Hernan Cortez Conquered the Aztec Empire of Mexico

Hernan Cortez • Conquered the Aztec Empire of Mexico. (1521) • Contributed to Spain’s wealth by exporting raw materials. • Brought Christianity to the Aztecs.

Vasco da Gama • First European to sail from Portugal to India. (1498) • Portugal became a superpower & controlled the sea route between Asia & Europe. • Brought valuable spices back to Europe.

Ferdinand Magellan • Proved that the world was round & the Pacific Ocean was large. • Brought fame by conducting the first trip around the earth. (1519) • Increased Spain’s power & control over distant lands.

Francisco Pizarro • Earned immense wealth for Spain after his conquest of the Incas. (1531) • His conquest of South America would spread the Spanish language, religion, and culture throughout the continent. • His presence in South America would devastate the continent through the spread of disease & forced labor.

Francisco Xavier • Traveled to Asia spreading to start a “Christian Century. ”(1542) • Strongly criticized church corruption. • Named the patron saint of missionaries for his successes in Asia.

Vasco Nunez de Balboa • Balboa was influenced by the exploration of Christopher Columbus • Balboa was the 1 st European to see the Pacific Ocean • Balboa hunted for gold in Panama and often used the native people as slaves.

John Cabot • Sponsored by King Henry VII to beat Spain in finding a route to China • Cabot discovered land that would later be the location of the American Colonies • Despite evidence of Native inhabitants, Cabot claimed land for England

Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo • First Spanish Explorer to discover what is now California (1542) • Helped gather wealth for Spain by trading with the native population • Spaniards sought to convert natives to Christianity & in the process brought many contagious diseases

Christopher Columbus • Sponsored by Queen Isabella of Spain to find a route to Asia • Columbus landed in the Bahamas & brought natural resources and native people back to Spain • Arawak and Taino people caught European diseases & were also tortured and killed.