Christopher Columbus, the New World, and the Early Spanish Explorers
In 1492, an Italian explorer named Christopher Columbus wanted to sail from Europe and look for new lands. His country, Italy, would not give him the money to buy ships so Columbus went to Queen Isabella and King Ferdinand of Spain and asked for the money. The Spanish king and queen approved the money for Columbus.
Columbus purchased three ships; the Nina, the Pinta, and the Santa Maria and headed from Europe and landed on the coast of North America on October 12, 1492. He was in the New World. Columbus returned to Spain and told the people about the New World. Spain immediately began sending explorers to explore the lands found by Columbus. Among the most important Spanish explorers called conquistadors were:
Early English Explorers
Later explorers from England came to the New World including Sir Walter Raleigh and Sir Francis Drake. These English explorers explored mainly in current-day North America. The first English settlement was created and built in Jamestown, Virginia in 1607.
The land that Columbus came to, of course, already had Native American people here. Unfortunately, many of these Native American people were killed by the Spanish in South and Central America and by the English in North America.
In 1492, an Italian explorer named Christopher Columbus wanted to sail from Europe and look for new lands. His country, Italy, would not give him the money to buy ships so Columbus went to Queen Isabella and King Ferdinand of Spain and asked for the money. The Spanish king and queen approved the money for Columbus.
Columbus purchased three ships; the Nina, the Pinta, and the Santa Maria and headed from Europe and landed on the coast of North America on October 12, 1492. He was in the New World. Columbus returned to Spain and told the people about the New World. Spain immediately began sending explorers to explore the lands found by Columbus. Among the most important Spanish explorers called conquistadors were:
- o Coronado—Between 1540 and 1542. Coronado explored from present day Mexico all the way to Kansas
- o De Sota—Explorered area of current U. S. and discovered the Mississippi River.
- o Cortes—Conquered the Aztecs in Mexico
Early English Explorers
Later explorers from England came to the New World including Sir Walter Raleigh and Sir Francis Drake. These English explorers explored mainly in current-day North America. The first English settlement was created and built in Jamestown, Virginia in 1607.
The land that Columbus came to, of course, already had Native American people here. Unfortunately, many of these Native American people were killed by the Spanish in South and Central America and by the English in North America.