"Cortes prepared for his expedition by using his own money to buy muskets, ammunition, crossbows, navigational instruments and supplies. He pulled together an army of Spaniards, promising them gold, land, and Indian slaves. After all his money was gone, he borrowed money from friends and mortgaged his plantation. " http://www.pbs.org/opb/conquistadors/mexico/adventure2/b2.htm#txt- the prior comment is what i find to be the most interesting. He started off as a solo explorer capilatizing on his own worth, even though the Spaniards at this time had enormous wealth. It showed he was an early entrepeneur.