Exploration Settlement By thirdeyejuice 1492 Christopher Columbus Lands at Hispaniola in the Caribbean. Period: 1492 to 1682 Exploration Settlement 1513 Balboa "discovers" the Pacific Ocean in Panama 1521 Cortez conquers the Aztecs in Tenochtitlan (Mexico City) 1539 De Soto explores the region between Florida and the Mississippi River 1607 First permanent settlement is founded in Jamestown, Virginia 1620 Mayflower Pilgrims found Plymouth colony in Massachusetts 1676 English settlers defeat Native Americans in King Phillips War 1682 France claims the Mississippi River Valley and names it Louisiana