EARLY EXPLORATION

EQ: Why did Spain and Portugal want to find a sea route to Asia?

School of Navigation

Maps made more accurateStronger ships

All this encouraged exploration

Francisco Nunes de Balboa

Balboa claims dominion over the South Seas. In 1510, Francisco Núñez de Balboa (1475-1519) established a settlement at Darien in present-day Panama. He led an expedition to the west coast of the isthmus and became the first European to look out on what he called "the south seas." When he saw the new body of water, Balboa exclaimed, "¡Qué pacífico!" ("how calm!"), thus naming it and claiming it for Spain. Unhappily, his jealous father-in-law, Pedrarias Dávila, later had Balboa tried for treason and beheaded.

To Settle dispute between Portugal & Spain over claims of land in the Americas

WEST WESTAMERICAS

ASIA

ROUNDROUND