After executing Atahualpa, the Spanish headed to Cuzco, the capital of the Inca Empire. He became their interpreter as they marched inwards in search of gold, a passage to China and what they could term an advanced civilization. The chief's sons began a civil war to decide who would rule the Incas going forward. Christopher Columbus (1451 – 1506) An Italian explorer, Columbus made four ground-breaking voyages to the Americas (1st journey was in 1492 to the Bahamas). Cortes was not one to follow orders. Orellana led an expedition along with Pizarro through the Andes mountains. We use our own and third party cookies to improve your experience and our services; and to analyze your use of our website. Ponce de Leon named it Pascua Florida, which means feast of flowers, because he first spotted the land on Palm Sunday. Tweet on Twitter. After participating with Francisco Pizarro in the conquest of Peru in 1535, Orellana moved to Guayaquil and was named governor of that area in 1538. Michael holds licenses in both real estate and life and health insurance. Vizcaíno was born in 1548, in Extremadura, Crown of Castile (Spain). Between 1519 and 1521, Hernando Cortez conquered the Aztecs in Mexico. 10 ships and 700 men were under his command. Lisbon was once the greatest trading centre of Europe, which is why it definitely is an incredible city to visit. In 1514, when Hernando de Soto was still in his teens, he left for Seville, which was the center of activities with the New World in Spain. Hernando de Soto is considered one of the most important Spanish conquistadors and many parks, towns, counties, and institutions have been named after him in the United States. Francisco de Orellana, Spanish soldier and first European explorer of the Amazon River. Ponce de Leon never found the fountain; however, he was the first Spaniard to set foot on the state of Florida in April 1513. The Age of Exploration was rooted in new technologies and ideas growing out of the Renaissance, these included advances in cartography, navigation, and shipbuilding. Know more about the role of Hernando de Soto in the conquest of Peru; his life, accomplishments and death; … Unfortunately, Magellan was killed during the expedition and did not complete the voyage. Natives followed their boats in canoes, shooting arrows at the soldiers for days on end. Pizarro and 160 soldiers were able to defeat over 5 million Inca. It was guided by natives whom they abducted along the way. It contributed in making the relationship between Europeans and North American tribes more hostile. Interesting Facts The Conquistadors often fought each other. He was the first Spaniard to see the Mississippi River. #2 His first expedition was to the West Indies, In 1514, when Hernando de Soto was still in his teens, he left for Seville, which was the center of activities with the New World in Spain. Hernando Cortes is most famous for conquering the Aztec Indians. Facts about Hernando de Soto tell us about the famous Spanish explorer who had exploration on the present day Florida, Alabama, Georgia and probably Arkansas. His known siblings are a brother named Juan Mendez de Soto; and two sisters named Catalina de Soto and Maria de Soto. Hernando Cortes is most famous for conquering the Aztec Indians. Most of them stayed in the New World, settling in Mexico, Peru, Cuba and other Spanish colonies. He was among the wealthiest of the returning conquistadors, his share including riches from Atahualpa’s camp, his ransom, and the plunder from Cuzco. 37 Bloody Facts About Spanish Conquistadors Amelie Dumont. It was Francisco Pizarro who arrested and framed Balboa for treason. Explorers make journeys into the unknown and make records of their travels. In Panama and later traveling to Nicaragua and Honduras, De Soto made his mark as an explorer and reaped high profits through skillful and bold trading with the natives. Columbus’s discovery of the Americas fueled a quest for gold. The first expedition to circle the globe was led by Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan. Montezuma was killed by his own people as Cortes tried to use him to quash a rebellion. Vasco Nunez De Balboa was a Spanish explorer and conquistador most famous for founding Santa Maria la Antigua del Darien, the first permanent European settlement in mainland of the Americas; and for his discovery of the Pacific. In 1492, Christopher Columbus was credited with discovering the New World. Interesting Facts about the Age of Exploration. They wanted him to be a lawyer but De Soto dreamed of making a fortune in the New World from an early age. It contributed in making the relationship between Europeans and North American tribes. Instead he was made governor of Cuba and commissioned by the Spanish crown to conquer what is now Florida. He also took the record as the first European who crossed Mississippi River. Regardless of how old we are, we never stop learning. The monarchs of Europe offered vast sums to whoever could solve the “longitude problem,” AKA how to calculate longitude at sea. Bruno de Heceta (Hezeta) y Dudagoitia (1743–1807) was a Spanish Basque explorer of the Pacific Northwest.Born in Bilbao of an old Basque family, he was sent by the Viceroy of New Spain, Antonio María Bucareli y Ursúa, to explore the area north of Alta California in response to information that there were colonial Russian settlements there. He later traveled through Florida to find the seven cities of gold. In spring the expedition moved through modern day Georgia. Christopher Columbus isn’t the explorer’s birth name; rather, it is Anglicization of his real name Cristoforo Colombo. The Spanish crown made Pizarro governor... 3 … The conquistadors were hundreds of men who left Spain to seek fame and fortune in America. [2] Columbus was not interested in proving the Earth was round. After the death of Dávila in 1531, De Soto left his estates in Nicaragua and joined Francisco Pizarro in the conquest of Peru which began the following year. Know about the life, family, voyages, exploration, discoveries, a… See disclaimer. Facts about Hernando de Soto tell us about the famous Spanish explorer who had exploration on the present day Florida, Alabama, Georgia and probably Arkansas. At the time, Columbus was sailing ships under the Spanish flag. Based on the Word Net lexical database for the English Language. The Spanish sent soldiers to arrest the expedition. Pizarro, Cortes, and de Soto all were born in Extremadura, Spain. Classroom is the educational resource for people of all ages. Pizarro and Orellana separated as they desperately searched for food in the Amazon. The soldiers found immense wealth, which they happily took. Explore ten surprising facts about one of America’s first and greatest expeditions of discovery. Know about the life, voyages, contributions and achievements of amerigo vespucci through these 10 interesting facts. He also served as governor of Darien for a period and was given the title of Adelantado of the South Seas. Spanish explorers and conquistadors traveled thousands of miles to seize lands for the crown of Spain. Many of the Conquistadors came from the same area. (c. 1476–1541) Person The Spanish crown made Pizarro governor over Peru, and he was sent to capture the land, gold and riches for Spain. De Soto’s parents were hidalgos but had little money. California was discovered by the Spanish explorer Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo. On 26 July 1533, Pizarro executed Atahualpa even though his subjects had raised an enormous ransom in gold in order to ensure his release. Whether you’re studying times tables or applying to college, Classroom has the answers. Not much is known about his childhood except that he had three brothers. He was struck by fever and died on May 21, 1542 in Louisiana. There, due to his expertise as a horseman, he managed to get himself included on an expedition as captain of a cavalry exploration troop. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you accept their use. Hernando de Soto was born circa 1496 in Jerez de los Caballeros in the current Bajadoz province of western Spain. Hernando de Soto was a 16th century Spanish explorer and conquistador who is famous for being the first person to lead an expedition deep into the territory of United States and discovering several areas which hadn’t been yet explored by Europeans. You will love Lisbon, its history, its monuments, culture and lifestyle. In 1513, Vasco de Balboa, a Spanish explorer, led an expedition across Panama and found the Pacific Ocean. They destroyed the Aztecs’ capital city and eventually wiped out the entire Aztec civilization. 311 of the initial 700 participants managed to survive till the end. Orellana's group traveled the length of the entire Amazon until they reached the sea. At 25 years of age, Magellan joined a fleet of ships and eventually worked his way up to becoming commander of his own fleet. Though they decimated the natives, the Spanish lost more than 200 men and many were injured. 5 Interesting Facts About Francisco Vasquez de Coronado. During their return journey towards Mobile Bay, the expedition became involved in a bloody battle with the residents of Mabila, a fortified city in southern Alabama. Michael Carpenter has been writing blogs since 2007. The same year, they became the first Europeans to see in Arkansas what is now known as Hot Springs. Cortes was driven from the city by the Aztecs, and only a few of Cortes' men survived. Ponce de Leon is mostly known for his travels to find the Fountain of Youth. A small pox outbreak after Pizarro's first encounter with the Incas resulted in the death of the Incas' chief, Huayna Capac. Soon after Columbus' landings, many Spanish explorers, also called conquistadors, began sailing to the New World hoping to claim land for their country and to find riches, mythical cities of gold and the Fountain of Youth. From the explorers of thousands of years ago who set out in small boats to modern-day astronauts, human beings have set to explore new territories. In 1520-1521, Magellan proved through his explorations that the Earth is round. Know more about the role of Hernando de Soto in the conquest of Peru; his life, accomplishments and death; and his exploration of North America, through these 10 interesting facts. When Pizarro’s half … Francisco Pizarro (1471–1541) was a Spanish conquistador whose famed conquest of the Inca Empire in the 1530s made him and his men fantastically wealthy and won for Spain a rich New World colony. Spanish Conquistadors | Explorers for Kids (Ducksters) After Columbus, Spanish conquistadors traveled to America to conquer and explore in search of gold and treasure. He was the second son of Francisco Mendez de Soto and his wife Leonor Arias Tinoco. In 1537, De Soto married Inés de Bobadilla (or Isabel de Bobadilla), the daughter of Pedro Arias Dávila. There, due to his expertise as a horseman, he managed to get himself included on an expedition as captain of a cavalry exploration troop. 2. De Soto was born circa 1495 and died on 21st May 1542. While De Soto did not find the cities of gold, he traveled through North and South Carolina, Mississippi, Alabama, Texas, Oklahoma and Arkansas. The Spaniard marched to Tenochtitlan, which is modern day Mexico City, and captured Montezuma, the chief of the Aztecs. It is said that his comrades wrapped his body in cloaks packed with sand and cast it into Mississippi. Later he commanded a company of archers during Diego Velásquez’s campaign to conquer and pacify Cuba. Ponce de Leon died of injuries sustained from one of the attacks in 1521. He unsuccessfully tried two separate times to find the island and was attacked by natives. Although he was not the first European to set foot in Florida he did lead the first European expedition of Florida. Share on Facebook. In Peru, Spanish conquistador Francisco Pizarro (1471–1541) demanded that the Incan Emperor Atahualpa (ca. Ferdinand Magellan was born in Portugal in 1452 and served as a page in the royal court. De Soto had lent Pizarro two ships to investigate reports of gold in present day north-western Colombia. Francisco Vasquez de Coronado was a Spanish explorer during the great exploration age of the early 16th century. Pizarro conquered the Incas of Central and South America. Amerigo vespucci is an interesting figure in history. Think Quest: The Journies and Expeditions of Marquette, Drake, Columbus, Cortez and DeSoto, Enchanted Learning: Juan Ponce de Leon: Explorer. He is a mortgage specialist with over 12 years of experience as well as an expert in financing, credit, budgeting and real estate. King Phillip II of Spain offered 10,000 ducats for a solution, whereas later King Louis XIV of France offered 100,000 florins. After executing Atahualpa, the Spanish headed to, #6 Hernando de Soto was made governor of Cuba in 1537, On his return to Spain, De Soto was admitted into the prestigious, #7 His famous expedition landed at Tampa Bay in May 1539, #8 His expedition fought one of the bloodiest battles with North American natives, De Soto and his men set up camp for the winter at the small Indian village of, #9 Hernando de Soto was the first recorded European to reach the Mississippi River, #10 His expedition had several major repercussions, Hernando de Soto’s expedition had several major consequences. September 13, 2018. Brave and courageous, explorers journeyed through oceans and deserts to find new lands and water. Panfilo de Narváez, (born c. 1478, Valladolid, Castile [Spain]—died November 1528, Gulf of Mexico), Spanish conquistador, colonial official, and explorer.. Narváez entered military service as a youth and arrived in Jamaica as one of the island’s first settlers. On 6 April 1538, Hernando de Soto departed for North America from the port of Sanlúcar de Barrameda. At the core, everyone is an explorer. He saw military service in the Spanish invasion of Portugal during 1580–1583. He left his post in Cuba and burned his own ships to prevent mutiny along his expedition. Francisco de Orellana traveled the length of the Amazon in search of the mythical city of El Dorado, the city of gold. Famous Spanish Explorers Explorers and discoverers held a quintessential position in the old world civilization due to the nature of their work. During the Age of Exploration Europeans referred to the entire area of Southeast Asia and India as the "East Indies". With no offensive weapons left with them, they relied on armor and sleeping mats to block the arrows. Dissatisfied with Pizarro’s leadership, De Soto returned to Spain in 1536. De Soto’s party encountered a man named Juan Ortiz, a survivor from an earlier expedition who had lived with the natives for 12 years. By 1530 he was the, #4 He played a major role in defeating the Incas in the Battle of Cajamarca, After the death of Dávila in 1531, De Soto left his estates in Nicaragua and joined, #5 He made an enormous fortune during the Spanish conquest of the Inca Empire, While Atahualpa was held captive by Pizarro to control the Inca Empire, for political reasons De Soto developed friendly relations with the emperor, who gave him several lavish gifts. Vasco Nunez de Balboa Early Life and Journey to the New World Balboa was born in Jerez de los Caballeros, Spain in 1475 AD. Spanish explorer and conquistador Francisco Pizarro helped Vasco Núñez de Balboa discover the Pacific Ocean, and after conquering Peru, founded its capital city, Lima. De Soto and his men set up camp for the winter at the small Indian village of Apalache near present-day Tallahassee. Hernando de Soto was a 16th century Spanish explorer and conquistador who is famous for being the first person to lead an expedition deep into the territory of United States and discovering several areas which hadn’t been yet explored by Europeans. Seven years later Pánfilo de Narváez (c. 1480–1528) set out with four hundred men to conquer and settle La Florida. In today’s money, that’s millions of dollars. The expedition was to the, #3 He amassed a fortune through slave trading in Nicaragua, As Dávila’s lieutenant, Hernando de Soto was allowed to explore Central America in search of treasure and land. As they traveled, many men died of starvation; they were also attacked by native tribes and never found El Dorado. They also lost most of their equipment and all their pearls. Interesting Facts About Spain #1: Explorations to Discoveries The Spanish explorers have traveled to different parts of the globe and have made many ‘accidental discoveries. In return for the use of his ships, Pizarro named De Soto his chief lieutenant during the conquest. 0. The expedition was then led by Luis de Moscoso, whom De Soto appointed his successor, and they reached Mexico in 1543. They crossed the river and headed into Arkansas and Louisiana. 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On 26 July 1533, Pizarro executed Atahualpa even though his subjects had raised an enormous ransom in gold in order to ensure his release. Four Spanish explorers also made history when they traveled to the Americas. ... Spanish conquistadors were explorers of the Spanish Empire who sailed beyond Europe to the Americas, Oceania, Africa and Asia, conquering territory and opening trade routes. The emperor complied, but the Spanish killed him anyway. Pizarro conquered the Incas of Central and South America. The same year he sought special permission to conquer Ecuador, with special rights to the Amazon River basin.