Final answer:
The statement is true; Europeans colonized Latin America mainly to gain wealth from the region's natural resources, including gold.
Step-by-step explanation:
True, Europeans colonized Latin America largely in part due to their pursuit of wealth from the abundant gold and other resources found in the region. European colonization efforts were driven by aspirations for national glory, wealth accumulation, and imperial competitiveness.
Ranging from the Spanish conquest of the Aztec and Inca empires with the explicit aim to plunder gold and silver, to the English establishing colonies, like Jamestown, with the hope of returning profits to investors, Europeans were motivated by the potential riches of the Americas.
As European powers established colonies, they exploited these new territories for precious metals and agricultural products, which were sent back to the mother countries. This mercantilist approach played a significant role in the rise of a global economy where colonial powers competed for resources and wealth.