What areas of North America did the Spanish explore?CalifroniaCentral AmericaMexicoFlorida

The Spanish explored several areas in North America, including:

1. California: Spanish exploration of California began when Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo was sent by the Spanish crown in 1542 to search for a mythical strait connecting the Pacific Ocean to the Gulf of Mexico. Later, in the late 18th century, Spanish missionaries led by Junípero Serra established a series of missions along the California coast.

2. Central America: Christopher Columbus first landed in present-day Central America, specifically in Honduras, on his fourth voyage in 1502. Later, Hernán Cortés and his men explored and conquered much of Central America, including present-day Mexico.

3. Mexico: Hernán Cortés led the Spanish conquest of Mexico, landing in present-day Veracruz in 1519. He and his men then marched to the Aztec capital of Tenochtitlán, where they eventually overthrew the Aztec Empire.

4. Florida: Spanish explorer Juan Ponce de León landed on the east coast of Florida in 1513. He named the land "La Florida" in honor of Pascua florida, a Spanish term for the Easter season. Later, in the 16th and 17th centuries, the Spanish established several missions in Florida to convert the Native Americans to Christianity.