European Explorers in

Texas

Texas History 7Tuesday, October 9, 2012

Copy the timeline on pages 54 & 55.Don’t forget to put the events in Texas on

top and the events in other parts of the world on the bottom.

Answer the following questions:1. In what year did a Spanish explorer first

gather information about the coastline of Texas? What was his name?

2. Which Spanish explorer arrived in present-day Mexico at about the same time?

3. Who established the first French settlement in Texas? In what year?

4. What happened in Texas in 1689?

Timeline

Reconquista- Spain’s effort to take back its land from the Moors (an 800 year struggle)

Indigenous- people who are native to a particular placeConquistadors- leaders of the Spanish conquest of the

AmericasTribute- payment of food and other valuablesViceroyalty-land ruled by an official chosen by monarchViceroy- an official who rules that landBison- another word for buffaloShamans- Native American healers; medicine menPetroleum- substance that provides oil, gasoline, and

other fuelsNorthwest Passage- the water route that many explorers

believed was a shortcut to Asia through North AmericaMutiny- a revolt of soldiers or sailors against their leaders

Key Terms- Copy these in your notes.

Expedition- a journey taken for a specific purposeExploration- a journey taken to see what a place

is like or see where it is located

Key Terms- Copy these in your notes.

DIRECTIONS: Pretend that you are one of the Native American tribes we discussed last week. You are in your own house and minding your own business. All of the sudden, some weird people come into your house and try to take over. You can no longer do the things you like to do or celebrate the way you are accustomed. You can only do things the way they want you to do things. On a blank sheet of paper, write about eight or more sentences explaining how you would feel if this happened to you.

1519- Pineda maps Texas.1537- Cabeza de Vaca writes about Texas.

1685- LaSalle establishes Fort St. Louis

Three important years to

remember…

What was the Reconquista?What were the goals of Columbus’ voyage?

What were the goals of the Spanish Explorers?

Who was Pineda?What did Cortez find in Tenochtitlan?

ENGAGING QUESTIONS:

ReconquistaFor many centuries, Christians had lived in Spain. In AD 711, people from Africa (Moors) conquered much of the area. The Moors made Spain part of the Islamic world.The Moors brought great wealth to Spain.Spanish cities grew into thriving centers of business

and learning. A rich culture flourished.Spanish Christians wanted to regain their lands.They began a series of wars called the Reconquista

(reconquest) in which they fought for 800+ years.The Spanish saw this battle as a religious duty. They believed God wanted them to defeat the Moors.It took hundreds of years because they often fought

each other. In 1492, they finally drove the last Moors out of

Spain.

Columbus’ VoyageWhen the Reconquista ended, in 1492, the Spanish welcomed on new nations to conquer.They thought that it was a good way to spread the Christian faith (GOD), find riches (GOLD), and get recognition (GLORY). Christopher Columbus, an experienced sailor from Portugal, was working on a plan to sail west across the Atlantic Ocean in order to reach Asia.He tried to get support from the king of Portugal but

to no avail.The final defeat of the Moors inspired Spain to look

for wealth and glory in other lands.Columbus promised to find a new route to China and

India which could lead to tremendous riches and a chance to spread the Christian faith.

In 1492, Christopher Columbus sailed from Spain and landed on the shores of the Caribbean Sea a few months later.

The New WorldThis was a land that Europeans had not known about

before (the Americas).Columbus believed he had reached India. He met the indigenous people who lived there and

named them Indians.Columbus returned to Spain with gold and some

indigenous (native) people.The king and queen were pleased because believed

that America would provide the wealth they had hoped to find in Asia.

Native Americans told the them about gold in Texas and the Spanish soon sent other adventurers to explore the newly discovered land.

They hoped to spread the Christian faith (GOD), find wealth (GOLD), and get recognition (GLORY).

The ConquistadorsSpanish soldiers who sailed to America were called

conquistadors (conquerors). were fierce, determined soldiersbelieved God wanted them to defeat all non-

believersThe conquistadors had three goals:

GOD- They wanted to convert non-believers to Christianity.

GOLD- They heard that there was gold in Texas and wanted to find it.

GLORY- They wanted to gain fame for themselves.There was a legend that seven bishops ran away when

the Moors invaded Spain. The seven bishops traveled across the ocean and founded seven cities (the Seven Cities of Cibola). Legend has it that these seven cities achieved greatness and wealth. People believed the seven cities were north of Mexico, and the conquistadors wanted to find them.

Alvarez de Pinedathe first explorer to map the coast of Texasmapped the coast of Texas in 1519was looking for a water route to the Pacific

Oceansailed along the Texas coast toward Mexicocreated the first maps and charts of the coast

of TexasHe tried to establish a settlement along what

historians believe to be was the Rio Grande.He died in Jamaica during a revolt by

the Native Americans.Future explorers knew where to sail

to get to Texas because of his maps.

Hernan CortesHernan Cortes was a bold, ruthless Spanish

explorer who followed Columbus. He heard of a wealthy empire in Mexico (the Aztec civilization) and set out to conquer the Aztecs.

He had several advantages over the Aztecs:Horses- The Aztecs had never seen

horses. The horses helped the Spanish chase and kill their enemies.

Weapons- Cortes had steel swords, guns, armor, and cannons. The Aztecs had bows and arrows, clubs, and spears.

Allies- The Aztecs conquered many Native American groups and made them pay tribute. They even used some of the Native Americans as human sacrifices. For these reasons, many disliked the Aztecs. Some of them joined Cortes.

TenochtitlanThe Aztec capital city was Tenochtitlan.

It sat on two islands.Raised roads linked it to the shore.It had huge temples, enormous markets,

floating gardens, zoos and many other wonders.

It had great quantities of gold, silver, and jewels.

Instead of attacking Cortes, the Aztec emperor, Moctezuma II, welcomed him to Tenochtitlan because he thought Cortes was a god.

When the Spanish killed hundreds of unarmed Indians for performing a non-Christian ceremony, the Aztecs drove them out of Tenochtitlan.

Cortes and his men responded by attacking and destroying Tenochtitlan. They built Mexico City on its ruins.

Panfilo de Narvaezwas granted a request in 1527 to explore the

lands north of MexicoHe traveled the gulf coast from Florida to

northern Mexico.The expedition was a disaster. While in Florida, Narvaez split up his crew.

Narvaez and others traveled inland to explore while others remained on the ships and sailed along the coast.

The men who traveled inland became sick and hungry. They ate their horses, raided the Native Americans, and was later killed by a hurricane.

The survivors built five rafts and floated into Gulf waters. Many of them died from drinking seawater.

They were tossed onto shore near Galveston by a hurricane.

The survivors were the first Europeans to set foot on Texas soil. They named the island Malhado (misfortune).

Alvar Nunez Cabeza de Vacawas one of the survivors of the Narvaez expeditionbecame very sick and was abandoned

by the other survivorsexplored the gulf coast of Texas alonewas enslaved by the Atakapans and the

Coahuiltecans became a trader among the Native

AmericansLater met up with three surviving members

of the Narvaez expedition. One was Estevanico (an enslaved Moor).

They gained a lot of respect from the Native Americans because they thought they were shamans.

escaped in 1534 and returned to Spainwrote about his personal experiences in Texas and

include descriptions of the land, people, and animals he saw (1537)

Marcos de Niza and Estevanico’s Expedition

Estevanico was an enslaved Moor who traveled in Texas with Cabeza de Vaca.

When the Viceroy tried to get volunteers for an expedition to find the Seven Cities of Cibola, everyone refused. Estevanico couldn’t because he was a slave.

Estevanico had to guide a group of Spanish explorers led by Marcos de Niza (a priest).

de Niza sent Estevanico to explore the area where they thought Cibola was. He sent back a report to his group that he had found Cibola.

Before his group could meet up with him, Estevanico was killed by Native Americans.

de Niza went back to Spain because he was afraid of Native American attacks. He reported that he had seen Cibola and described it as a glittering city of silver and gold.

His reports convinced other Spanish explorers to find Cibola.

Coronado’s ExpeditionAfter hearing de Niza’s report about finding

Cibola, Coronado set out to conquer Cibola and take its treasure.

When he arrived to the place where Estevanico was killed, Coronado and his men captured the Native Americans there.

Coronado found Cibola, but was disappointed when he found no gold. Cibola was just a large town with no riches.

Coronado continued to travel across the area around the panhandle.

However, Coronado did not give up. He continued searching the area for something valuable.

In 1542, he gave up and returned to Mexico. Coronado reported that the land north of Mexico had nothing of value.

He and his men were the first Europeans to see the Grand Canyon.

Coronado’s Expedition

De Soto and MoscosoHernando De Soto explored Texas from the east. He

was looking for the same things the other Spanish explorers were looking for: God (a chance to spread the Christian faith), Gold (riches), and Glory (fame).

For four years, de Soto and his men explored southeastern United States. Shortly after he and his men crossed the Mississippi River, de Soto became sick and died.

A man named Luis de Moscoso took over the expedition. Moscoso’s main goal was to make it back to Mexico by land.

Although they didn’t reach their goal, Moscoso and his men returned to Mexico by sea.

Moscoso and his men didn’t find any gold. However, they did find something just as valuable. They found petroleum, but the explorers didn’t know it was valuable at that time.

Result of the Spanish Expedition in Texas

Spain spent a lot of money and time looking for riches in Texas.

Although they didn’t find many riches, the Spanish did learn a lot about the land and its people.

The Spanish named many of the rivers and landforms. These names still exist throughout Texas. In fact, every major river in Texas(except the Red River) has a Spanish name.

After Onate and the others found no wealth in Texas, Spain paid little attention to the territory.

Describe the Reconquista and the events surrounding it.

What were the goals of Columbus’ voyage? To find a faster route to Asia, to spread the Christian

faith, and find riches

Why did the Spanish decide to explore the New World?Native Americans told them about gold and other riches

found in the New World. The goals were GOD, GOLD, and GLORY.

Who was Pineda?The first explorer to map the coast of Texas

What did Cortez find in Tenochtitlan?

ENGAGING QUESTIONS:

What happened to the Narvaez expedition?

What did Cabeza de Vaca do in Texas?

European Explorers :

FRENCH EXPLORERS IN

TEXAS

Why did the French want to establish colonies in North America?

Why did La Salle build a fort in Texas?

French Explorers in TexasENGAGING QUESTIONS:

The French in North America

Spanish explorers weren’t the only ones interested in North America.

In 1607, the English founded a settlement in Jamestown, Virginia. Others soon followed.

The French also claimed land in North America during the 1600s.

French explorers weren’t looking for gold, they were interested in furs. Furs were highly valued in Europe.

French explorers traded furs with Native Americans, and along the way, they claimed land for France.

At this time, France and Spain were at war.

La SalleLa Salle was a French explorer

who was looking for a water route that would provide a shortcut to Asia (Northwest Passage).

He wanted to create a trading empire along the Mississippi River and have a base for an attack on Mexico (New Spain).

La Salle traveled down the Mississippi River all the way to the Gulf of Mexico where he claimed the land that drained into the Mississippi for France. Part of this land was Texas.

He named the land Louisiana (after the French king Louis XIV).

La Salle’s Last ExpeditionLa Salle left France in 1684 with four

ships and 280 people. He planned to build Fort St. Louis near the mouth of the Mississippi River.

However, his expedition faced many problems:He was hard to get along with.Pirates attacked and stole one of

his ships.The Spaniards captured one of

his ships.Although La Salle was familiar with the

Mississippi River, he missed the mouth landed in Texas in 1685.

The people traveling with La Salle were stranded with little food and supplies.

They also needed shelter and protection from the Karankawas.

Mouth of the

Mississippi

Fort St. LouisLa Salle and his group built Fort St.

Louis for protection. Problems the settlers faced: harsh living conditions many were sick hostile relationship with Karankawas

La Salle left his settlers there while he continued searching for the Mississippi River. He believed the river would enable him to return to Canada for help.

During his search, La Salle men staged a mutiny. He was murdered in 1687.

La Salle had taken most of his able- bodied men with him. After his death, they ran away or were killed by Native Americans.

The Karankawas attacked the fort. They killed most of the settlers and held others captive.

Spain ReactsSoon, the Spanish learned

about La Salle’s arrival in their territory.

They set out to find the French intruders and take their land back.

However, the Spanish were not familiar with the territory they claimed. It took them a year to find La Salle’s fort.

The fort was destroyed and deserted.

The Spanish realized that they would need to pay more attention to Texas if they wanted to control it. The Spanish decided to protect Texas by building missions and presidios.

AVATARYou will be expected to complete the

Comparison Chart on the back of your permission sheet. Be sure you turn the sheet in each day before you leave.

When the movie is finished, you will be expected to write a Compare/Contrast essay (2 ½-3 pages) displaying your knowledge of the content (European exploration in North America).

You will need to include ways in which this movie is similar to the actual events. You will also need to include ways in which this movie is different from the actual events.

Make sure you’re taking notes!!!

The Road to El DoradoUSE THIS TIME TO PUT THE FINAL

TOUCHES ON YOUR ESSAY. IT’S DUE WHEN I WALK IN THE CLASSROOM.

When the movie is finished, you will be expected to write a short Compare/Contrast essay (1 page) displaying your knowledge of the content (Hernan Cortes and the Aztecs).

You will need to include ways in which this movie is similar to the actual events. You will also need to include ways in which this movie is different from the actual events.

The events that occurred during the European exploration are very similar to the movie, “The Road to El Dorado.”

Write the answers on your own paper.Put the following events in order. Include

the dates (years) in which they occurred. La Salle builds Fort St. Louis in TexasPineda maps TexasCabeza de Vaca writes about Texas

What were the goals of the Spanish explorers? Explain each goal.