explorers7balboa2

Vasco Nunez de Balboa

By Rachel, Emma, Ayesha, and Britt.
** Who was Balboa? ** Vasco Nunez de Balboa was a Spanish explorer who was the one of the first Europeans to see the Pacific Ocean from the Americas and who claimed the entire ocean for his home country Spain. He found the Pacific Ocean after crossing South America at its narrowest point - the Isthmus of Panama. He called the ocean the "South Sea" because he traveled south to find it. Balboa corssed the land at its narrowest point. He claimed for Spain ,what we now call the "Pacific Ocean", found on the other side. Balboa was born in Jerez de los Caballeros, Spain, 1475, to a poor noble family, and died in 1519. He was uneducated. ** Ryan, Peter, and Chris Molan. //Explorers and Mapmakers//. London: Evans Brothers, 2001. Print. page numbers? Quote? **



When did Balboa Sail?
In 1501 he first sailed across the Atlantic from Spain, and to the new world with Rodrigo de Bastidas. He was the officer in charge of five other soldiers whose job was to protect the expedition. So only 6 guys were on the boat?

In 1513, he made his famous expedition through the jungles of the Ithmus of Panama. He went from the Atlantic coast of central America, across South America at its narrowist point - the Isthmus - and discovered the Pacific Ocean which he called "South Sea" //(Mar del Sur//)//.// "Vasco Nuñez De Balboa." //Photography by Bruce C. Ruiz//. 12 Sept. 2002. Web. 09 May 2011. []. Above is a picture of Balboa's boat

Where did Balboa Go? In 1513 Balboa sialed with 90 spaniards and a lot of indians from spain to cuba, and walked across the Isthmus of Panama, to the other side ... where he claimed the Pacific Ocean for Spain. He went on this voyage becuase he wanted to do something to impress the king of Spain, so he would make him the official governor of Darien (the settlement Balboa founded).

"** Therefore, early in September 1513, Balboa led an expedition of about 90 Spaniards and a large number of Indians to find this large ocean the Indians had told him about. " **
 * - [] **


 * ﻿Why did he go? **

Balboa sailed across the Isthmus of Panama in 1513 becuase he wanted to find an ocean the natives of his settlement (darien) told him about. He wanted to find the ocean and claim it for spain, so he could impress the king of spain, and the king of spain would make him the official governor of Darien.

"** Knowing his claim to the governorship of Dari,n was weak (it had not been approved by the King of Spain), Balboa needed to do something spectacular that would win the King's approval." ** ** - []  **

** ﻿What happened as he landed and as he was sailing? Check spelling in this paragraph **

**Once reaching South America, Balboa and his crew explored the coast line further. Eventually they came uppon a cape. Later on in their expedition, they searched for goods such as gold in what is now known as Colombia. Searching for treasure in this area was not easy, for they had many obsticals. Natives were very protective of their land, and used poison arrows and darts, as a defence mechanism. They only explored the coast, fearing that inland they would have more trouble with the natives. They continued to sail in the Gulf of Urabá and then started north west. They sailed along the coast of what is now Panama. While visiting Panama, they noticed the they natives where quite different the the ones they met northern. These natives were quite friendly and were willing to trade with the explorers. They traded goods such as gold and food, for other items the explorers had at hand. Also, poison arrows and darts were absent in this area. Balboa and his crew managed to travel about a total of 200 miles along the coast of South America in just over 4 months.**

"Vasco Nuñez De Balboa." //Photography by Bruce C. Ruiz//. 12 Sept. 2002. Web. 09 May 2011. []. **﻿** **﻿By 1511, Balboa had becmoe the commandor of the colony of Antigua and governor of Castilla de Oro. He organized expeditions into the countryside to conquer hostile natives and to make treaties with friendly ones.** (summarized from [|**http://bruceruiz.net/PanamaHistory/vasco_nunez_**] ** __balboa_1.htm__) **

"Vasco Nuñez De Balboa." //Photography by Bruce C. Ruiz//. 12 Sept. 2002. Web. 09 May 2011. []. **﻿** "Vasco Nunez De Balboa: Spanish Conquistador and Explorer." Enchanted Learning. Web. 9 May 2011. []. what was his crime exactly??
 * ﻿In 1511 Balboa founded the first European colony in South America, called the town of Santa Maria de al Antigua del Darien. **
 * He married a woman of the name Careta, who was the daughter of one of the local Indian Chiefs in Santa Maria. **
 * Balboa came across many rainforests. While making there way through the forest, the managed to kill and fight many of the natives. They spend as much as a month robbing natives of the gold. **
 * Balboa was accused of treason against his own country, Spain. He was found guilty, even though he was innocent. Because of his accused crime, he was publicly beheaded in January of 1519. **