Vespucci 1499, Italian, Amerigo Vespucci sailed under Spain Explored coast of South America- thought he had reached the outer edge of Asia 1507, German mapmaker proposed the continent be named America after Amerigo
Ponce de Leon 1513, Spanish governor of Puerto Rico, Juan Ponce de Leon sailed north Legend was he searched for the fountain of youth, never found the fountain of youth, did find land of wildflowers and plants Claimed land for Spain, named it Florida = land of flowers
Balboa 1510 Vasco de Balboa, Hispaniola planter founded a colony on the Isthmus of Panama Reached the Pacific coast in 1513- 1st European to reach the Pacific coast of America
Magellan Ferdinand Magellan- Portuguese mariner sailing for Spain discovered the strait at the southern tip of South America (named after him) Crew 1st to successfully circumnavigate the world
EQ: What role did religion play in exploration and colonization? New Spain 1519, Hernan Cortes sailed from Cuba to explore the Yucatan Peninsula Landed and attacked-Spanish out #ed, had superior military power; swords and crossbows, guns, and cannons- easily killed over 200 native warriors
Cortes proposed an alliance with the Tlaxcalan vs the Aztecs Aztec emperor Montezuma believed in the prophecy that Quetzalcoatl-a fair skinned bearded deity- would return to conquer the Aztec
Spanish and Tlaxaclan advanced Montezuma saw Cortes as unstoppable, allowed Spanish troops to enter Tenochtitlan peacefully
Cortes surrounded by 1000s of Aztec, took Montezuma hostage Cortes brought in Christianity to replace religion Aztec priests organized a rebellion in 1520 Smallpox outbreak in Tenochtitlan Cortes returned in 1521, destroyed the city, built Mexico City the capital of the colony of New Spain
Three “Gs” Leaders of the expeditions to conquer New World = conquistadors Get gold Spread word of God Get glory 1526, Francisco Pizarro reached Peru 1532, Pizarro returned to plunder the Inca Empire 1540, Francisco Vasquez de Coronado looked north of New Spain for the Seven Golden Cities of Cibola Hernando de Soto explored north of Florida into present day North Carolina, Tennessee, Alabama, Arkansas, and Texas