Exploration and Settlement

Columbus lands at Hispaniola in the Carribean

1492

Brief Background: This was the first time Europeans had made contact with the Native Americans.
Religion: Catholic
Ethnicity: Italian
The purpose of migrating: The Europeans intended to take control of Native American land.
Interesting points: The new settlers brought diseases that killed millions.

Balboa "discovers" the Pacific Ocean in Panama

1513

Brief Background: Balboa was a Spanish explorer, governor, and conquistador. He was best known for crossing the Isthmus of Panama to the Pacific Ocean in 1513.
Religion: None
Ethnicity: Hispanic (Spanish)
The purpose: Balboa led an expedition from Darién to search for a new sea, that was said to be in the south, and for gold.
Interesting points: Balboa and his men were the first Europeans to navigate the Pacific Ocean off the coast of the New World.

Cortez Conquers the Aztecs at Tenochtitlan (Mexico City)

1521

Brief Backround: Cortés was a Spanish conquistador and explorer who defeated the Aztec empire and claimed Mexico for Spain.
Religion: Roman Catholic
Ethnicity: Hispanic (Spanish)
The purpose: Cortés set out to rule the Aztecs.
Important points: Cortés became allies with some of the native people he encountered, but with others he used deadly force to conquer Mexico.

De Soto explores the region between Florida and the Mississippi River

1539

Brief Background: De Soto was a Spanish explorer and conquistador who led the first European expedition into what is now known as Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, Alabama and most likely Arkansas.
Religion: Roman Catholic
Ethnicity: Hispanic (Spanish)
The Purpose: He hoped to find riches in North America like the gold and silver other Spanish explorers had discovered in Central and South America.
Interesting points: He is the first European documented to have crossed the Mississippi River.