A&E Television
Biography: Francisco Pizarro
A biography of 16th century Spanish explorer and conquistador Francisco Pizarro, who traveled with Vasco Nunez de Balboa and helped to discover the Pacific Ocean. Pizarro also conquered Peru and founded the city of Lima there.
BBC
Bbc: History: The Story of the Conquistadors
A well known historian tells the story of the early Spanish explorers known as "conquistadors". He discusses their motivation, what effect they had on the native American societies and much more. Archived.
University of South Florida
A Short History of Florida: Ponce De Leon: Florida's First Spanish Explorer
Read about Juan Ponce de Leon, his exploration of Florida, and his fruitless search for the "Fountain of Youth."
Other
Spanish Conquistadors
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.
The History Cat
The History Cat: Rise and Fall of the Incan Empire
Describes the achievements and sophistication of the Incan Empire prior to being conquered by the Spaniards under Francisco Pizarro. Pizarro had their emperor, Atahualpa, executed after keeping him captive for months while the Inca gave...
Internet History Sourcebooks Project
Fordham University: Modern History Sourcebook: Ferdinand Magellan's Voyage Round the World
A recount by a member of the crew of the voyage of Ferdinand Magellan to the Philippines in the 16th century, where he was killed, and of the remaining voyage his crew took in the eastern oceans, then back to Spain.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Walled Lake Consolidated Schools
Loon Lake Elementary School: Panfilo De Narvaez
A biography of Panfilo de Narvaez (1470: 1528), a Spanish conquistador and explorer who was famous for the exploration of Cuba and for leading an ill fated expedition to Florida and North America. This site has a Google widget that will...
Walled Lake Consolidated Schools
Loon Lake Elementary School: Hernando Cortes
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...
Walled Lake Consolidated Schools
Loon Lake Elementary School: Cabeza De Vaca
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.
Siteseen
Siteseen: Land of the Brave: Hernando Cortes Facts
Interesting biographical facts on the life of Hernando Cortes, the man who conquered the Aztec empire.