1. AGE OF CONTACT: European Exploration of New Spain

2. But the Indians Were So Happy…
When we began our story, we explored the beautiful and varied GEOGRAPHY of Texas
High Plains
Then, we added some PEOPLE in Texas and looked at how these people ADAPTED to their GEOGRAPHY (environment)
Rolling Plains
Cross Timbers
Blackland Prairie
Grand Prairie
Piney Woods
Mountains & Basins
Post Oak Belt
But the Indians Were So Happy…
Llano Basin
Edwards Plateau
Gulf Coast Plains
South Texas Plains
Now… it’s time to see what happens when people from ANOTHER WORLD discover the area that would become TEXAS

3. New World vs. Old World
France mostly claimed what would become the Midwestern U.S. and Louisiana
England
FRANCE
France
ENGLAND
England mostly claimed the East Coast of North America
SPAIN
Spain
Spain mostly claimed what would be Mexico, California , Florida and TEXAS
These new people in the New World came from three countries: Spain, France, and England

4. Three Reasons for SPANISH EXPLORATION
The SPANISH had reasons for coming to this New World (the French and English came for different reasons):
Gold – Rumors of GOLD – made men believe they could get rich quickly
Glory – To be found in the adventure and in the LAND they might claim, making them rich instead of poor sailors
God – Some (not all) went believing that they must bring their religious beliefs to these new, native people discovered in the New World (the Americas), and that God would reward them for doing it

5. How It All Started Spain Christopher Columbus
Looking for a route to the Indies
Looking for riches and power
Expansion of Catholicism
Wanted to spread the Spanish Catholic religion to Asia
Spain

6. Christopher Columbus The Nina, the Pinta, and the Santa Maria
Columbus’ ships, given to him by the Spanish king and queen
Found land on October 12, 1492
Thought they were in the Indies.
Named land San Salvador in the Carribean
Actually landed in the Bahamas
Called the natives “indios” (but actually named the Taino people)
Even after the blunder Spain agreed to fund more expeditions.

7. The Spanish Arrive
Wanted to establish colonies in the West Indies
Called the colonies “New Spain”
There were reports of large wealthy cities in the interior of the continent
Explorers loved their country, but also wanted wealth for themselves
Known as Conquistadors

8. The Conquistadors
Conquistador – a Spanish soldier who sought riches and power for themselves, and wealth and glory for Spain, in the conquest of the Americas (1500s)
Important Explorers That Were Never in Texas:
Christopher Columbus
Hernan Cortes
Conquistadors that were involved with Texas:
Alonzo Alvarez Piñeda
Alvar Nuñez Cabeza de Vaca
Francisco Vasquez de Coronado
Luis de Moscoso
Don Juan de Oñate

9. But there was a little something in his way…
The Americas
What actually happened was this…
Spain
Columbus
Columbus
The Indies
Columbus
The Indies
Columbus thought he could do this…
The Americas