Spanish Exploration
Main Idea: Spain desired to
establish an empire in the Americas
in the 1500s and 1600s. Explorers
began to map out the region and
tales of gold, gems, and minerals
lured the Spanish into Texas.
Explorer: Columbus (1492)
Year He Discovered the West Indies
Known for
West Indies/Hispanola
Why in Texas? He wasn’t!!!
Impact of
Expedition
Failure – he didn’t discover a faster
route to India
Success – he opened up the
“New World” to Europe
Impact
on Texas
Started Spanish exploration
in North America (Texas)
Columbus & The New World
a.
b.
c.
Columbus sailed the Atlantic Ocean
blue in 1492; he was Italian, sailing
for Spain.
He sailed west to get to the east.
He didn’t find riches, but did find
raw materials (products and
goods) to send back to Europe; and
brought goods from Europe to the
natives – the Columbian Exchange.
Columbus & The New World
c.All 4 of his trips gave Spain claim to
land in the Western Hemisphere.
d.Result? The Spanish established an
empire called New Spain consisting
of most of South America, many
Caribbean islands, Mexico, Central
America, and part of the present-day
United States.
e.New Spain using conquistadores and
friars to conquer natives.
Three G’s!!!

Reasons for Exploration: 3 G’s
(1) Gold – riches in New World;
Spanish wanted to increase
global wealth
(2) Glory – men could become
wealthy and famous; expand
nation’s power
(3) God – Catholic Church to convert
natives and increase wealth of
church
Conquistadores
a.
b.
Conquistadores (Spanish soldiers),
sought riches and power for
themselves, and wealth and glory
for Spain.
Hundreds of Conquistadores were
able to conquer thousands of
natives. HOW? 4 Ways…
Conquistadores
i.
Superior weapons:
i. Guns
ii. Cannons
iii. Metal Swords
ii. The Spanish had horses.
iii. Some natives believed the Spaniards were
gods.
iv. Disease: The natives had a weaker immune
system. Measles, mumps, flu, or just a
regular cold could make the natives very ill.
Result? Thousands died and their empires
rapidly declined and grew smaller.
Friars & Missions
Friars were Catholic priests who helped
Spain gain a foothold in the Americas.
C.
i.
They wanted to convert or turn the natives to
Roman Catholics.
ii. Most natives were polytheistic—believing in
many gods.
iii. To become Catholic, natives would have to
change their religious beliefs and become
monotheistic—believing in one god.
iv. The Spanish Friars also built missions
(religious settlements); natives were invited
to live there to learn the Christian and
Spanish culture.
Explorer: Cortes (1521)
Year He Conquered the Aztecs
Known for
Mexico/Aztecs
Why in Texas? He wasn’t!!! BUT his purpose for exploring
was to get GOLD, GLORY and GOD for Spain
Impact of
Expedition
Success - conquered the Aztecs and became
the first “governor” of New Spain (Mexico)
Impact
on Texas
Inspired others to explore more
territory in North America
Famous Spanish Explorers
a.
b.
Cortes – conquered the wealthy
Aztecs and their emperor
Moctezuma from 1519-1522;
renamed the Aztec capital
Tenochtitlan to Mexico City
Pineda – first European to explore
and map the Texas coast in 1519
Famous Spanish Explorers
Cabeza de Vaca – survived Narvaez
shipwreck in Galveston in 1527 and
became the first European to enter
Texas; he lived with the Karankawas for
6 years from 1528-1534; later journeyed
west toward Mexico and recorded stories
of his travels seeing buffalo and fertile
land; and possible gold and riches.
d. Estevanico – survivor with de Vaca; first
black man to enter Texas; studied
geography of Texas and later became a
guide for Spanish explorers
c.
Explorer: Cabeza de Vaca (1528-1536)
Years he was stranded in North America
Known for
SHIPWRECK
Why in Texas?
It was an accident… shipwrecked near
Galveston; leader Narvaez was killed)
Impact of
Expedition
Failure – no GOLD, no GLORY… but he did…
meet the Karwankawas, Texas’ 1st explorer,
1st surgeon, 1st author with Relacion
Impact on Texas
Told tales of cities of gold – led to more
exploration
Famous Spanish Explorers
Fray Marcos – Catholic priest sent by
viceroy (governor) Mendoza in 1535 to
establish peace with Indians; reported
seeing the 7 cities of gold in Cibola
(which was actually a pueblo, or series of
adobe houses)
f. Coronado – 1540-1542; led largest
expedition of troops in search of seven
cities; claimed Wichita land for the King
of Spain and killed native Pawnee guide
Turk after failing to find another city of
riches, Quivira.
g. Cardenas – 1542; discovered the Grand
Canyon (as part of Coronado expedition)
e.
Explorer: Coronado (1540-1542)
Years he explored the Great Plains
Known for
PANHANDLE
Why in Texas?
Looking for the 7 cities of GOLD
Quiviera & Cibola)
Impact of
Expedition
Failure – No gold, no settlements
crossed the “Sea of Grass” (TX Panhandle)
Impact on Texas
Told about buffalo, villages, TX LAND in the
Panhandle
Famous Spanish Explorers
g.
h.
Moscoso – took over the De Soto
(who discovered the Mississippi
River) expedition and mapped east
Texas in 1542; explored the Brazos
River but returned to Mexico after
failing to find gold
Onate – 1601; mapped Texas
Panhandle and New Mexico
Explorer: Moscoso (1542-1543)
Years he was in charge of the expedition
Known for
EAST TX
Why in Texas?
Hernan de Soto was looking for GOLD,
when he died, Moscoso took over
and took the expedition to East TX
Impact of
Expedition
Failure – no gold
Impact on
Texas
1st European in East TX
Hernan de Soto
The First Spanish Colony in Texas
a.
In 1609, a group of Spaniards
set up a permanent colony on
the upper waters of the Rio
Grande; they named it New
Mexico and established the
capital of Santa Fe.