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 treasureseeking 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 Interest
Chapter 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