Curated OER
Conquistadors:Francisco Pizarro
Students determine the reasons for Francisco Pizarro's success in vanquishing the Incas. They research the factors that played the greatest role in the conquest of the Inca Empire and write a paper explaining their conclusions.
Curated OER
The Conquistadors
Eighth graders identify conquistadors and discover how they were funded. After gathering information on Cortez and Pizarro, 8th graders create a Venn Diagram to compare the two conquistadors. They examine characteristics of the Spanish...
Internet History Sourcebooks Project
Fordham University: Modern History Sourcebook: Ferdinand Magellan's Voyage Round the World
A recount by a member of the crew of the voyage of Ferdinand Magellan to the Philippines in the 16th century, where he was killed, and of the remaining voyage his crew took in the eastern oceans, then back to Spain.
PBS
New Perspectives on the West: Coronado's Report to Viceroy Mendoza
This is the original report Coronado sent to the viceroy describing his journey from Mexico to what he hoped were the Seven Cities of Gold. He describes the land, people, climate, food, animals.
PBS
Pbs the West: Alvar Nunez Cabeza De Vaca
A biography of this Spanish explorer who was born in 1490. Click on "route" for a map of his travels, and click on "account" for a translation of his published account of his experiences.
PBS
Pbs: Conquistadors: Franciso Pizarro
Use the navigation at the left to click into more information on the Incas and the Spanish conquest by Francisco Pizarro.
PBS
Pbs: Conquistadors: Cabeza De Vaca
Click on "The Marvelous Adventure" to follow Cabeza de Vaca's several year journey through the Southeast and Texas. Part of a larger site on the Spanish conquest of the Western world, these pages focus on Cabeza de Vaca. Includes de...
PBS
Pbs: Conquistadors: Francisco De Orellana
This site has information on the search for El Dorado and the exploration of Amazonia by Francisco de Orellana. He travelled to the mouth of the Amazon River. The site has plenty of images, maps and video too.
Mariners' Museum and Park
Mariners' Museum: Francisco Pizarro
A not-so-nice, yet successful Spanish explorer, Francisco Pizarro is featured in a biography for conquering Peru and working his way up the Pacific coast to discover land in Central America. Check out his route and details of his...
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Harcourt: Biographies: Hernando Cortes 1485 1547
Furnished is a brief summary of the life and explorations of Spanish explorer, Hernando Cortes. Take a look at the photos and maps of his journey of what today is called Mexico.
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Harcourt: Biographies: Alvar Nunez Cabeza De Vaca
Gain insight into the life and adventures of Spanish explorer, Cabeza de Vaca, whose expeditions led him to Texas and Mexico.
University of Calgary
The Conquest of the Inca Empire: Francisco Pizarro
This historical note on the conquest of the Inca Empire by Francisco Pizarro is illustrated and linked to continuing discussion about the age of exploration.
A&E Television
Biography: Ferdinand Magellan
A biography on the life and voyages of 16th century Portuguese explorer, Ferdinand Magellan, who was the first to circumnavigate the globe, although he did not survive the journey. Magellan was Portuguese but he commanded a Spanish fleet.
A&E Television
Biography: Francisco Pizarro
A biography of 16th century Spanish explorer and conquistador Francisco Pizarro, who traveled with Vasco Nunez de Balboa and helped to discover the Pacific Ocean. Pizarro also conquered Peru and founded the city of Lima there.
A&E Television
Biography: Juan Ponce De Leon
A biography of Juan Ponce de Leon, a Spanish explorer from the 15th and 16th centuries. He was at one point the governor of Puerto Rico, and is credited with discovering Florida. Ponce de Leon is also remembered for having searched the...
Curated OER
National Park Service: Coronado National Memorial: Coronado's Seven Cities
Read about Francisco Coronado's quest for the Seven Cities of Cibola that took him across the Southwest and into the Midwest. Included is a link to a map showing his route.
BBC
Bbc: History: The Story of the Conquistadors
A well known historian tells the story of the early Spanish explorers known as "conquistadors". He discusses their motivation, what effect they had on the native American societies and much more. Archived.
A&E Television
History.com: Ferdinand Magellan
A biography of Ferdinand Magellan, a 16th century Portuguese explorer who travelled with a Spanish fleet, and an account of his voyage around the world, from which he did not return.
Other
Spain's Empire in the Americas [Ppt]
A brief slideshow that presents key ideas about the Spanish Empire in the Americas. Students must then answer four questions in an assessment.
Internet History Sourcebooks Project
Fordham University: Modern History Sourcebook: Hernan Cortes
Fordham University gives the text of Cortes' second letter to King Charles V, describing the Aztec capital city, Tenochtitlan, and the people who lived there.
The History Cat
The History Cat: Rise and Fall of the Incan Empire
Describes the achievements and sophistication of the Incan Empire prior to being conquered by the Spaniards under Francisco Pizarro. Pizarro had their emperor, Atahualpa, executed after keeping him captive for months while the Inca gave...
McGraw Hill
Mc Graw Hill Higher Education: Old World, New Worlds
This article from McGraw-Hill Higher Education discusses European exploration in the late 1400s and 1500s and its impact on English colonization hundreds of years later.
Enchanted Learning
Enchanted Learning: Ferdinand Magellan: World Explorer
A short biography of Ferdinand Magellan.
Enchanted Learning
Enchanted Learning: Francisco Pizarro: Explorer
A short biography of Francisco Pizarro.