The Early Explorers Come to America
Chapters 1 ~ 2
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Throughout the time of
Explorers in the history of the America's, we can learn that each came
for different reasons and purposes. Did you know explorers to the new world
were from Spain, the Netherlands, England and France. Spanish explorers
like Columbus, Balboa,Cortez, de Leon, de Soto, and Coronado became very
famous. Other's like Drake, Verrazano, Raleigh, Carter, Champlain, Cabot
and Hudson are not as well known here in South America. Each one of these
explorers contributed to the formation of a new world. Let's look at a
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Christopher Columbus was an
experienced Italian sailor from the town of Genoa. Because he was unable
to convince the Italian rulers to sponsor his voyage to sail. He was able
to convince the Spanish that he would be able to sail west across the Atlantic
Ocean to find a sea route to Asia. Spain's king Ferdinand and queen Isabella
sponsored his first trip. He sailed for 33 days before his land spotted
land. They thought they were in Asia. Read more about Columbus in your
textbook (Call to Freedom) on pages 28 ~ 31.
Ferdinand Magellan was a
Portuguese sea captain. His goal was to sail west to Asia by way of what
was known as the "Southern Ocean". He set out in 1519 with five ships from
Spain. His voyage was able to circumnavigate the world, but unfortunately
for Magellan, he didn't make it. Read more about Magellan in your textbook
on pages 34 ~ 35.
Eventually the Spanish began
to send their own explorers to the new world. Many of the explorers were
actually military men called Conquistadors. They also brought with them
priests from the Catholic church. Two such men were Bartolomu; de Las Casas
and Junipero Serra. The Spanish were also the first to place settlements
in the new world. Read more about the Spanish explorers in your textbook
on pages 37 ~ 42.
Juan Ponce de Leon was one
of the Spanish Empire's most ambitious and successful explorers. His arrival
on the Florida coast in 1513 marked the beginning of permanent European
contact with North America. Ponce, Puerto Rico, is named in Ponce de Leon's
honor. Read more about him on the Internet by going to the Ponce
de Leon website.
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