1. Early Exploration of California
By Bonnie Rodriguez
June 2007

2. The Conquistadors
Early Spanish explorers were called conquistadors. Conquistador means “conqueror.”
They came to the Americas in search of riches and to change people’s beliefs to Christianity.
A famous conquistador was Hernando Cortes, who defeated the Aztecs.

3. Finding a Shortcut
Explorers wanted to find a shortcut to Asia, to make trading easier.

4. Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo
Cabrillo was looking for a shortcut to Asia.
He found San Diego in 1542.
His exploring helped the Spanish learn about the coast of Alta California.

5. Francis Drake Francis Drake wanted to find a shortcut to Asia too.
He sailed for England.
While sailing up the Pacific Ocean, he attacked many Spanish settlements.

6. Alta California
The Spanish wanted to start a colony in Alta California before someone else came along.
A colony is a settlement that is ruled by a faraway government.

7. Missions
Spanish leaders wanted to start their colony by building missions.
A mission is a religious settlement.

8. Spanish Missions
Missions were run by missionaries, or a person who teaches religion to others.
Missionaries tried to convert Indians to the Catholic religion, teach them Spanish and show them the Spanish ways of life.

9. San Diego
Spanish explorers traveled to Alta California to establish settlements.
The reached San Diego Bay in 1769.

10. Junipero Serra
A priest named Junipero Serra began the first of 21 missions in Alta California in San Diego.
It was called San Diego de Alcala.

11. Monterey
The Spanish had heard that Monterey had a good bay and set out to find it.
Gaspar de Portola found Monterey Bay in 1770.

12. Is There a Better Way?
The route to Alta California was hard. There were mountains and deserts to cross. Many of the routes lacked grass and water.
Even though it was hard, people still came to California.

13. Quiz Why did early Spanish “conquistadors” come to the Americas?
What was Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo looking for?
What did missionaries do?
Who was Junipero Serra?
Why was exploring California difficult?