Vasco Nunez de Balboa: First European to Reach the Pacific Ocean from the New World (Spotlight on Explorers and Colonization)

The human spirit of discovery has always driven explorers to forge unchartered routes to distant territories. Before the discovery of the New World, explorers from Europe, Africa, and Asia brought the culture, politics, and customs of their homes to far-away lands. These actions encouraged trade, the spread of ideas and technology, and cultural interaction and exchange. This spirit of exploration continued with the European discovery and colonization of the Americas. The biographies in this series detail the lives and deeds of the most noteworthy explorers to cross the high seas or tread new routes across continents. Each title investigates their motivations, the often negative physical and cultural effects of exploration on native peoples, and, in turn, the influence of foreign cultures on society back home. ~Amber