Spain Builds an Empire ChristopherColumbus Ponce de Leon Vasco Nunez de Balboa de BalboaFerdinandMagellanHernando Cortes Cortes Francisco Pizarro PizarroHernando De Soto De Soto FranciscoCoronado Pedro Menendez de Aviles de Aviles Juan de Onate

Building a Spanish Empire Spain was the first European power to explore and colonize the Americas. Spain was the first European power to explore and colonize the Americas. Christopher Columbus made four voyages to the Americas between 1492 and Christopher Columbus made four voyages to the Americas between 1492 and His reports of lands and peoples, as well as his stories of pearls and other hints of wealth, soon drew other explorers after him. His reports of lands and peoples, as well as his stories of pearls and other hints of wealth, soon drew other explorers after him.

Spanish Explorers-Juan Ponce de León One of the earliest explorers, Ponce de León was born into an upper- class family in Spain and fought against the Muslims. One of the earliest explorers, Ponce de León was born into an upper- class family in Spain and fought against the Muslims. In the early 1500s, he heard tales of a spring with amazing powers somewhere in the Caribbean. In the early 1500s, he heard tales of a spring with amazing powers somewhere in the Caribbean. Anyone who drank the waters from this spring would become young again. While searching in vain for this “fountain of youth,” Ponce de León explored and named Florida in Anyone who drank the waters from this spring would become young again. While searching in vain for this “fountain of youth,” Ponce de León explored and named Florida in 1513.

Vasco Núñez de Balboa Balboa was born to an upper-class family in Spain. Balboa was born to an upper-class family in Spain. Seeking better opportunities for wealth in the Americas, he eventually arrived on the Isthmus of Panama. Seeking better opportunities for wealth in the Americas, he eventually arrived on the Isthmus of Panama. Isthmus-is a narrow strip of land that joins two larger land areas, in this case North and South America. Isthmus-is a narrow strip of land that joins two larger land areas, in this case North and South America.

Vasco Núñez de Balboa In 1513, Balboa led a group of Spaniards and Native Americans across the isthmus. In 1513, Balboa led a group of Spaniards and Native Americans across the isthmus. Balboa and his Spanish companions became the first known Europeans to see the Pacific Ocean from the American continent. Balboa and his Spanish companions became the first known Europeans to see the Pacific Ocean from the American continent.

Ferdinand Magellan Magellan was Portuguese but sailed for Spain. Magellan was Portuguese but sailed for Spain. Starting from Spain in September 1519, Magellan and his crew sailed to Brazil, then south and through the channel known today as the Strait of Magellan. Starting from Spain in September 1519, Magellan and his crew sailed to Brazil, then south and through the channel known today as the Strait of Magellan.

Ferdinand Magellan Magellan and his fleet of ships boldly navigated west from the coast of South America on a course that would take them across the Pacific Ocean on a 99-day journey without fresh food or water. Magellan and his fleet of ships boldly navigated west from the coast of South America on a course that would take them across the Pacific Ocean on a 99-day journey without fresh food or water. As the voyage wore on, his starving men were forced to eat the leather on their ships. As the voyage wore on, his starving men were forced to eat the leather on their ships. Finally, having crossed the Pacific Ocean, Magellan spotted the island of Guam. Finally, having crossed the Pacific Ocean, Magellan spotted the island of Guam.

Ferdinand Magellan Though he later was killed in a fight with the people of the Philippine Islands, some of his crew continued on. Though he later was killed in a fight with the people of the Philippine Islands, some of his crew continued on. After a three-year voyage, they became the first people known to have circumnavigated, or sailed around, the entire Earth. After a three-year voyage, they became the first people known to have circumnavigated, or sailed around, the entire Earth.

The Spanish Pattern of Conquest The Spanish explorers who came to the Americas were called “Conquistadors” The Spanish explorers who came to the Americas were called “Conquistadors” Conquistador-Spanish conqueror. Conquistador-Spanish conqueror. Hernan Cortes was one such conquistador. Hernan Cortes was one such conquistador. He was eager for wealth. He was eager for wealth. In 1519, Cortés was sent to conquer the vast empire ruled by the Aztec people in Mexico. In 1519, Cortés was sent to conquer the vast empire ruled by the Aztec people in Mexico.

Hernando Cortes Cortés's plan was so bold as to seem impossible. Cortés's plan was so bold as to seem impossible. The Aztec capital, Tenochtitlán (present-day Mexico City), had 300,000 people and was one of the world's largest cities. The Aztec capital, Tenochtitlán (present-day Mexico City), had 300,000 people and was one of the world's largest cities.

Hernando Cortes Cortés only had an army of about 600 soldiers Cortés only had an army of about 600 soldiers After landing in Mexico, Cortés learned that many Native Americans in the area hated the Aztecs. After landing in Mexico, Cortés learned that many Native Americans in the area hated the Aztecs. Cortés rallied thousands of them to his side. Cortés rallied thousands of them to his side. By 1521, Cortés and his soldiers had destroyed Tenochtitlán, and Cortés became the conqueror of one of the largest empires in the world. By 1521, Cortés and his soldiers had destroyed Tenochtitlán, and Cortés became the conqueror of one of the largest empires in the world.

Francisco Pizarro Like Cortés, the conquistador Francisco Pizarro set out to conquer an empire—the Incas, in present-day Peru in South America. Like Cortés, the conquistador Francisco Pizarro set out to conquer an empire—the Incas, in present-day Peru in South America. Neither Cortés nor Pizarro could have won without the help of Native American allies. Neither Cortés nor Pizarro could have won without the help of Native American allies. They were also helped by smallpox and measles epidemics brought over by Europeans that killed millions of Native Americans. They were also helped by smallpox and measles epidemics brought over by Europeans that killed millions of Native Americans.

Controlling the Spanish Empire As the conquistadors explored and conquered, they started settlements As the conquistadors explored and conquered, they started settlements By the 1550s, the Spanish colonies consisted of a large empire in Mexico, Central America, South America, and some of the islands of the Caribbean Sea. By the 1550s, the Spanish colonies consisted of a large empire in Mexico, Central America, South America, and some of the islands of the Caribbean Sea.

Controlling the Spanish Empire The colonies made the Spanish wealthy. The colonies made the Spanish wealthy. Using the labor of enslaved Native Americans and Africans, the Spanish mined vast amounts of silver and gold from the mountains of Mexico and Peru. Using the labor of enslaved Native Americans and Africans, the Spanish mined vast amounts of silver and gold from the mountains of Mexico and Peru. They also established farms and ranches that produced a variety of goods. They also established farms and ranches that produced a variety of goods.

Encomienda System Encomienda System-A system in which Native Americans were required to farm, ranch or mine for profit by the Spaniards. In return the Spaniard was supposed to ensure the worker’s well- being. Encomienda System-A system in which Native Americans were required to farm, ranch or mine for profit by the Spaniards. In return the Spaniard was supposed to ensure the worker’s well- being. Because the Spanish and Native Americans lived together on the same land, a population arose that was a mixture of both peoples. Because the Spanish and Native Americans lived together on the same land, a population arose that was a mixture of both peoples. These people of mixed descent are called mestizos, which is Spanish for “mixed.” These people of mixed descent are called mestizos, which is Spanish for “mixed.”

The Spanish Push North Cortés and Pizarro controlled Spain's empire in Mexico and Peru. Cortés and Pizarro controlled Spain's empire in Mexico and Peru. Other conquistadors explored the southern parts of what would become the United States. Other conquistadors explored the southern parts of what would become the United States.

Francisco Coronado Coronado searched the present-day southwestern United States for gold. Coronado searched the present-day southwestern United States for gold. Between 1540 and 1542, he traveled through present-day Texas and pushed north as far as Kansas. Between 1540 and 1542, he traveled through present-day Texas and pushed north as far as Kansas.

Hernando De Soto De Soto landed near present-day Tampa Bay, Florida, in De Soto landed near present-day Tampa Bay, Florida, in He had with him 600 soldiers. Over the next few years, he traveled through parts of present-day Florida, Alabama, Tennessee, Mississippi, Arkansas, and Oklahoma. He had with him 600 soldiers. Over the next few years, he traveled through parts of present-day Florida, Alabama, Tennessee, Mississippi, Arkansas, and Oklahoma.

Hernando De Soto He and his men were the first Spaniards to cross the Mississippi River. He and his men were the first Spaniards to cross the Mississippi River. Yet by the time de Soto died of fever in Louisiana in 1542, he still had not found the golden cities he had been seeking. Yet by the time de Soto died of fever in Louisiana in 1542, he still had not found the golden cities he had been seeking.

Missionaries The Spanish settlements in the the South and West were forts, or presidios, which were occupied by a few soldiers. The Spanish settlements in the the South and West were forts, or presidios, which were occupied by a few soldiers.