The Spanish Explorers Ch. 5

Christopher Columbus 1492 Propelled by Europe’s goal of finding new trade routes to Asia, Christopher Columbus (Cristóbal Colón) sailed to the Americas. However, not until after his death would the value of his discovery truly be known

COLUMBUS’S FOUR VOYAGES

At first they called the land the Indies because of the early belief that they were in India Eventually Spanish explorers realized that the Americas could provide even greater riches than what could have been earned through trade with Asia. For the next 150 years after Columbus’s voyages, adventurers explored the new lands in search of wealth.

After Columbus’s 4th voyage he became the governor of a new settlement in Santo Domingo on the island of Hispaniola. He was disliked by his men because he enslaved and killed thousands of natives. He was eventually arrested and sent back to Spain in chains. Columbus died in 1506. This is his Tomb in Seville, Spain

Columbus’s voyages led to further European exploration and colonization, forever changing the Americas.

Columbus’s set a precedent in the new world. Precedent: An example to be followed by others. Columbus’s precendent set in Hispaniola was to conquer and then enslave the native population while stealing their valuables.

SPANISH EXPLORERS: 1519–1598

The Conquistadors Spanish Explorers at this time are called Conquistadors which means conquerors. They were looking for glory, gold, and adventure. They would often practice brutality to get it.

"We Spaniards have a disease of the heart, for which the only cure is gold."  Cortes Conquistador Advantages: Guns, steel, horses, and diseases

1521 Cortes Hernan Cortes was a Conquistador that landed in modern Veracruz, Mexico. He marched into the interior of Mexico and into the capital of the Aztec Empire, Tenochtitlan Took control of the city by kidnapping the Aztec King, Moctezume, then fought and destroyed the Aztec army with their superior weapons.

Cortes renamed the city Mexico and the land became New Spain Cortes renamed the city Mexico and the land became New Spain. This established a Spanish Empire in the Americas Won tons of gold and silver for Spain and himself

1519 Alvarez de Pineda In 1519 Pineda was the first European to travel along the coast of Texas and map and explore the Gulf of Mexico