Episode 1.1: Pedro Menéndez de Avilés, the Father of Florida

History: Beyond the Textbook

Send us a text

The phrase "conquistador" is often associated with men like Cortes and Pizarro...men who conquered the great civilizations south of the Rio Grande. But what about the conquistadors who made a name for themselves in what became the United States? In the first episode of "History: Beyond the Textbook," we explore the man who is credited with founding St. Augustine Florida, the oldest European city in the contiguous United States: Pedro Menéndez de Avilés.
Key People
Pedro Menéndez de Avilés, Spanish conquistador
Jean Ribault, French colonial
Key Events
Founding of St. Augustine, Florida

The second season of History: Beyond the Textbook focuses on the stories of individuals who shaped the Revolutionary era in American history, and runs from February 27-May 7.
Feel free to contact us with feedback or questions at: [e-mail]