Mini Ice age 400 or 500 yrs ago; about what years was it? What evidence would have been its impact in N. Am.?

The reason I'm asking the question is is that was about the same time that the Spanish explorations were going on in North America.; CA, UT,AZ, NV, NM, TX. A mini ice age didn't seem to stop them and I can't find any information that they had any "extra" troubles because of it.