Primary
Internet History Sourcebooks Project

Fordham University: Modern History Sourcebook: An Aztec Account of the Spanish Conquest

For Students 9th - 10th
Fordham University provides an excerpt of an Aztec account of the initial encounter of Montezuma and the Spanish conquistador Hernando Cortes, as published by noted anthropologist Miguel Leon-Portilla. The meeting-turned-massacre,...
Graphic
Other

Aztec Centers in the Region of Lake Texcoco

For Students 9th - 10th
A map of Lake Texcoco, showing the Aztec centers in the region at the time of the Spanish conquistadors. The entry route of Cortes into the city of Tenochtitlan, the Aztec capital, is designated along with causeways into the city. A few...
Article
National Humanities Center

National Humanities Center: Toolbox Library: Exploration, American Beginnings: 1492 1690

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Thirty two primary sources-historical documents, literary texts, and visual images-that explore the expectations and the realities of European exploration of the New World.
Handout
University of Groningen

American History: Outlines: The First Europeans

For Students 9th - 10th
The first Europeans to arrive in North America -- at least the first for whom there is solid evidence -- were Norse, traveling west from Greenland, where Erik the Red had founded a settlement around the year 985. In 1001 his son Leif is...
Handout
University of South Florida

A Short History of Florida: Ponce De Leon: Florida's First Spanish Explorer

For Students 3rd - 5th
Read about Juan Ponce de Leon, his exploration of Florida, and his fruitless search for the "Fountain of Youth."
Handout
Other

Encyclopedia of Arkansas: Hernando De Soto (1500? 1542)

For Students 9th - 10th
Read about Hernando de Soto's travels throughout Arkansas in his quest for gold and silver.
Article
Other

Aas: The Expedition of Hernando De Soto in 16th Century Arkansas [Pdf]

For Students 9th - 10th
Read an article from the Arkansas Archaeology Survey that traces a probable route of Hernando de Soto in what is now Arkansas. Evidence has been found especially in the Parkin site in northeast Arkansas.
Handout
Mariners' Museum and Park

Exploration Through the Ages: Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo

For Students 9th - 10th
Juan Rodriquez Cabrillo is known for exploring the California coast and claiming the land for Spain, but he did so many other things prior to that.See why Cabrillo wa so important to the Spanish in the New World.Be sure to click on...
Handout
Other

San Diego History Center: Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo (? 1543)

For Students 9th - 10th
After a description of Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo's activities in Mexico and Guatemala, there is a day by day description of his sailing expedition up the coast of California.
Website
Ibis Communications

Eye Witness to History: The Death of Magellan, 1521

For Students 9th - 10th
This article provides a brief biography of Ferdinand Magellan, as well as a deep look into his death at the hands of natives in the Philippines.
Website
Other

The Conquest of North America by Hernando De Soto, Coronado and Cabeza De Vaca

For Students 9th - 10th
Describes the conquest of North America in the 1500s by the explorers Hernando de Soto, Vasquez de Coronado, and Cabeza de Vaca. The text has many embedded links to maps showing the routes they traveled as well as to additional information.
Handout
Mariners' Museum and Park

The Mariners' Museum: Exploration Through the Ages: Alonso Alvarez De Pineda

For Students 9th - 10th
Little is known about Alonso Alvarez de Pineda's life except for the last year. Read about his explorations for Spain and his contributions to the Spanish empire.
Unit Plan
Other

Heritage History:vasco Nunez Balboa

For Students 4th - 8th
Timeline and history of explorer Vasco Nunez Balboa
Website
Other

New Mexico Genealogical Society: Early Spanish Exploration of the Southwest

For Students 9th - 10th
This site describes the early Spanish exploration and beginning of colonization in what we know today as New Mexico.
Unit Plan
TED Talks

Ted: Ted Ed: How Magellan Circumnavigated the Globe

For Students 9th - 10th
Ewandro Magalhaes shares the story of Magellan's journey.
Handout
Other

American Journeys: Relation of the Voyage of Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo

For Students 9th - 10th
A brief relating of the life of Juan Rodriguez and the Cabrillo expedition, 1542-1543, up the coast of California.
Website
Library of Congress

Loc: Parallel Histories: Alvar Nunez Cabeza De Vaca

For Students 9th - 10th
A brief description of de Vaca's accomplishments with links to information, original illustration and documents, and timeline on Spanish exploration.
Unit Plan
Library of Congress

Loc: Parallel Histories: Coronado

For Students 9th - 10th
A brief description of Coronado's life and adventures with links to original and related documents, including illustrations and explorer notes.
Handout
Enchanted Learning

Enchanted Learning: Ferdinand Magellan: World Explorer

For Students 3rd - 5th
A short biography of Ferdinand Magellan.
Handout
Enchanted Learning

Enchanted Learning: Francisco Pizarro: Explorer

For Students 3rd - 5th
A short biography of Francisco Pizarro.
Website
Ducksters

Ducksters: Francisco Pizarro

For Students 3rd - 5th
A biography of Francisco Pizarro, organized into grade-appropriate sub-topics.
Handout
Walled Lake Consolidated Schools

Loon Lake Elementary School: Hernando Cortes

For Students 3rd - 5th
A biography of Hernando Cortes (or Cortez) (1485 -1547), a Spanish adventurer who conquered what is now central and southern Mexico. His seizure of land, power, and wealth made him the greatest Spanish conqueror in the Americas. His...
Handout
Walled Lake Consolidated Schools

Loon Lake Elementary School: Hernando De Soto

For Students 3rd - 5th
A biography of Hernando De Soto (1500?-1542), a Spanish explorer who led the first European expedition to reach the Mississippi River. His group arrived at the river in 1541 during a search for gold. De Soto also took part in the Spanish...
Handout
Walled Lake Consolidated Schools

Loon Lake Elementary School: Cabeza De Vaca

For Students 3rd - 5th
A biography of Cabeza de Vaca (1490-1557), a Spanish explorer in both North and South America. This site has a Google widget that will translate the page into many languages.

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