1. Just the facts, nothing but the facts
European Exploration
Just the facts, nothing but the facts

2. Christopher Columbus 1492
Italian sailor that believed he could reach Asia by traveling west
King Ferdinand & Queen Isabella of Spain supported Columbus’ quest
Took 3 ships – Nina, Pinta and Santa Maria
October 12, 1492 he reached new land – North America

3. Spanish Conquest
Spain wanted to expand their empire by controlling the Americas
Wanted riches of the land and to spread Christianity
Expeditions were led by conquistadors – soldiers and adventurers in search of glory, gold and land
Conquistadors wore suits of armor and steel helmets.
They would often use Native Americans as guides

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5. Hernando Cortez – 1519 Spain

6. Cortes - Action Landed in present day Mexico in1519
Attacked and conquered the Aztecs in 1521
Cortes built Mexico City on the ruins of Aztec capital Tenochtitlan
This became the capital of New Spain

7. Cortes - Result Increased Spanish exploration of Americas
Mexico became the starting point for exploration

8. Alonso Alvarez de Pineda – Spain 1519

9. Pineda – Action Set sail in 1519 Sailed along the Gulf Coast
First known European to see the Texas Coast but there is no evidence Pineda entered Texas

10. Pineda - Result
First map of the northern Gulf of Mexico and the Texas coast
Their voyage increased Spanish interest in the region

11. Panfilo de Narvaez and Cabeza de Vaca – Spain 1527

12. Action Narvaez led voyage to Gulf of Mexico
Dreamed of finding gold and riches
Reached Florida in 1528
Split up his troops to search for gold to a city called Apalachee
Troops became lost and never found gold
When they returned to the Florida coast, the ships were gone

13. Cabeza de Vaca – Result
Built small boats and eventually landed near Matagorda Bay, Texas
Shipwrecked along the Texas Gulf Coast and Narvaez died, but a member of his crew, Cabeza de Vaca, and another member Estevanico were able to reach New Spain.
Cabeza de Vaca and Estevanico lived among the Karankawa’s for nearly 8 years. They explored much of present day southern Texas.
Their stories increased Spanish interest in the region.

14. Fray Marcos de Niza and Estevanico - 1539

15. Niza – Action
Catholic friar (priest) was sent to search for 7 cities of gold
Used Estevanico as a guide
Estevanico went ahead of the group and angered the villagers who killed him.
Niza did not continue his expedition he viewed the cities from afar, describing that they sparkled in the sun like gold
Named these cities Cibola

16. Niza - Result
Although Fray Marcos never found gold, he reported to Spanish officials that he saw it in the distance at Cibola; this again increased Spanish interest of the area.

17. Francisco Vasquez de Coronado – 1540 Spain

18. Coronado – Action
Took the largest expedition Spain had ever sent to find Cibola.
Went in search of Cibola – Niza was his guide
Reached Cibola and conquered the Zuni Indians, but they did not find any gold.

19. Coronado - Result Sent Niza back to Mexico City
Heard tales of Quivira, another city full of gold
Traveled throughout Texas but never found gold

20. De Soto – 1539 Spain Also searched for Cibola
Landed in Florida in 1539
Explored the southern United States
Died of a fever in 1542
Moscos Alvarado took command of the expedition

21. Moscoso – 1542 Spain Led the expedition toward Mexico City
Never found any gold
Reported back to Spain about the geographically varied land
Spain was only interested in gold and silver
Spanish expeditions slowed at this point since they never found any riches

22. Onate – 1598 Spain
After the Coronado & de Soto expeditions Spain lost interest in the “New Spain” since it didn’t produce and treasures or riches
During the 1550’s and 1590’s a new goal was to spread Christianity and look for riches one last time
In 1598 Onate took 500 colonists north to settle
He claimed the Rio Grande region for Spain
The settlement was not successful
Spain lost interest in Texas for the next 80 years

23. La Salle – 1682 France
In 1682 La Salle sought to expand the French Empire
Claimed the land that drained by the Mississippi for France and named it Louisiana after King Louis XIV.
Returned to France in 1684 and requested to set up a colony in the region at the mouth of the Mississippi river.
Became lost and landed in Martagorda Bay, Texas in 1685

24. La Salle Set up Fort St. Louis with 300 soldiers and settlers
Hunger and disease killed many settlers
They were attacked by the Karankawas
By July 1685, over half of the settlers were dead
La Salle decided to look for help. He left with 17 soldiers. While on his journey he was killed.
In the settlement was attacked by the Karankawas, they killed all the adults and took the 5 children captive. (They were later rescued by other expeditions)
La Salle was blamed for the failure of this expedition

25. Spanish Reaction
Spain realized that France had gained control of their territory
They knew they had to start settling the area to keep their power in North America
This began a time of Spanish Missions….

26. Effects of Spanish Exploration
Spanish changed the lives of the Native people by spreading diseases such as measles and smallpox
American Indians died from this disease because they had never been exposed before
Brought new plants and animals such as bananas, cattle, and horses
Took back to Spain American plants and animals, such as corn, peanuts and turkey
Horses changed the lives of the plains Indians, who learned to become better hunters and fighters