Early Explorers

First Steps in a New Land

Chapter 4

Section 1

Columbus Sights a New World

• Lands on a Caribbean island in 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

New Spain• Conquistadors – Spanish

soldiers seeking Gold and Glory and God– Built towns, laid out roads,

opened mines, developed farms/ranches

• Friars – Catholic priests– Convert natives to Catholic

faith; established missions (religious settlements)

Cortés Lands in Mexico• Feb. 1519 – Hernan Cortés sails from Cuba to

Mexico with 500 soldiers• Aztecs welcomed Cortés because they believed

he was a god• Tenochtitlán-Aztec capital city with palaces,

zoos, gold and silver• Spanish imprisoned & killed the Aztec

leader,Moctezuma, then tore down capital before they rebuilt and renamed it Mexico City

• Because of treasures found here, other Spanish are inspired

Álvarez de Pineda Explores Texas

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

• Sailed the coast from Florida to Mexico

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

• Died in 1520 in Native American uprising in Mexico

Shipwrecked in Texas

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

• Shipwrecked on Galveston Island, which he named Malhado, isle of misfortune.

• Karankawas help out Spanish, but most died from disease and starvation

• Cabeza de Vaca & Estevanico (Esteban) adopt ways of Karankawas and become shamans

• Traveled throughout Texas and learned much about the geography

• In Texas for nearly 6 years

Early Explorers

The Spanish Explore Texas

Chapter 4

Section 2

The Quest for Gold

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

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

• Spaniards inspired to send treasure-seeking expeditions

Where did Cabeza de Vaca probably get his ideas about

riches in Texas?

From Native Americans with whom he had come in contact

Fray Marcos Leads a New Expedition

• 1539 – Viceroy Mendoza sends Fray Marcos, a 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 man to enter Texas (killed by Zuni Indians)

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

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.

Coronado Is Disappointed

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

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

• Turk told of fabulous riches further east in Quivira

• Cornado and his expedition set out in search of this city

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

How would you feel if you were Coronado?

Moscoso Explores East Texas

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

• Moscoso takes command and reaches East Texas

• Explored as far as Brazos River and found no riches so he returned to Mississippi River

How did de Soto and Moscoso reach Texas?

By land, probably on horseback

New Mexico is Founded

• Spanish interest in Texas starts decreasing due to lack of riches

• 1609 – Spaniards set up permanent colony on upper Rio Grande

• Explored as far as present-day San Angelo

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.

Early Explorers

La Salle Awakens Spanish InterestChapter 4

Section 3

France Challenges Spanish Claims

• Rene Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle– 1682 – 1st European to navigate Mississippi River– Named the land Louisiana in honor of Louis XIV– 1684 – led 2nd expedition to the New World

• Mouth of Mississippi River• Blown off course with storm• Landed in Matagorda Bay (near present-day

Corpus Christi)

French Flags Flies Over Texas

• Ft. St. Louis is built near Matagorda Bay

• Troubles:– Settlers are overworked, starvation, disease,

and conflict with the Native Americans

• La Salle leaves to explore area

• La Salle murdered by unhappy follower

Results of La Salle’s Expedition

• Spanish shifts focus from western Texas to eastern Texas– Why?

• 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

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