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Christopher Columbus was an explorer who went west with three ships in search of India. He left Palos, Spain and went west. He curved down south and landed in Watling's island. He did some island hopping before going back. He had a total of 4 trips to the West Indies in his life. His trips inspired many other explorers. He lit the fire of exploration into the new world. He died on May 20 1506.
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Hernado Cortez went to the new world after failing law school. He went to Santo Domingo and then to Cuba. There he got a job to explore west. In Mexico he conquered the Aztecs. King Charles of Spain then sent another explorer named Mendoza. Cortez and Mendoza competed to be the best. In the end Cortez lost and went back to Spain.
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De Soto went to Panama. He participated in military conquests of Panama and Nicaragua until 1420. He then went and made t he first settlement of Peru. He then seized the Aztec emperor. He searched for gold in Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Arkansas, North Carolina, and Tennessee. He captured many village heads and ransom them.
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Pineda was a mapmaker. He went around the Gulf of Mexico from Florida to Capo Rojo, Mexico. He then made a colony in Tampico. He was the first European in Texas.
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De Vaca joined an expedition to Florida. He and some of his companions got lost. They then took a boat to Texas and then stayed with some Indians. They walked and walked and finally reached northwestern Mexico. He then went back to Spain and told stories of gold which atracted some explorers to come find gold.
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Francisco Vasquez de Coronado went to Mexico and in 4 years became the governor. He heard rumors abour seven cities of gold. He then went through Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma, and Kansas to find them. He found the first city of "gold". The people rebelled and he started to destroy them. They finally lead him away with direction to second city, which did not exsist. He saw the Grand Canyon and the Colorado river but no gold.
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Robert La Salle went to Canada for adventure. He used his land for a fur trading post. The French government gave their support to help him in Ohio. He went down the Mississippi river to explore. He claimed the Mississippi basin for France. Trying to find the mouth of the river, he over shot and went to Texas. He was killed by Indians there.
