Explorer: Vasco Nunez de Balboa

1. What is known about Balboa's birth and early life? When? Where? Family?
2. When did Balboa sail to the New World?
3. How did he live in Hispaniola?
4. How did Balboa get from Hispaniola to Panama? Why was that dangerous?
5. What animal did he have with him? What was its name?
6. What was Darien? How was Balboa connected to it?
7. Who was Encino? Was he a friend to Balboa? Explain!
8. Describe Balboa's relations with the Indians.
9. Who was Chima?
10. Who was Fulvia? Why was Balboa thankful to her?
11. Why did Balboa explore south to the "great water"?
12. What did he discover?
13. Who was Pedrarias? Why was he jealous of Balboa?
14. How did Pedrarias get rid of Balboa?
15. When, where and how did Balboa die? How old was he?

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Encarta - the online version of the popular encyclopedia.

The Catholic Encyclopedia

Encyclopaedia Britannica

Biography - A&E's popular show online! Type your explorer's name to search for their biography.

An excellent source of detailed information about explorers, maps, the times they lived in and their technology can be found on the Discoverer's Web. It includes a biography of Balboa with links to other sites.

Books:
Vasco Núnez de Balboa by Maureen Ash. Chicago: Childrens Press, c1990.
A world explorer: Vasco Núnez de Balboa by Faith Yingling Knoop. Champaign, Ill., Garrard Pub. Co. [1969]
Balboa of Darién, discoverer of the Pacific by Kathleen Romoli.  Garden City, N.Y., Doubleday, 1953.
Search the Lakewood Public Library Online Catalog for additional titles