Francisco Hernández expedition (1570–1577) facts for kids

The Francisco Hernández expedition was the first scientific trip to the New World. It was led by Francisco Hernández de Toledo, a doctor and naturalist who worked for King Philip II of Spain. He was well-known for his studies on herbal medicine.

This important expedition discovered many new plants that were not found in the Old World (Europe, Asia, Africa). These plants quickly became popular in Europe. Some examples include pineapples, cocoa (which makes chocolate!), and corn.

The Expedition to the New World

In 1570, King Philip II chose Hernández to be the main doctor for the New World. His mission was to go on a scientific journey to study the medicinal plants there. Hernández sailed to the New World in August 1571 with his son. They arrived in Veracruz, Mexico, in February 1572.

For three years, Hernández traveled through Mexico and Central America. He was joined by a geographer, painters, botanists, and native doctors. Together, they collected and identified many different plant samples.

Pineapple fruit, one of the many plants discovered by the expedition.

Hernández also learned about the culture and medical knowledge of the native Nahua peoples. He took many notes and created illustrations. Three native painters, named Antón, Baltazar Elías, and Pedro Vázquez, helped him with the artwork.

Amazing Plant Discoveries

The expedition found and described many interesting plants. These included:

• Pineapples
• Cocoa (called Cacahuatl by the locals)
• Corn
• Guaiacum officinale
• Smilax regelii
• Strychnos nux-vomica (known as Mahuatl Quauhtlepatli)
• Sweet granadilla
• Passionfruit

They also found plants used in special rituals, such as peyote, maguey, and Datura (also called devil's weed).

Studying Medicine and Illnesses

From March 1574 until he returned to Spain in 1577, Hernández lived in Mexico. There, he tested the plants he had collected to see their medical effects. He built a large collection of plants and studied local healing methods. He also explored ancient sites.

In 1576, a serious epidemic called cocoliztli spread. This word means "pest" in Nahuatl. Hernández worked with other doctors at the Royal Hospital of San José de los Naturales. He carefully described the symptoms of this illness.

Hernández also translated a book on natural history by Pliny the Elder into Castilian. His own work was huge, with 24 books about plants, one about animals, one about minerals, and ten volumes of paintings. These were sent to Spain to be published. The entire expedition cost a lot of money, about 60,000 ducats, which was a huge sum back then!

See also

In Spanish: Expedición de Francisco Hernández de Toledo (1570-1577) para niños