How did Spain's focus on its empire affect its attention to California?

Spain's focus on its empire significantly shaped its attention to California, primarily because the wealth generated through its colonies in the Americas diverted resources and priorities away from the less prosperous regions like California. The Spanish Empire was highly invested in areas that were yielding higher returns, such as the gold and silver mines found in Mexico and Peru. As a result, California, with its relatively sparse resources and less economic incentive, was often overlooked. This meant that while other parts of the Spanish Empire were receiving considerable investment and attention for exploration, settlement, and development, California was largely ignored during this period, leading to a slower rate of exploration and colonization there.