 800 years of war to reclaim Spain from the Moors (an Islamic people from North Africa.  The Moors gained Spain around 711, bringing with wealth and trade to the region  Many Spanish cities like Granada, Barcelona, thrived from this trade and population grew  Spaniards believed retaking Spain as a religious necessity

 Little by little Spain retook Spain  Eventually defeating the Moor’s stronghold city of Granada  Years of fighting affected their lives because they lived in a state of war, as a result Spanish soldier knew no other life.  The quest for Glory and Gold – when a soldier defeated their enemy they took their wealth and as a result gained glory.

Moors (Islamic people from North Africa) gain control of Spain The defeat of the Moors inspires Spain to explore other lands Spain Drives the Moors from Spain Spain funds Christopher Columbus’s overseas voyages 800 years of struggle, called Reconquista, begin as Spain fights to retake the land His success leads to the voyages of other explorers.

 3 G’s = God, Glory and Gold.  As a result of defeating the Moors, the soldiers lost their purpose, and they turned to the West to conquest and conquer the new world.  The word Conquistador means conqueror  Conquistador leaders would eventually become viceroys (governors) over large land tracts claimed by Spain, these are called Viceroyalty.

 SENT BY KING FERNINDAD AND QUEEN ISABELLA OF SPAIN TO GO TO INDIA TO FIND SPICES.  HE GETS LOST IN A STORM AS HE HEADS ACROSS THE ATLANTIC OCEAN.  HE IS BLOWN OFF COURSE AND LANDS IN THE ISLAND WHERE HE NAMES THE PEOPLE HE ENCOUNTERS “INDIANS” BECAUSE HE THOUGHT HE WAS IN INDIA.  HE RETURNS TO SPAIN AND LEADS ANOTHER EXPEDITION TO THE NEW WORLD.

 SENT FROM SPAIN  Conquered all of Mexico by defeating the Aztecs in 1521  Defeated the Aztecs because of metal armor, guns and the horse.  Appointed governor of New Spain (Mexico)

 SENT FROM SPAIN  FAMOUS FOR BEING THE FIRST EXPLORER TO STEP FOOT IN TEXAS  HE WAS A MAP MAKER OR CARTOGRAPHER  HE EXPLORED AND MAPPED THE COAST OF FLORIDA AND DISCOVERED THAT FLORIDA WAS NOT AN ISLAND.

 SENT FROM SPAIN  KNOWN FOR CONQUERING CORTES’ IN CUBA.  HE WAS PARTNERS WITH CABEZA DE VACA AND WAS STRANDED AFTER A HURRICANE AND WAS CAPTURED BY THE NATIVE AMERICANS AND HELD AS A SLAVE.

 SENT FROM SPAIN TO FIND THE 7 CITIES OF CIBOLA  HURRICANES AND FIGHTS WITH NATIVE AMERICANS KILLED MANY OF HIS MEN.  THE REMAINING EXPLORERS BUILT 5 RAFTS AND TRIED TO SAIL TO A SPANISH SETTLEMENT. ONLY 15 OF THESE MEN SURVIVED.  THE SURVIVERS WERE TAKEN CAPTIVE BY THE INDIANS AND EXPLORED THE SOUTHERN PART OF NORTH AMERICA.  KNOWN FOR CLAIMING PART OF FLORIDA FOR SPAIN AND PUBLISHING A BOOK ABOUT HIS TRAVELS NOTING THE MISTREATMENT OF THE NATIVE AMERICANS BY THE EARLY SPANISH EXPLORERS.

SENT FROM FRANCE CAME TO NORTH AMERICA LOOKING FOR THE 7 CITIES OF GOLD REPORTED THAT HE HAD SEEN THE 7 CITIES OF GOLD BUT THEY TURNED OUT TO BE ZUNI PUBELOS MADE OF CLAY KNOWN FOR FREEING SOME OF THE NATIVE AMERICANS WHO WERE BEING HELD AS SLAVES

SENT TO SEARCH FOR THE 7 CITIES OF CIBOLO OR THE 7 CITIES OF GOLD. EARLY EXPLORERS HAD SAID THEY SAW CITIES AND STREETS MADE OF GOLD. FAMOUS FOR BEING THE FIRST EXPLORER TO TRAVEL UP THE RIO GRANDE AND DISCOVERED THE GRAND CANYON TRAVELED THROUGH WEST TEXAS, OKLAHOMA AND KANSAS

 SENT FROM SPAIN TO FIND A PASSAGE TO CHINA  KNOWN FOR CONQUERING THE INCA EMPIRE AND BEING THE FIRST EXPLORER TO DISCOVER FLORIDA AND TO CROSS THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER  BRUTALLY KILLED AND ENSLAVED MANY OF THE NATIVE AMERICAN TRIBES OF NORTH AMERICA  DIED AND IS BURIED ALONG THE MISSISSIPPIE RIVER IN 1542

 SENT FROM SPAIN  ATTACKS THE FRENCH FORT IN FLORIDA AND MURDERS EVERONE IN THE FORT INCLUDING MEN, WOMEN, AND CHILDREN.  KNOWN FOR ESTABLISHING ST. AUGUSTINE, FLORIDA THE OLDEST CITY IN THE UNITED STATES.  EXPLORES ALL THE WAY INTO SOUTH CAROLINA.

 SENT FROM FRANCE  CAME TO CANADA LOOKING FOR THE NORTHWEST PASSAGE, A WATERWAY FROM THE EAST COAST TO THE WEST COAST.  KNOWN FOR BEING ONE OF THE FIRST EXPLORERS TO SAIL DOWN THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER TO THE GULF OF MEXICO.  ALSO CLAIMED THE GREAT LAKES FOR FRANCE.

 Fur Trade benefitted from France’s claims of North America and the new lands were called New France, that stretched from present day Newfoundland to New Orleans.  France controlled most of the lands along the Mississippi and even claimed part of East Texas. LaSalle noted to have traveled into Galveston Bay.  Eventually, France would call the lands the lands along the Mississippi, Louisiana named after the French King.  The French would control most of New France until 1767, when the Treaty of Paris forced France to surrender much of New France to England.