Spanish Explorers By John Eichmann

Amerigo Vespucci 1500s – Italian who visited the northern coast of South America

Ferdinand Magellan 1518 – First European to head exploration that circumnavigated the globe; Died during the journey in what is now the Philippines.

Juan Sebastian El Cano 1522 – Assumed command of Magellan’s voyage and finished his journey

Hernando Cortes 1519- Defeated the Aztec empire and created Spanish settlements in what is now Mexico

Francisco Pizarro 1531 – Conquered the Incan empire and created Spanish settlements in what in South America

Ponce de Leon 1513 -Explored region of what is today the state of Florida

Coronado 1528- Explored what is today the American southwest and claimed it for Spain

Vasco Nunez de Balboa 1513– The governor of Spanish settlement that is now the Republic of Panama

Pedro de Mendoza 1536 – Founded the city of Buenos Aires in what is now Argentina

Alvarez de Pineda 1519- Explored the coast of what is now Texas

Hernando de Soto Crossed the Mississippi River in North America

Successes of Spain Invented the galleon, the most modern ship for that time Gained naval control of the Atlantic Ocean Succeeded Portugal as the largest empire of the world.

Failures of Spain Extended slavery in the Americas Became dependent on wealth and did not improve life in Spain Empire too big to manage, causing regions to become independent