An image of "Head of Medusa", created by Cornelis Cortz (Engraving, 334 x 226 mm).

An image of "Vase of Flowers", created by Gabriel De La Cortez (Oil on canvas, 62 x 84 cm).

An image of "Vase of Flowers", created by Gabriel De La Cortez (Oil on canvas, 63 x 83 cm).

An image of "Still-Life of Flowers in a Woven Basket", created by Gabriel De La Cortez (Oil on canvas, 83 x 62 cm).

A map of the Atlantic coast of North America from the Labrador Peninsula and Gulf of St. Lawrence south to the Santee River in the Carolinas, showing the European explorations and settlements in the region between 1492 and 1620. The map...

A map of the United States showing the historic sea and land routes taken by famous explorers across North America, from the coastal explorations of Cabot and Corte Real in the Northeast, Ponce de Leon and Alvarez in Florida and the Gulf...

Spanish explorer who was a companion of Cortes.

Companion of Cortes and General of the Canary Islands from 1666-1671.

A Spanish explorer who was a companion of Hernan Cortes.

(1495-1541) Spanish conquistador who was second command to Hernan Cortes during the conquest of Mexico.

(1478-1534) Born as Giulio di Giuliano de Medici, he was delighted with the Indian jugglers sent to Rome by Cortes and was assassinated in the Pazzi Conspiracy.

Using a lasar system called Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR), scientists have been able to uncover a city of ruins in the rainforests of Honduras. Read about this exciting discovery and the theories of what this lost city may be.

Learn about the history and motives of the famous Spanish Conquistadors in the New World. Features biographies, pictures, and timelines about the life of the famous European Explorers.

An image of "Lot and His Daughters", created by Juan De La Cortez (Oil on canvas, 133 x 194 cm).

An image of "Battle Scene with a Roman Army Besieging a Large City", created by Juan De La Cortez (Oil on canvas, 162 x 196 cm).

Read about the development of the Aztec Empire and its status just before the Spanish Conquest. Click on the hyperlinks or pictures for more information. From part of an extensive PBS website about the Conquistadors.

Read about what life was like for the Aztecs before the Spanish Conquest. This is part of a larger PBS site about the conquistadors.