Christopher Columbus
Timeline
(Click Photo)
Vasco
Nùñez de Balboa
Balboa led an expedition across Panama looking for gold,
but discovered the Pacific Ocean instead. It took 24
days for his group of 190 Spaniards and 1000 natives to
cross the 45 miles of jungle. On September 29, 1513 they
reached the Pacific Ocean and claimed all the land that
touched the Pacific Ocean for Spain.
Hernando
Cortez
Cortez was a young Spaniard who went to Cuba to find his
fortune. He heard stories of gold in Mexico and South
America. In 1519 Cortez left Cuba to find this gold.
With 300 Aztecs to every one of Cortez's men the
Spanish fought. After 3 battles the Indians gave up.
They could not complete against the guns and horses. The
Spaniards also wore metal armor. More than this the
Indians were afraid of the "god-like" warriors. On
November 8, 1519 Cortez reached Mexico City and was
received by Montezuma, the Aztec emperor. Cortez
captured Montezuma and began to rule the empire through
him. The Spaniards made the Aztecs work in the mines
looking for gold and silver. This gold and silver was
shipped back to Spain.
Francisco
Coronado
Coronado commanded an expedition which left
from western Mexico in 1540. He was searching for the
Seven Golden Cities of Cibola. Coronado rode through
northern Mexico and into what is now Arizona, New
Mexico, and Texas. Coronado did not find any golden
cities, but discovered the Pueblo Indians. Coronado was
upset at not finding the cities of gold. He sent his men
off in different directions with orders to find them.
His men found the Grand Canyon instead. Coronado would
not give up. He marched his army east. There he found
the buffalo and grassy plains, but no cities of gold.
Coronado claimed all the land over which he and his men
had traveled in the name of Spain.
