Spanish Explorations

Christopher Columbus was an Italian explorer and navigator who completed four voyages across the Atlantic Ocean, under the patronage of the Spanish King and Queen, opening the way for the widespread European exploration and colonization of the Americas.

Columbus sailed on three ships during his first voyage to America: the Santa Maria, the Pinta, and the Niña.

Columbus first landed on the island of San Salvador in the Bahamas on October 12, 1492.

Hernán Cortés was a Spanish conquistador who led an expedition that caused the fall of the Aztec Empire and brought large portions of what is now mainland Mexico under the rule of the King of Spain.

Francisco Pizarro was a Spanish conquistador who led a small force of Spaniards that invaded the Inca Empire in 1532 and captured its emperor, Atahualpa.

Vasco Núñez de Balboa was a Spanish explorer, governor, and conquistador who is best known for having crossed the Isthmus of Panama in 1513 and becoming the first European to see the Pacific Ocean from the eastern shore.

Ferdinand Magellan was a Portuguese explorer who completed the first circumnavigation of the world in 1519-1522.

Juan Ponce de León was a Spanish explorer and conquistador who is best known for having discovered Florida in 1513.

Francisco Pizarro was a Spanish conquistador who led a small force of Spaniards that invaded the Inca Empire in 1532 and captured its emperor, Atahualpa.

Hernán Cortés was a Spanish conquistador who led an expedition that caused the fall of the Aztec Empire and brought large portions of what is now mainland Mexico under the rule of the King of Spain.

Pedro de Valdivia was a Spanish conquistador who founded the city of Santiago in 1541 and is considered the founder of Chile.

Diego Velázquez de Cuéllar was a Spanish conquistador who founded the cities of Santiago de Cuba, Baracoa, and Havana in Cuba, as well as the city of Santo Domingo in Hispaniola and the city of San Juan in Puerto Rico.

Miguel López de Legazpi was a Spanish conquistador who founded the city of Manila in 1571, as well as the cities of Cebu and Iloilo.

Miguel López de Legazpi was a Spanish conquistador who founded the city of Agana in 1565, as well as the cities of Hagåtña and Tumon.

Miguel López de Legazpi was a Spanish conquistador who founded the city of Saipan in 1565, as well as the cities of Tinian and Rota.