Who AM I? The Explorers

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He sailed from Puerto Rico and explored Florida. Some history books say he was looking for the fountain of youth.

Juan Ponce de León

He led an expedition through the American Southeast in search of

gold. He became the first European to see the

Mississippi River.

Hernando De Soto

He set out to find a route to the Indies by sailing

around the southern tip of South America. His crew completed the first known voyage around the world

after he was killed.

Ferdinand Magellan

He kidnapped Taino people and brought them back to Spain.

Christopher Columbus

His forces conquered the

Inca empire ruled by

Atahualpa.

Francisco Pizarro

He led an expedition across Central America to what later was named the Pacific Ocean.

Vasco Núñez de

Balboa

He was a sailor on the voyage around the world with

Magellan. We know a lot about the voyage because he

kept a journal of the trip.

Antonio Pigafetta

This explorer met the Pueblo people and saw the Grand Canyon, but never found gold.

Francisco Coronado

He sailed around the tip of Africa and opened up trade between Portugal and Asia.

Vasco da

Gama

Shipwrecked during an expedition from Cuba, he reached what is now Texas in 1528. He became the first Spaniard to explore Texas.

Álvar Núñez Cabeza de Vaca

This Portuguese explorer believed that

he was exploring a new continent, not Asia.

Amerigo Vespucci

This Tlaxcalan woman acted as a translator between

Cortes and Moctezuma.

Doña Marina

(or Malinche)

After he sailed around the tip of South America,

he entered an ocean that had been

discovered by Balboa. He named it “Pacific”

because it was peaceful.

Ferdinand Magellan

He was the first European to step foot in Florida. Spain claimed Florida because of his explorations.

Juan Ponce de León

North and South

America were named

after him.

Amerigo Vespucci

He explored the American Southwest in search of the rumored Seven Cities of Gold.

He claimed the land he explored for Spain.

Francisco Coronado

Emperor Moctezuma believed this

explorer might be the

returning god Quetzecoatl.

Hernando

Cortés

After winning a war with his brother, this Inca

leader was captured by Pizarro. He was held for ransom and later killed.

Atahualpa

He sailed with three ships, and was the

captain of the largest one, the Santa Maria.

Christopher Columbus

He led an expedition from Cuba to Mexico that ended with the conquest of Moctezuma and the Aztec.

Hernando Cortes