Travel Document Systems
Tds: Solomon Islands: History
Find out about the history of the people who inhabited Solomon Islands, their importance in World War II, and the recent history. Information is from the U.S. State Dept. Background Notes.
Curated OER
National Park Service: Hernando De Soto
A biography of Spanish conquistador Hernando de Soto who explored the southern coast of what became the United States. Read about his travels and demise.
Other
Santa Fe: Hispanic Culture
Learn about Santa Fe, New Mexico and its Hispanic cultural heritage in art, architecture, food, and social life.
Other
The Conquest of North America by Hernando De Soto, Coronado and Cabeza De Vaca
Describes the conquest of North America in the 1500s by the explorers Hernando de Soto, Vasquez de Coronado, and Cabeza de Vaca. The text has many embedded links to maps showing the routes they traveled as well as to additional information.
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.
University of Texas at Austin
University of Texas: Exploration and Settlement Before 1675
A great map showing the explorations of Spanish, French, and English explorers in North America between 1530 and 1675. A detailed key identifies each explorer and route. From the Perry-Castaneda Collection
Texas State Historical Association
Texas State Historical Association: European Exploration [Pdf]
An activity guide where students refer to the Texas Almanac, which is free to download, for information needed to complete assigned tasks. In this lesson, students are asked to research Spanish and French explorers and create a 'living...
Nebraska Studies
Nebraska Studies: Horses Change Native Lives
Learn how Spain's introduction of horses dramatically impacted the lives of the Native Indians.
Other
Texas Bob: The First Europeans in Texas: 1528 1536
One of the first Europeans to penetrate the interior of Texas, read Alvar Nunez Cabeza de Vaca's account of his shipwreck and eventual return to the Spanish Court.
Other
Texas Bob: The Journey of Alvar Nunez Cabeza De Vaca
An English translation of Cabeza De Vaca's first-hand account of his journey and quest to claim territory from Florida to Mexico for Spain.
Mariners' Museum and Park
The Mariners' Museum: Exploration Through the Ages: Alonso Alvarez De Pineda
Little is known about Alonso Alvarez de Pineda's life except for the last year. Read about his explorations for Spain and his contributions to the Spanish empire.
Walled Lake Consolidated Schools
Loon Lake Elementary School: Juan Ponce De Leon
A biography of Spanish conquistador, Juan Ponce de Leon, who sailed with Columbus, and landed on Florida. Find pictures and maps of his exploration.
Success Link
Success Link: Explorer Poetry Booklet
After a study of explorers in the Americas, students write poetry to show what they know about individual explorers. This lesson plan gives guidelines, ways to adapt the lesson, a graphic organizer, and scoring guide.
Other
American Journeys: Relation of the Voyage of Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo
A brief relating of the life of Juan Rodriguez and the Cabrillo expedition, 1542-1543, up the coast of California.
Library of Congress
Loc: Parallel Histories: Atlantic and Gulf Coasts Settlements
Insights, primary and secondary source material and timeline on early exploration and Spanish settlement of Florida and the Atlantic Coast.
Library of Congress
Loc: Juan De Onate and the Founding of New Mexico
A brief description of Onate's life and work with links to related stories and many good sites about the Spanish exploration in the U.S.
Mariners' Museum and Park
The Mariner's Museum: Vasco Nunez De Balboa
A biography of the life of explorer Vasco Nunez de Balboa.
A&E Television
History.com: Vasco Nunez De Balboa
A short biography of Vasco Nunez de Balboa, a Spanish explorer, who is credited with sighting the Pacific Ocean while crossing the isthmus of Panama.
Enchanted Learning
Enchanted Learning: Vasco Nunez De Balboa
Learn about the life and times of Spanish conquistador and explorer Vasco Nunez de Balboa.