Profiles Index

Biography of Juan Sebastián Elcano
Juan Sebastián Elcano was a Basque sailor and navigator, and the first man to successfully complete a round-the-world naval voyage. He set out from Spain in 1519 as part of the Magellan expedition and returned in 1522, having led the fleet after Magellan's death.

Latin American History: Introduction to the Colonial Era
Of all the different time periods in the History of Latin America, the Colonial Era was the most important in shaping the modern character of the region. Here you can read six reasons why.

Biography of Ferdinand Magellan
Ferdinand Magellan was a Portuguese navigator and captain who led the first expedition that successfully circled the globe.

Bartolomé de Las Casas (1484-1566) Part One: Defender of the Indians
Biography of Fray Bartolome de Las Casas Part One

Biography of Pánfilo de Narváez
Pánfilo de Narváez was a Spanish explorer and conquistador who participated in early conquests of the Caribbean. Later, he was permitted to explore and conquer the area of present-day Florida. The expedition was a disaster: of the 300 men who accompanied Narvaez, only four survived.

The Colonization of Guatemala
The region of present-day Guatemala posed many challenges for would-be conquistadors and colonizers.

Fray Bartolomé de Las Casas (1484-1566) Part Two: Las Casas' Later Years
Fray Bartolomé de Las Casas biography part two