In the 1500s and 1600s, European powers were eager to explore the land we now call North America. After early contact along the coasts, explorers began pushing into the interior of the continent. Many hoped to find wealth—especially gold and silver—or to discover a faster route to Asia. Others wanted to claim land for their countries, spread their religion, or learn more about the geography of the land. These expeditions often led to major changes in the regions they explored.

As European explorers traveled deeper into North America, they documented what they saw. They made maps, wrote journals, and sent reports back to Europe. These records helped future explorers and colonists—and in many cases, laid the groundwork for future settlement, trade, and colonization.

Francisco Vásquez de Coronado: Searching for Cities of Gold

In the 1540s, Spanish explorer Francisco Vásquez de Coronado led an expedition into the interior of the American Southwest. He was searching for the legendary “Seven Cities of Gold,” but he never found them. Instead, he traveled through areas that are now Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma, and Kansas. Coronado’s expedition helped Spain expand its geographic knowledge of the region. His team created maps and records of rivers, landforms, and communities that had not yet appeared in European sources.

During the expedition, Coronado’s group encountered many Indigenous nations. These interactions were often marked by violence and demands placed on local communities by the Spanish. While Coronado did not find riches or establish permanent colonies, his journey increased Spain’s interest in the Southwest and contributed to later efforts to settle and control the region.

Hernando de Soto: Exploring the Southeast

Hernando de Soto, also from Spain, led an expedition into the southeastern part of North America between 1539 and 1542. He explored areas that are now Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, and Arkansas. Like Coronado, de Soto hoped to find gold and conquer new territory for Spain.

De Soto’s expedition returned with valuable observations about the land and peoples of the Southeast. His team was the first known group of Europeans to record the Mississippi River. Although he died during the expedition, the information collected was used in Spanish maps and reports. De Soto’s route also led to long-lasting effects on the Indigenous nations of the region. His expedition introduced new diseases and caused violent clashes, which disrupted local communities and changed patterns of life in the years that followed.

Henry Hudson: Searching for a Passage

In the early 1600s, Henry Hudson explored parts of northeastern North America while working for both the Dutch and the English. His main goal was to find a sea route to Asia through the Arctic or across the continent. Though he never found such a route, his journeys led to detailed knowledge of areas that are now New York and parts of eastern Canada. The Hudson River, named after him, was one of the major waterways he explored.

Hudson’s maps and reports made the region more accessible to future colonists. Dutch settlers later used this information to build trade routes and outposts, including the settlement of New Amsterdam—now known as New York City. His expedition played a role in shaping European interest in the Northeast.

The Lasting Impact

European expeditions into the interior of North America were driven by hopes of wealth, power, and discovery. Though many explorers did not find the riches or trade routes they sought, their journeys had major effects. They mapped new territories, documented landforms and waterways, and claimed land for European powers.

These expeditions also had lasting impacts on the Indigenous peoples of North America. In many cases, contact with explorers led to the spread of new diseases, violent conflict, and the disruption of established societies. Some Indigenous communities were forced to relocate, while others experienced cultural change through new trade relationships or pressure from colonizers. The legacy of these expeditions shaped both European colonization and the lives of Indigenous nations across the continent.

Source: European Expeditions in North America
Exploros, Inc.