Christopher Columbus - Found "America"
Christopher Columbus, an Italian explorer, sailed to "Asia" by going west from Spain in 1492. He did not know that when he went west, there would be not one, but two huge continents in his way. When he got their he claimed the area of Haiti and the Dominican Republic for Spain. On his return back, he brough back some colorful birds, Native American slaves, spices, and gold. The queen and king of Spain were very happy and then sent him on three more explorations.
Hernan Cortes- Conquerer of the Aztecs
Hernan Cortes was a Spanish explorer. He went to Mesoamerica in 1519. Cortes wanted to go and conquer the Aztecs. The Aztecs did not want to fight him at first because they thought that Cortes was their sun god, Quetzalcoatl. Cortes went to fight the Aztecs but lost. He came back later after much of the Aztec population was wiped out by smallpox.
Ferdinand Magellan
Ferdinand Magellan was an explorer who represented Spain. Magellan left Spain in 1520 to try to finish what Columbus started. He found his way around South America, Strait of Magellan. After he went around South America, he sailed further west to the Phillipines. While there, the locals killed Magellan; however, his crew made it back to Spain and were the first crew to sail all around the world.
Francisco Pizarro
Francisco Pizarro was a Spanish explorer looking for the golden empire. When he found the Incan Empire in the 1530s, he asked the Inca King, Atahualpa, to give up their gods. Atahualpa laughed in his face. This caused Pizarro to get angry and caused a war. He captured Atahualpa. Atahualpa gave Pizarro two cells full of gold and silver for his release. Pizarro agreed just to backstab him and turned him in to the Spanish king. Atahualpa was found guilty and was executed. Pizarro then became governor of Peru.