Juan de Girjalva (?-1527)

Francisco Hernández de Córdoba was sent west by Diego Velazquez in 1517. He discovered what he believed to be an island, and called it Yucatán. Here he found people with a much higher culture than the Carribeans: The Mayans. They wore cotton garments, lived in stone houses forming cities, and cultivated maize. He found some evidence that there were gold and silver in the land, but also that the Mayans practiced human sacrifice. The Mayans attacked the Spanish, and half of Cordoba's men died, most others were wounded. Cordoba went back to Cuba to report, and there died of his wounds.

The 1518, Juan de Grijalva was sent out to explore the country further. He landed near the island of Cozumel, then followed the coast to the northeast. He also met resistance from the Mayans, but later found some more friendly chiefs as well. He followed the coast all the way to the Panuco River, and the indians told him about a mighty lake kingdom in the interior - the Aztec empire. A third expedition was despatched by Velazquez, this time led by Hernando Cortez, who would become famous as the conqueror of the Aztec kingdom.