identify why christopher columbus most likely brought ten inhabitants from the island of hispaniola back to spain.

Christopher Columbus most likely brought about ten inhabitants from the island of Hispaniola back to Spain as prisoners or slaves. The primary reasons were to demonstrate the existence of the indigenous people he had encountered, to show proof of his discoveries to the Spanish Crown, and to bring back slaves for labor and profit. Columbus also aimed to showcase potential converts to Christianity and to use them as evidence of his successful voyage and the wealth of the New World. This action was part of the broader practice of capturing and enslaving native peoples during his voyages, often with brutal consequences for those taken and their communities. Columbus took captive some indigenous people to display in Spain, as reported in historical accounts, and many did not survive the journey. This was tied to broader goals of exploitation and colonization, including the imposition of Spanish control and the encomienda system on the indigenous populations of Hispaniola.