Europeans Explore

Texas

Explorer Traits• Courtesy• Honesty• Human worth and dignity• Justice• Patriotism• Personal obligation for the public

good• Respect for authority• Respect for self and others• Courage • Discipline • Tolerance• Responsibility

Now that you know the traits of explorers, you can learn about the very first explorers that came to Texas.

Raise your hand if you have been to or have heard of the amusement park called . . .

The amusement park pays tribute to the true six flags that have flown over Texas. Do you know what those flags are?

Texas in the U.S. 1845-1861,

1865-present

Texas in the Confederacy

1861-1865

Republic of Texas 1836-1845

Mexico 1821-1836France 1685-1690Spain 1519-1821

Check out this map of the amusement park!

You may not know this, but both Spain and France are credited for contributing many maps and charts of the land they explored.  They brought horses and cows to Texas as well.

Today we have much information about what the land and people were like as observed by these explorers. An example would be facts about the Karankawas described by Cabeza de Vaca in letters and other documents.

Spain began exploring Texas in 1519. This was about the same time Cortez was exploring Mexico. There were several more explorers who ventured into Texas. Let’s create a timeline.

Pineda

1519

Cabeza de Vaca

De Soto an

d Mosc

oso

Coronado

1684

La Sall

e

Key:Spanish explorersFrench explorers

Texas Explorers Timeline