The expedition organized and led by the Portuguese navigator Ferdinand Magellan was the first circumnavigation of the World of history. But he could not complete it because he died in a confrontation with the natives in the Philippines Islands. Juan Sebastian Elcano, who captained the expedition from Tidore to Spain,
Tag: Expeditions
Contour of Cuba sailed by Sebastián de Ocampo
It's the year 1508. Once the political and economic situation normalized in the Hispaniola island Nicolás de Ovando ordered to extend the borders of the new Castilian lands sending expeditions to Cuba and Borinquén (now Puerto Rico). For the first expedition, he sent the Galician navigator Sebastian de Ocampo. On this
Ojeda leaves for Urabá, the governorate that would never govern
In 1508 took place the transcendental Junta de Burgos in which the king Fernando el Católico named the navigator Américo Vespuccio and Pilotos Reales as Chief Pilot to the explorers Juan de la Cosa, Juan Díaz de Solís and Vicente Yáñez Pinzón. In this meeting, the aim was to consolidate
Vasco Núñez de Balboa seizes power in Darien
Vasco Núñez de Balboa, from Jérez de los Caballeros (Badajoz - Spain), had crossed the Caribbean coasts in 1501 with Rodrigo de Bastidas. With the benefits he obtained in this expedition he bought several properties in Hispaniola Island where he worked as a farmer without great adventurous pretensions but things did
Juan de la Cosa, first cartographer of America
Born: 1450-1460 in Santoña, Cantabria - Spain. Death: 28 February 1510 in Turbaco ( present Colombia). Burial: Unknown. He died when he was wounded by poisoned arrows fired by the natives of this Colombian area. Charges: - Spanish navigator, cartographer and adventurer. - Spy for the Spanish crown in Portugal. - Appointed Mayor Marshal of Urabá but
First reconnaissance and rescue expedition of Alonso de Ojeda
On May 18,1499 the first discovering ships not commanded by Christopher Columbus departed from the Port of Santa María in Cadiz. This expedition, which marked the end of Columbus' exclusivity to organize voyages of exploration, was promoted by Rodriguez de Fonseca to verify the veracity of what Columbus announced in
More voyages of discovery… Andalusian journeys
In addition to that first voyage of Alonso de Ojeda and Juan de la Cosa in 1499, several expeditions, called minor or Andalusian journeys, promoted by the crown but financed by private capital whose objective was to recognize and to trade in the coasts travelled by Columbus in his third
License to Discover: End of Columbus’ Privilege
We are about to reach a turning point in the process of discovering the American lands. With the arrival of the new 16th century, there will be a major change in the way of discovering and involving new actors. In September 1499, news reached Santo Domingo that unknown ships had landed
Rábida Monastery, cradle of the Discovery of America
Rábida Monastery Where is it?: The Monastery of La Rábida is located in the city of Palos de la Frontera (Huelva - Spain). Description: - It is a small Franciscan monastery located in Palos de la Frontera, (Huelva - Spain), on the top of a hill next to the joint of the Tinto and
Juan de Oñate and the Conquest of New Mexico
In the sixties of the sixteenth century were found large silver mines in Chihuahua, which marked the northernmost area colonized by Spanish explorers. The possibility of more mines and other riches beyond this area aroused the curiosity and ambition of new explorers. But a new problem had arisen for these
Menéndez de Avilés and the foundation of San Agustín de la Florida
It is 1559, when France and Spain signed the Peace of Cateau-Cambrésis becomed allies. The danger of France colonizing territories in the New World had passed. But in reality, French pirates and privateers continued to harass the maritime routes of Spanish ships and to look for points where they could
Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo and the discovery of California
Most of the Spanish expeditions of colonization and conquest of North America focused on the southern zone, with the Gulf of Mexico and Florida, and the coast this. Many men and resources were allocated to the colonization of these points mainly because of their strategic military value, from there the
Francisco Vázquez de Coronado explores Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Kansas and Oklahoma
Francisco Vázquez de Coronado, born in Salamanca (Spain) in 1510. He arrived in Nueva España in 1535 and quickly became a trusted person of Viceroy Antonio de Mendoza. In 1538, he was appointed Governor of Nueva Galicia replacing the former, accused and convicted of mistreating the natives. As we told in
The Great Expedition Of Hernando De Soto In 1538 Through The North American South
Hernando de Soto, conqueror and explorator Hernando de Soto, born in Jerez de los Caballeros (Badajoz - Spain), arrived in the Indias in 1514 in the fleet colonization of the governor of Panama Pedrarias Davila. Two years later, he was named captain of cavalry and participated in various conquests in Central
The Viceroy Mendoza and the Seven Cities of Cibola
The name "Seven Cities of Cibola" comes from the early sixteenth century, specifically 1508, the year in which the book of chivalry of Amadís de Gaula was published in Spain that narrates the Muslim invasion of the Iberian Peninsula, seven bishops fled Spain with a fabulous treasure and took it