Spanish Motivation: Conquistadors Seek Gold and Land
This Grade 5 history skill in IMPACT California Social Studies examines how Spanish conquistadors explored North America seeking gold and land after conquering empires in Central and South America. Students learn that Juan Ponce de Leon explored and named Florida, while Francisco Coronado searched the Southwest for rumored cities of gold. Though neither found the riches they sought, their expeditions claimed vast territories for Spain and expanded its empire into North America, establishing Spanish authority across a huge portion of the continent.
Key Concepts
After conquering empires in the south, Spanish explorers looked north for more treasure. They sent expeditions into lands that are now part of the United States, hoping to find cities of gold.
Conquistadors like Juan Ponce de León explored and named Florida .
Common Questions
Who were the conquistadors?
Conquistadors were Spanish soldiers and explorers who conquered indigenous peoples and claimed their lands for Spain in the 1500s. After defeating the Aztec Empire in Mexico and the Inca Empire in South America, they turned north looking for more treasure in what is now the United States.
What did Juan Ponce de Leon discover?
Juan Ponce de Leon was the first European to reach what is now Florida. He explored the region in 1513 and named it La Florida. He returned in 1521 in an attempt to establish a colony but was driven off by Native resistance.
Who was Francisco Coronado and what did he search for?
Francisco Coronado was a Spanish conquistador who led a massive expedition through the American Southwest from 1540 to 1542. He was searching for the legendary Seven Cities of Cibola, rumored to be cities of gold. He traveled through present-day Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, and Kansas, but found no gold.
Why did Spanish explorers believe there were cities of gold in North America?
Stories of fabulous wealth spread from Native peoples, and earlier successes finding gold and silver in Mexico and Peru encouraged the Spanish to believe rich civilizations might exist farther north. These rumors, such as the legend of El Dorado, motivated expensive expeditions into unknown territory.
What did Spain gain from the conquistador expeditions even without finding gold?
Although the conquistadors did not find the gold they sought, their expeditions mapped large areas of North America and established Spanish legal claims to enormous territories. Spain used these claims to build its colonial empire across the Southeast and Southwest.
How did conquistadors treat the indigenous peoples they encountered?
Conquistadors routinely used violence to conquer or displace Native peoples. They brought European diseases that devastated Native populations, seized land and resources, and sometimes enslaved indigenous people to work in mines or on plantations. Their arrival was catastrophic for most Native communities they encountered.