Chapter 3 Lesson 3
The Age of Exploration
Chapter 3
Lesson 3: Spanish Explorations
Vocabulary
◦ Grant
◦ Conquistador
◦ Reform
◦ Reformation
◦ Counter-Reformation
◦ Missionary
People
◦ Juan Ponce de Leon
◦ Hernando Cortes
◦ Estevanico
◦ Francisco Vasquez de Coronado
◦ Francisco Pizzaro
◦ Atahuallpa
◦ Hernando de Soto
◦ Martin Luther
Places
◦ Florida
◦ Mexico City
◦ New Spain
The Spanish Explore Florida
After Spain claimed land in the Americas, more explorers and soldiers sailed there to:
◦ Find adventure and riches
◦ Become rich through trade
◦ Earn national glory
◦ Convert Native Americans to Christianity
Juan Ponce de Leon
◦ A conquistador who helped conquer Puerto Rico
◦ Was interested in finding the “Fountain of Youth” on the island of
Bimini
◦ Instead landed in Florida (La Florida: “flowery”)
◦ Was wounded in battle against the Calusa tribe who fought against their land being conquered
◦ First Spanish explorer to set foot in modern-day USA
Early Conquistadors
Hernando Cortes
◦ 1519: sent to find gold in the land of the Aztecs
◦ Motecuhzoma, the Aztec emperor, thought that Cortes might be the “light-skinned God” so he welcomed him
◦ Cortes imprisoned him and war began
◦ The Spanish won because of their guns, horses, and the diseases they passed along to the Native Americans
◦ 1521: built Mexico City, Spain’s new empire in the
Americas
◦ https://www.brainpop.com/socialstudies/worldhistory/co nquistadors/
◦ http://www.biography.com/people/hern%C3%A1ncort%C3%A9s-9258320
Early Conquistadors
Seven Cities of Gold
◦ Spanish leaders in Mexico City heard a Native
American story about seven cities of gold
◦ Sent a priest, Marcos de Niza, who took along an enslaved African named Estevanico
◦ Estevanico was killed
◦ De Niza returned and said he had seen a golden city
◦ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3HcGfNFFX2A
Early Conquistadors
Francisco Vasquez de Coronado
◦ Heard de Niza’s story
◦ Set out with 300 soldiers, several enslaved Africans, and 1,000 enslaved Native Americans
◦ Explored what is now the Southwestern United States
◦ Never found gold
◦ No riches, but claimed land for Spain
New Spain: Mexico, Southwestern United States, and Florida
http://www.biography.com/people/franciscov%C3%A1zquez-de-coronado-9258086
Expeditions Continue
Francisco Pizarro
◦ 1531: Led 180 soldiers on an expedition to the western coast of South America
◦ Met the Incas, led by Atahuallpa
◦ A priest traveling with Pizarro told the Incas they had to accept Christianity and Spanish rule
◦ Atahuallpa said, “NO!” and war started
◦ Spanish took Atahuallpa prisoner
◦ After Atahuallpa died, Pizarro took control of the region
Expeditions Continue
Hernando de Soto
◦ Explored the Southeastern United States and claimed much of it for Spain
◦ He and his men were the first Europeans to see the
Mississippi River
◦ Meeting with Native Americans often ended in bloody battles
Worst: against the Mobile tribe in what is now Alabama
◦ 1542: de Soto died of fever
Only 300 of the 600 men he started his journey with survived
Missionaries to America
In Europe, the Catholic Church became politically powerful.
Reformation
◦ 1517: Martin Luther called for change
◦ Was forced out of the Church, but had many followers
◦ Lutheran Church was established
Counter-Reformation
◦ The Church’s reaction to the reformation
◦ Banned books, punished protesters
◦ Worked on spreading its power to the Americas through missionaries
Some forced Native Americans to convert and enslaved them
