What was the primary goal of Juan de Oñate's expedition in 1598?

The primary goal of Juan de Oñate's expedition in 1598 was indeed to spread Catholicism. Oñate, as a conquistador and settler, was part of a broader Spanish effort to colonize and evangelize the regions that are now part of the southwestern United States and northern Mexico. His expedition aimed to establish a permanent Spanish presence in the territory known as New Mexico, which included the establishment of missions to convert the Indigenous populations to Christianity. This objective was aligned with Spain’s imperial strategy to extend its influence and secure its territorial claims in the Americas through both settlement and religious conversion.

While other aspects, such as establishing trade or military presence, were also considerations in Spanish expeditions, the overarching aim of Oñate's mission focused significantly on religious conversion in the New World, reflecting the priorities of Spanish colonial policy at the time.