European Exploration of Americas 1450-1600

The Printing Press

Jan 1, 1454

Johannes Gutenberg invented the printing press, an invention that allows you to copy books faster. It was made to copy the books about America faster so the word spreads faster and Spain starts to colonize America for Spain.

Exploring the Southwest

Period: Jan 1, 1490 to Dec 31, 1557

Alvar Nunez Cabeza da Vaca was shipwrecked by a hurricane near present-day Texas. Alvar and three other members survived and kept on exploring the Southwest. Not like others, de Vaca and his crew wanted to travle and adventure.

First to meet the people of the Caribbean

Oct 12, 1492

Christopher Columbus discovered America and thought it was India. So he called the Native Americans Indians. Columbus wanted to find a new way to go to Asia instead of traveling around the tip of Africa where pirates,theifs, and raiders live. (They never knew they were on new land.

Exploring Eastern South America

Jan 1, 1500

Pedro Alvarez Cabral explored eastern South America and claimed it for Portugal so they could have more power and land.

Exploring The Regions from Florida to Arkansas

Period: Jan 1, 1500 to Dec 31, 1542

Hernando de Soto led a large army through the American Southeast, from Florida to Arkansas. He wanted to conquere that region for wealth and power.,

First overland expedition to Explore the American Southwest

Period: Jan 1, 1503 to Dec 30, 1539

Estevanico Dorantes was sold as a slave in Spain. He traveled with his master on the same voyage as Cabeza de Vaca's. He was one of the survivors to be on an expedition to Explore the American Southwest. Like Alvar, Estevanico had the heart of adventure.

First European to Set Foot on Florida

Jan 1, 1513

Juan Ponce de Leon wanted to find gold that he heard of in a legend called "Fountain of Youth. He was the first European to set a foot on Florida. He named Florida after the Spanish words for Ester "Pascua de Florida " which means (Feast of Flowers) because it was Easter when he landed there.

Sailing tro Present-day Panama

Jan 1, 1513

Vasco Nunez de Balboa sailed to present-day Panama in Central America. From there he crossed to the Pacific Ocean. He wanted to find a new route to Asia.

The first to Circumnavigate the World

Jan 1, 1522

Ferdinand Magellan and his crew were the first to circumnavigate the world. (Circumnavigate means to completely to go around something)

Exploring North America by Conquistador

Jan 1, 1540

Francisco Vazquez de Coronado led an expedition inot North America o. He was looking for cities of gold. Coronado's soldiers were the first to see the Grand Canyon.