Explorers and Settlements TC4 Spanish Exploration Christopher Columbus

Explorers and Settlements TC#4

Spanish Exploration

Christopher Columbus n n n Was looking for a westward route to Asia Queen Isabel and King Fernando supported his expeditions He landed in the Caribbean in 1492

Ponce de Leon First Spaniard to explore North America n 1513 Explored area of Florida n Called La Florida by Spanish meaning Island of Flowers n In search of the Fountain of Youth n When attempting to establish a settlement he was attacked by Natives and killed n

Hernando Cortez 1519 n Conquered the Aztec Natives of Mexico n Exploited their wealth by stealing gold, silver and other riches n Forced them into slavery n

Fancisco Pizarro 1531 n Conquered the Incas of South America n Exploited their wealth n Forced them into slavery n

Hernando De. Soto First to record expedition through Georgia in 1540 n In search of Gold and silver n Explored much of the South Eastern US n Came up through Florida with more than 600 men n

De Soto (Cont. ) Explored Savannah and Ocmulgee River n Never found gold n He encountered the Mississippian Natives n

90% of the Native population vanished n Natives had never seen: n Guns, steel swords, metal armor, or horses Only weapons Natives had were made of wood and stone n Many were killed in battle or just plain murdered n Many were made slaves n

Natives Vanished Continued 1 in 3 Natives died from n Measles, chicken pox, small pox n Because they had never been exposed to these diseases n With so few Natives left, the Spanish began to import black slaves from Africa to work in the fields and mines n

French Settlemens

Jean Ribault n Came with 150 men called Huguenots n Huguenots were French Protestants Landed on Florida’s Coast and sailed north n Settled just north of present day Savannah n Huguenots built the first fort on the mainland of North America named Fort Charles n They were forced to abandon it because of famine and sickness n

Spanish Settlements

Pedro Menendez Spain sent him because they were worried about French success n He built St. Augustine n n First successful settlement in North America

St. Augustine Menendez helped build missions n Church outpost n The Friars (Church Missionaries work with the natives teaching them: n n Read and write Modern agricultural techniques They also traded with the natives

Missions n St. Catherine’s Island n n Spanish called Santa Catalina de Guale Georgia’s coast was called Guala named after the natives there