The Early Exploration Of The New World

Christopher Columbus

Jan 1, 1492

In 1492 Columbus led his first expedition westward. He landed in the Bahamas, islands that he believed to be near Asia.

King Henry VII

Sep 18, 1497

In 1497 King Henry VII sent Cacbot on a voyage to the west. They thought that there might be a water route through the Americas that would lead north and west to Asia.

Vasco da Gama

Period: Dec 21, 1497 to Dec 21, 1498

In 1497-1498, Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama found such a route and sailed all the way to india.

Another Voyage

Oct 14, 1498

On another voyage in 1498, Columbus reached South America .

Amerigo Vespucci

Aug 5, 1500

After Columbus reached Soth America a mapmaker labled this new continent "America" for another explorer, Amerigo Vespucci. The name stuck

Powrerful Spain

Sep 16, 1500

In the early 1500s Spain was taking control of much of South and Central America and many Caribbean islands, including Cuba and Hispaniola.

Juan Ponce de Leon

Period: Sep 5, 1508 to Sep 18, 1509

He explored and settled the islands of Puerto Rico. Taking notice back to Spain King Ferdinand authorized Ponce de Leon to explore lands north of Cuba.

Ponce de Leon Expidition

Feb 16, 1513

In the early 1513 he set out with ships and crew. His expedition landed on the east coast of Florida, a name Ponce de Leon derived from the Spanish word flowers. The ships sailded down the east Floridancoast and through the Florida Keys then he cruised northward along the west coast of Florida for about 100 miles. Ponce de Leon's expedition revealed that large tracts of land ripe for exploration lay to the north of the Caribbean islands.

Powerful pain

Sep 16, 1520

Spain was the most powerful nation in the world. Spain explorers had claimed huge tracts of land in the New World. They were sending gold and silver back to Spain. From their base on Hispaniola in the Caribbean Sea, Spanish officials eyed the North American coast eagerly.

Giovanna da Verrazano

Jul 8, 1524

King Francis I of Franch sent Italian navigator Giovanni da Verrazano westward. Returning to France, Verrazano submitted a glowing report to the king but the king was occupied with military challenges so he did not sponser any more voyages to the Americas.

Lucas Vazquez de Ayllon

Jul 16, 1526

Ayllon had his eyes on the mainland of Florida. He had seen somne of the Atlantic coastline of this regoin on an expedition and intended to plant a strong colony for Spain along that coaaassst. Ayllon led a group of over 500 men, women, and children to a river he called "Jordan"

Ayllon Settlers Return

Oct 16, 1526

The Jordan failed due to diseaszes and starvation. Ayllon then took the colonist to a site in present day South Carolina but did no better. The diseases and starvation overwhelmed the settlers and ended up Ayllon dying there. In October the remaining 150 settlers returned back to Hispaniola.

Hernando de Soto

Nov 16, 1539

The Spanish wanted to know more about the interior of North Carolins so Soto sailed with a military expedition from Havana, Cuba to the west coast of Florida. From ther his soldiers marched northward to a site near present day Tallahassee, Florida.

Hernando de Soto Soldiers

Period: Nov 16, 1539 to Feb 16, 1540

Hernando de Soto Soldiers spent the winter in a site near present day Tallahassee, Florida. In the spring they crossed Georgia and South Carolina a passed through the western trip of North Carolina. They were the first Europeans to see thoughs regions. In the mountains they met the Cherokee Indians, who treated with generosity. Members of this expedition then traveled south and west DeSoto died on the trip but many of his men returned to Mexico.

Spaniards

Nov 30, 1560

Officials in Spain had seen the need to strengthen their hold on Florida and they responded promptly and fimly to French threats. Now the officials, soldiers, and priests set about tightening Spanish control and converting the Indians to Catholicism. With possession of Florida fairly secure and greater wealth to the south, Spaniards foucused their attention southward after the 1560s.

Huguenots

Apr 16, 1562

France sent a colony under the control on Jean Ribault to North America they were called Huguenots also know as French Prostestants. Some Huguenots sought religious freedom in the New World. In April Ribault's Huguentots attempted to settle near present day Port Royal, South Carolina. The reasons why the colonist chose Port Royal because they needed to habor their ships, repair them as to get them fresh water, wood, and other necessaries and there was no fairer place.

Mission

May 23, 1566

With a secure hold on Florida, the Spaniards lookied northwest. An expedition set out for Chesapeake Bay from the West Indies to set up a Catholic mission. Strong winds preventeeeed the expedition from Chesapeake Bay so they entered an inlet in North Carolina's Outer Banks and saiiled into Albemarle Sound. There Pedro de Coronas marked their landing by placing a wooden croos on the shoreStorms again prevented them from sailing so they returned to the West Indies.

Pardo-Boyano Expedition

Nov 26, 1566

Soon after the victory at Fort Caroline, Spanish officials orgsnized an expedition to explore again the interior country north of Florida. Late 1566, Juan Pardo and Hernando Boyano led a small group of men to the South Carolina coast. They push north and west nearly on the same path as de Soto had taken nearly 25 years earlier. The expedition entered the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains where the soldiers built a fort. The next few years, however, the Spanish abandoned these forts.

St. Augustine

Sep 17, 1569

To the Spanish officials the French fort looked like a direct threat so in 1569 Spain sent troops under Pedro Menendez de Aviles to Florida. Menendeeez built a fort t St. Augustine south of Fort Caroline. Meanwhile Ribault prepared for attack but a storm wrecked his fleet, however, Menendez lost no time dealing with the unlucky French. HE captured Fort Caroline and killed most of the French. Later on Menendez built forts throughoout Florida to strengthen Spain's grip.