new society was created around the want for economic
gain. For example, the labor structures such as the encomiendas and later the
mita system. Hence, the Spanish, and the natives to a lesser extent, changed
the society in order to meet their desires.
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