Curated OER
Macmillan/mc Graw Hill: People, Places and Cultures: Grade 6 Unit 3 Lesson 4 Quiz
Take this five question quiz on Spanish and Portuguese exploreration.
San Jose State University
San Jose State University: Conquest of the Cities of Gold: Europe's Interactions
The arrival of Hernan Cortez in Mexico, his encounters with the Aztec ruler Montezuma II and the Spanish defeat of the Aztecs are described.
University of Groningen
American History: Essays: Spain's Territorial Conquest in the Americas
The history of Spanish territorial conquest in the New World is the history of the succession of conquistadors who often overwhelmed native empires, but were sometimes overwhelmed themselves. Read about the conquistadors who came to the...
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Harcourt: Biographies: Hernando Cortes 1485 1547
Furnished is a brief summary of the life and explorations of Spanish explorer, Hernando Cortes. Take a look at the photos and maps of his journey of what today is called Mexico.
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...
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.
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.
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.
Curated OER
National Park Service: De Soto National Memorial
A description of Hernando De Soto's involvement in expeditions in the New World, hinting at but not fully describing his exploration of La Florida and much of the rest of southern North America prior to his deat.
Mr. Nussbaum
Mr. Nussbaum: Hernando De Soto Biography for Kids
Information about de Soto's life and explorations in the New World.
Stanford University
Stanford History Education Group: Atahualpa and the Bible
[Free Registration/Login Required] Lesson in which students explore and examine primary source material to answer a question about Incan Emperor, Atahualpa's meeting with Spanish conquistador, Pizarro. Includes downloadable lesson plan,...
Mex Connect
Mexico's Colonial Era Part Ii: Religion and Society in New Spain
This article examines religion in Mexico beginning with the Spanish conquest of the Aztec Empire, and some of the changes since then.
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: Hernando De Soto
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...
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.
PBS
New Perspectives on the West: Coronado's Report to Viceroy Mendoza
This is the original report Coronado sent to the viceroy describing his journey from Mexico to what he hoped were the Seven Cities of Gold. He describes the land, people, climate, food, animals.
Curated OER
History Matters: "All Over the Land Nothing Else Was Spoken Of"
History Matters provides this fascinating account from Spanish conqquistador, Cabeza de Vaca, about his encounters with the varous Native Americans in the Southwest who came to him for medical attention.
Other
Journal of San Diego History: The Discoverer of Alta California
A scholarly article seeking to determine whether the man who discovered San Diego Bay, and who explored much of the coast of California for the Spanish, was Spanish - Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo, or Portuguese - Joao Rodrigues Cabrilho.
Annenberg Foundation
Annenberg Learner: American Passages: Cabeza De Vaca
Explorer Cabeza de Vaca is considered the first true Chicano writer, having been born in Spain and then absorbed into the Native American culture, highlighting this new culture in his writings. Click on "Cabeza de Vaca Activities" for...
Mariners' Museum and Park
Mariners' Museum: The Ages of Exploration: Age of Discovery
This Age of Discovery page presents naval artifacts and explorers of the 15th century to the early 17th century. It looks at European explorers who journeyed to North and South America, the search for the Northwest Passage, and...
Siteseen
Siteseen: Land of the Brave: Juan Ponce De Leon Facts
Covers the life of Ponce de Leon, a Spanish explorer known for leading the first official European expedition to Florida in 1513.
Curated OER
Educational Technology Clearinghouse: Maps Etc: Early Spanish Map of Peru, 1774
A facsimile of an early Spanish map of Peru and northwest South America, from the Paris (1774) edition of Zarate. The map is in French, and the map coverage extends from Panama to the Paria River delta (Orinoco) of Venezuela in the north...
Other
Eldritch Press: Cabeza De Vaca's Adventures in the Unknown Interior of America
Read this fascinating account by Alvar Nunez Cabeza de Vaca, one of four survivors who traversed Florida and the Southwest for eight years, from 1529-1537.Read the preface which gives a background to this narrative before delving into...