15th-18th centuries
Following Columbus' voyage in 1492, sponsored by Spain, the Spanish began to put together large exploration fleets to established colonies in the Americas.
Cortez led the first major exploration of the Americas for Spain in 1519. This expedition encountered the Aztecs. Later expeditions explored the coast of current day Florida where the Spanish would create their first settlement, St. Augustine. Later settlements would be established in current day Mexico and the southwest of the United States. During the late 18th century into the 19th century, Spain would begin to lose the vast empire it created in the Americas to a wave of independence movements.
