Exploration and Empire Section 1: Early Explorations - Columbus. Before Columbus's voyage, Europeans did not know the Western Hemisphere existed. - During the 1400's, Europeans became interested in finding a short sea route to the Far East--a region of spices and other valuable goods. - Columbus, an Italian navigator, believed he could find a short route to the East by sailing west. - Financed by the Spanish king and queen, he set sail westward from Spain …showed first 75 words of 1490 total…

…showed last 75 words of 1490 total…Coronado set out from Campostela near the west coast of Mexico on an expedition to find the legendary Seven Cities of Cibola. - These supposedly rich and flourishing cities were thought to lie north of Mexico City. Coronado traveled through what are now Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma, and Kansas. - He found no important cities, but his expedition and that of de Soto gave Europeans a good idea of the width of North America.