| | Before the Spaniards discovered Puerto Rico, it was populated by [[Taíno]] Indians. The Taínos were a peaceful, gentle nation. They welcomed the conquistadores and shared their homes and food and gave the Spaniards many gifts. | | Before the Spaniards discovered Puerto Rico, it was populated by [[Taíno]] Indians. The Taínos were a peaceful, gentle nation. They welcomed the conquistadores and shared their homes and food and gave the Spaniards many gifts. |
| − | [[Christopher Columbus]] sailed from [[Spain]] in his second voyage and discovered Puerto Rico on December 19, 1492. He named the island ''San Juan Bautista''. Columbus thought this island to be very beautiful and wrote so in his diary. Soon after, the island's name was changed to Puerto Rico. Columbus's ships were named [[The Niña|La Niña]], [[The Pinta|La Pinta]], and the [[Santa Maria|Santa María]]. [[Juan Ponce de Leon|Juan Ponce de León]] colonized Borinquen in 1508 and became its first governor. The Spaniard conquistadores were looking for [[gold]]. They made slaves of the Indians slowly killing them from overwork. Soon thereafter [[Africa]]n families were brought to the island as slaves. Ponce de León, the incredible explorer, was born in Valencia, Spain, in 1460. As a teenager he joined Spanish forces that defeated the [[Moors]]. In 1492 he accompanied Colombus in his second voyage to America. Later Ponce de León was granted a commission to explore Borinquen. He then set out to colonize the island of San Juan Bautista and build the first settlement called Caparra. He served as first governor from 1509-12. During his term as governor the island's name was changed from San Juan Bautista to Puerto Rico. Ponce de Leon went on to achieve other great accomplishments. His tomb is found at the San Juan Cathedral in Old San Juan. His family estate is the [[Casa Blanca]], a popular tourist site. | + | [[Christopher Columbus]] sailed from [[Spain]] in his second voyage and discovered Puerto Rico on December 19, 1492. He named the island ''San Juan Bautista''. Columbus thought this island to be very beautiful and wrote so in his diary. Columbus is revered today in Puerto Rico, although he personally may have never actually set foot on the island. Soon after, the island's name was changed to Puerto Rico. Columbus's ships were named [[The Niña|La Niña]], [[The Pinta|La Pinta]], and the [[Santa Maria|Santa María]]. [[Juan Ponce de Leon|Juan Ponce de León]] colonized Borinquen in 1508 and became its first governor. The Spaniard conquistadores were looking for [[gold]]. They made slaves of the Indians slowly killing them from overwork. Soon thereafter [[Africa]]n families were brought to the island as slaves. Ponce de León, the incredible explorer, was born in Valencia, Spain, in 1460. As a teenager he joined Spanish forces that defeated the [[Moors]]. In 1492 he accompanied Colombus in his second voyage to America. Later Ponce de León was granted a commission to explore Borinquen. He then set out to colonize the island of San Juan Bautista and build the first settlement called Caparra. He served as first governor from 1509-12. During his term as governor the island's name was changed from San Juan Bautista to Puerto Rico. Ponce de Leon went on to achieve other great accomplishments. His tomb is found at the San Juan Cathedral in Old San Juan. His family estate is the [[Casa Blanca]], a popular tourist site. |
| | Many families from [[Spain]] and other [[Europe]]an nations moved to the island. Slowly the Taíno Indians married either Africans or Europeans forming a new ethnic group called the Criollas. Today there are many European, African, and Criolla families in Puerto Rico. | | Many families from [[Spain]] and other [[Europe]]an nations moved to the island. Slowly the Taíno Indians married either Africans or Europeans forming a new ethnic group called the Criollas. Today there are many European, African, and Criolla families in Puerto Rico. |