Who led a small army from Spain in the invasion of the Inca Empire and gained significant wealth for himself and Spain?

The choice of Francisco Pizarro as the leader who invaded the Inca Empire and achieved considerable wealth for both himself and Spain is accurate because he was a key figure in the Spanish conquest of South America. Pizarro, motivated by the reports of vast riches in Inca territory, led an expedition that ultimately resulted in the downfall of the Incan civilization. His strategy involved exploiting internal divisions within the Incan Empire, capturing the emperor Atahualpa, and leveraging this power dynamic to seize control of the region.

Pizarro's campaign resulted in significant treasures being brought back to Spain, demonstrating the impact of his expedition on both the Spanish economy and the broader imperial ambitions of Spain during the Age of Exploration. This wealth included gold and silver that would fuel Spain’s economy for years to come, highlighting the lucrative nature of these conquests.

Other figures mentioned also played important roles in the exploration of the Americas but did not directly lead the invasion of the Inca Empire. For instance, Cortés is well-known for his conquest of the Aztec Empire rather than the Incas, while Ponce de León and Vasco Núñez de Balboa were involved in different aspects of exploration and colonization in the Caribbean and Central America, respectively. Their exped