Early Explorers

First Steps in a New Land

1

Columbus Sights a New World

• Lands Caribbean island October 1492

• Italian sailing under Spanish flag

• Spain claims most of S. America, Caribbean, Mexico, Central America, & part of present-day U.S.

• Columbus returned to Americas 3 times

2

New Spain• Conquistadors – Spanish

soldiers seeking gold and glory for themselves– Built towns, laid out roads,

opened mines, developed farms/ranches

• Friars – Catholic priests– Convert natives to Catholic

faith; established missions (religious settlements) 3

Cortés Lands in Mexico

• Feb 1519 – Hernan Cortés sails from Cuba to Mexico with 500 soldiers

• Aztecs welcomed Cortés – believed he was a god (Quetzalcoatl)

• Aztec capital city (Tenochtitlán) – palaces, zoos, gold, silver

• Spanish imprisoned & killed Aztec leader (Moctezuma) then torn down capital and took treasures – rebuilt and renamed Mexico City

• Because of treasures, other Spanish are inspired 4

Álvarez de Pineda Explores Texas

• 1519 – Alonso Álvarez de Pineda becomes 1st European to explore Texas coast

• Sailed from Florida to Mexico

• Stopped at mouth of Río de las Palmas (Rio Grande)

• Died in 1520 in Native American uprising in Mexico 5

Shipwrecked in Texas

• 1527 – Alvar Nuñez Cabeza de Vaca sailed from Florida for glory and gold

• Shipwrecked on Galveston Island (Malhado – isle of misfortune)

• Karankawas help out but most Spanish died from disease and exposure to elements

• Cabeza de Vaca & Estevanico (1st black man in Tex.) adopt ways of Karankawas and become shamans

• Traveled throughout Texas and learned much about surrounding geography

• In Texas for nearly 6 years 6

Early Explorers

The Spanish Explore Texas

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The Quest for Gold

• Cabeza de Vaca had heard stories of riches of copper, emeralds, and turquoise

• Cabeza de Vaca describes adventure– Huge herds of “cows” with small horns– Vast and handsome land– Very Fertile

• Spaniards inspired to send treasure-seeking expeditions

8

Where did Cabeza de Vaca probably get his ideas about

riches in Texas?

From Native Americans with whom he had come in contact

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Fray Marcos Leads a New Expedition

• 1539 – Viceroy Mendoza sends priest to check out Cabeza de Vaca’s stories

• Estevanico (Esteban)– Shipwrecked with Cabeza de Vaca– Rode ahead; sent back reports of seven cities of gold and

other riches– 1st black in Texas (killed by Zuni Indians)

• Cibola – Pueblo in Arizona and New Mexico border– Looked golden at sunset 10

Why did Fray Marcos conclude that there was a Cibola with

seven cities of gold?

He saw a pueblo at sunset, which made it look golden, and he

imagined that there were other such cities. 11

Coronado Is Disappointed

• 1540 – Francisco Vazquez de Coronado led an expedition of more than 300 to find Cibola (no gold – just adobe)

• Met Pawnee Indian (Turk) in present-day Santa Fe, New Mexico

• Turk told of fabulous riches further east in Quivira

• Disappointed about not finding riches, Turk is put to death

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How would you feel if you were Coronado?

13

Moscoso Explores East Texas

• 1539 - Hernan de Soto landed in Florida– 1st time European reached Mississippi– Died in 1542

• Moscoso takes command – reaches East Texas

• Explored as far as Brazos River – found no riches – returned to Mississippi River

14

How did de Soto and Moscoso reach Texas?

By land, probably on horseback

15

New Mexico is Founded

• Interest in Texas decreasing due to lack of riches

• 1609 – Spaniards set up permanent colony on upper Rio Grande (no gold)

• Explored as far as present-day San Angelo

16

Lady in Blue

• Maria de Jesus de Agreda

• Spanish nun

• Claimed to visited Texas over 500 times (1620-1631)

• Never left Spain

• Indians told stories of being taught by a “Lady in Blue”

17

Why did the Spanish make few attempts to settle the region

now known as Texas?

They sought gold but found none, so they thought the region was not

worth settling.18

Early Explorers

La Salle Awakens Spanish Interest19

France Challenges Spanish Claims

• Rene Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle– 1682 – 1st European to navigate Mississippi River

– Named the land Louisiana (honor of Louis XIV)

– 1684 – 2nd expedition to New World• Mouth of Mississippi River

• Blown off course with storm

• Landed in Matagorda Bay (near present-day Corpus Christi)

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French Flags Flies Over Texas

• Ft. St. Louis built near Matagorda Bay– Settlers overworked, poor food, disease, and

conflict with the Native Americans

• La Salle leaves to explore area

• La Salle murdered by unhappy follower

21

Results of La Salle’s Expedition

• Spanish shifts focus from western Texas to eastern Texas– Extensive exploration in northern Gulf

Coast shore

• Provided U.S. a reason to claim Texas as part of Louisiana Purchase (1803)– Caused arguments between U.S. and Spain

for years over borders

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Causes/Effects of Spanish Settlement of Texas

• Causes– Spanish explorers

hope to find riches in Texas

– Spanish priests want to spread Christianity

– Spain feels threatened by growing presence of French in Texas

• Effects– Spanish interest in

Texas is renewed

– Spain makes strong effort to establish colonies and force out French

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Explorers Summary

• 1492 – Christopher Columbus• 1519 – Cortes in Mexico; Pineda maps Texas coast• 1528 – Cabeza de Vaca in Texas• 1540 – Coronado finds Cibola (no gold)• 1541 – Coronado finds Quivira (no gold); De Soto

explores Mississippi River• 1609 – Spanish establish Santa Fe, New Mexico colony• 1685 – La Salle establishes Ft. St. Louis near

Matagorda Bay• 1687 – Spain shifts focus to eastern Texas

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