The Spanish ExplorersThe Spanish Explorers

Ch. 5Ch. 5

Christopher Columbus 1492Christopher Columbus 1492

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

COLUMBUS’S FOUR VOYAGESCOLUMBUS’S FOUR VOYAGES

At first they called the land the Indies because of At first they called the land the Indies because of the early belief that they were in Indiathe early belief that they were in India

Eventually Spanish explorers realized that the Eventually Spanish explorers realized that the Americas could provide even greater riches than Americas could provide even greater riches than what could have been earned through trade with what could have been earned through trade with Asia. For the next 150 years after Columbus’s Asia. For the next 150 years after Columbus’s voyages, adventurers explored the new lands in voyages, adventurers explored the new lands in search of wealth.search of wealth.

After Columbus’s 4After Columbus’s 4thth voyage he became voyage he became the governor of a the governor of a new settlement in new settlement in Santo Domingo on Santo Domingo on the island of the island of Hispaniola. Hispaniola.

He was disliked by He was disliked by his men because he his men because he enslaved and killed enslaved and killed thousands of thousands of natives. He was natives. He was eventually arrested eventually arrested and sent back to and sent back to Spain in chains.Spain in chains. Columbus died in 1506. This is his Tomb in Seville, Spain

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

SPANISH EXPLORERS: 1519–1598SPANISH EXPLORERS: 1519–1598

The ConquistadorsThe Conquistadors

Spanish Explorers at this Spanish Explorers at this time are called time are called Conquistadors which Conquistadors which means conquerors.means conquerors.

They were looking for They were looking for glory, gold, and adventure.glory, gold, and adventure.

They would often practice They would often practice brutality to get it.brutality to get it.

"We Spaniards have a disease of the heart, "We Spaniards have a disease of the heart, for which the only cure is gold."for which the only cure is gold."  Cortes   Cortes

1521 Cortes1521 CortesHernan Cortes was a Conquistador that landed in Hernan Cortes was a Conquistador that landed in modern Veracruz, Mexico.modern Veracruz, Mexico.

He marched into the interior of Mexico and into the He marched into the interior of Mexico and into the capital of the Aztec Empire, capital of the Aztec Empire, Tenochtitlan

Took control of the city by kidnapping the Aztec King, Took control of the city by kidnapping the Aztec King, Moctezume, then fought and destroyed the Aztec army Moctezume, then fought and destroyed the Aztec army with their superior weapons. with their superior weapons.

Cortes renamed the city Mexico and the land Cortes renamed the city Mexico and the land became New Spain. This established a Spanish became New Spain. This established a Spanish Empire in the AmericasEmpire in the Americas

Won tons of gold and silver for Spain and himselfWon tons of gold and silver for Spain and himself

1519 1519 AAlvarez de Pinedalvarez de PinedaIn 1519 Pineda was the In 1519 Pineda was the

first European to travel first European to travel along the coast of Texas along the coast of Texas and map and explore the and map and explore the Gulf of Mexico Gulf of Mexico