Study Languages
Study Spanish: Los Conquistadores
This resource on Spanish conquistadors focuses on Cortes, Alvarado and Pizarro. Additional links are provided for more information on this topic. Great reading selection for beginning and intermediate Spanish students.
Texas State Historical Association
Texas State Historical Association: Alvarez De Pineda, Alonso
An account of the Spanish expedition led by Alonso Alvarez de Pineda in 1519 that explored the Gulf of Mexico between Florida and Cabo Rojo, Mexico. The explorers tried to establish the Panuco colony but were unsuccessful.
![American Journeys: Map of the Spanish Entrada Into North America [Pdf] Graphic](https://static.lp.lexp.cloud/images/attachment_defaults/resource/large/FPO-knovation.png "American Journeys: Map of the Spanish Entrada Into North America [Pdf] Graphic")
Other
American Journeys: Map of the Spanish Entrada Into North America [Pdf]
Map showing the routes taken by fourteen Spanish explorers in the Americas between 1509 and 1543.
Curated OER
National Park Service: Hernando De Soto
A biography of Spanish conquistador Hernando de Soto who explored the southern coast of what became the United States. Read about his travels and demise.
Walled Lake Consolidated Schools
Loon Lake Elementary School: Juan Ponce De Leon
A biography of Spanish conquistador, Juan Ponce de Leon, who sailed with Columbus, and landed on Florida. Find pictures and maps of his exploration.
Other
Encyclopedia of Arkansas: Hernando De Soto (1500? 1542)
Read about Hernando de Soto's travels throughout Arkansas in his quest for gold and silver.
Mariners' Museum and Park
Exploration Through the Ages: Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo
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...
Other
San Diego History Center: Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo (? 1543)
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.
Mariners' Museum and Park
The Mariners' Museum: Exploration Through the Ages: Alonso Alvarez De Pineda
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.
Other
American Journeys: Relation of the Voyage of Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo
A brief relating of the life of Juan Rodriguez and the Cabrillo expedition, 1542-1543, up the coast of California.
University of South Florida
Exploring Florida: Hernando De Soto Arrives and Explores Florida
A description of Hernando de Soto's explorations, focusing primarily on his expedition in Florida.
Enchanted Learning
Enchanted Learning: Vasco Nunez De Balboa
Learn about the life and times of Spanish conquistador and explorer Vasco Nunez de Balboa.
PBS
Pbs the West: Alvar Nunez Cabeza De Vaca
A biography of this Spanish explorer who was born in 1490. Click on "route" for a map of his travels, and click on "account" for a translation of his published account of his experiences.
Mariners' Museum and Park
Mariners' Museum: Francisco Pizarro
A not-so-nice, yet successful Spanish explorer, Francisco Pizarro is featured in a biography for conquering Peru and working his way up the Pacific coast to discover land in Central America. Check out his route and details of his...
Other
American Journeys: Narrative of De Soto's Expedition
Background on a narraative about Hernando De Soto's exploration of the New World, including the role played by Luis de Moscoso. The originally-Spanish narrative has been translated into English and access to that document is available...
A&E Television
Biography: Juan Ponce De Leon
A biography of Juan Ponce de Leon, a Spanish explorer from the 15th and 16th centuries. He was at one point the governor of Puerto Rico, and is credited with discovering Florida. Ponce de Leon is also remembered for having searched the...
A&E Television
Biography: Ferdinand Magellan
A biography on the life and voyages of 16th century Portuguese explorer, Ferdinand Magellan, who was the first to circumnavigate the globe, although he did not survive the journey. Magellan was Portuguese but he commanded a Spanish fleet.
Mr. Nussbaum
Mr. Nussbaum: Hernando De Soto Biography for Kids
Information about de Soto's life and explorations in the New World.
Curated OER
Ecuador Explorer: A Brief History of Ecuador
This site tells the story of the Conquistadors search for gold in Ecuador. It is written like a story rather than a biography and is very detailed and interesting.
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Harcourt: Biographies: Alvar Nunez Cabeza De Vaca
Gain insight into the life and adventures of Spanish explorer, Cabeza de Vaca, whose expeditions led him to Texas and Mexico.
Soylent Communications
Notable Names Database|nndb: Vasco Nunez De Balboa
A brief biography of one of the successful Spanish conquistadors, Vasco Nunez de Balboa. He is recognized for his discovery of the Pacific Ocean and land in the Americas.
Curated OER
National Park Service: Coronado National Memorial: Coronado's Seven Cities
Read about Francisco Coronado's quest for the Seven Cities of Cibola that took him across the Southwest and into the Midwest. Included is a link to a map showing his route.
A&E Television
History.com: Ferdinand Magellan
A biography of Ferdinand Magellan, a 16th century Portuguese explorer who travelled with a Spanish fleet, and an account of his voyage around the world, from which he did not return.