NAME: ___________________________________CLASS: ________________ DATE: ________________
Early Explorers

Columbus Sights a New World:
o Lands __________________________ island October ___________________
o __________________________ sailing under ___________________________
flag
o Spain claims most of South America, __________________________, Mexico,
Central America, & part of present-day U.S.
o Columbus returned to Americas ______________________ times.

New Spain:
o _____________________________________ – Spanish soldiers seeking gold and
glory for themselves
 Built towns, laid out roads, _______________________
_______________, developed farms/ranches
o _____________________________ – Catholic priests
 Convert ________________________ to Catholic faith; established
missions (religious settlements)

Cortes Lands in Mexico:
o February _______________________– Hernan Cortés sails from
______________ to ______________________ with 500 soldiers
o _____________________________ welcomed Cortés – believed he was a
_________________________ (Quetzalcoatl)
o Aztec capital city ______________________________ – palaces, zoos, gold,
silver
o Spanish imprisoned & killed Aztec leader _______________________________
then torn down capital and took treasures – rebuilt and renamed
_________________________________________
o Because of ______________________________, other Spanish are inspired.

Alvarez de Pineda Explores Texas:
o ________________ – Alonso Álvarez de Pineda becomes 1st
_______________________ to explore Texas coast
o Sailed from ______________________ to _____________________
o Stopped at mouth of Río de las Palmas (Rio Grande)
o Died in 1520 in Native American uprising in _____________________________
NAME: ___________________________________CLASS: ________________ DATE: ________________

Shipwrecked in Texas:
o _______________________ – Alvar Nuñez Cabeza de Vaca sailed from Florida
for ________________ and __________________
o Shipwrecked on _____________________________ Island (Malhado – isle of
misfortune)
o _______________________________________help out but most Spanish died
from _____________________and exposure to elements
o Cabeza de Vaca & _______________________ (1st black man in Tex.) adopt
ways of Karankawas and become shamans
o Traveled throughout Texas and learned much about surrounding
_____________________
o In Texas for nearly __________________ years

The Quest for Gold:
o Cabeza de Vaca had heard stories of riches of _______________________,
emeralds, and ________________________________
o Cabeza de Vaca describes adventure
 Huge herds of “______________” with small horns
 Vast and handsome _______________
 Very __________________
o Spaniards inspired to send treasure-seeking
________________________________
 Where did Cabeza de Vaco probably get his idea about riches in
Texas?:
o

________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
Fray Marcos Leads a New Expedition:
o ____________ – Viceroy Mendoza sends priest to check out Cabeza de Vaca’s
stories
o Estevanico (Esteban)
 Shipwrecked with Cabeza de Vaca
 Rode ahead; sent back reports of _______________ cities of gold and
other riches
 1st black in Texas ________________________________
o Cibola
 Pueblo in___________________ and New Mexico border
 Looked __________________at sunset
NAME: ___________________________________CLASS: ________________ DATE: ________________
 Why did Fray Marcos conclude that there was a Cibola with
seven cities of gold?
o
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

Coronado is Disappointed:
o _______________ – Francisco Vazquez de Coronado led an expedition of more
than ________ to find Cibola (no ___________ – just adobe)
o Met _____________________ Indian (Turk) in present-day Santa Fe, New
Mexico
o Turk told of fabulous riches further east in __________________
o Disappointed about not finding riches, _________________ is put to
_______________.

Moscoso Explores East Texas:
o ___________ - Hernan de Soto landed in _______________________
o 1st time European reached ___________________________
o Died in _____
o _________________________ takes command – reaches East Texas
o Explored as far as Brazos River – found ____________ riches – returned to
Mississippi River
 How did de Soto and Moscoso reach Texas?
o


________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
New Mexico is Founded:
o Interest in Texas ______________________ due to lack of riches
o _____ – Spaniards set up permanent colony on upper Rio Grande (no gold)
o Explored as far as present-day ______________________________
Lady in Blue:
o Maria de Jesus de Agreda
o __________________________ nun
o Claimed to visited Texas over _____________ times (1620-1631)
o Never left ________________
o ______________________ told stories of being taught by a “Lady in Blue”
NAME: ___________________________________CLASS: ________________ DATE: ________________
 Why did the Spanish make few attempts to settle the region
now known as Texas?
o
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

France Challenges Spanish Claim:
o Rene Robert Cavelier, Sieur de ____________________________
 ______ – 1st European to navigate Mississippi River
 Named the land ______________________ (honor of Louis XIV)
 _____ – 2nd expedition to New World
 _____________________ of Mississippi River
 Blown off course with _____________
 Landed in ___________________________________ (near
present-day Corpus Christi)

French Flag Flies Over Texas:
o Fort __________________________ built near Matagorda Bay
 Settlers __________________________, poor food, ________________,
and conflict with the Native Americans
o La Salle __________________ to explore area
o La Salle __________________________ by _________________________
follower

Results of La Salle’s Expedition:
o ___________________________ shifts focus from ____________________Texas
to ___________________ Texas
o Extensive exploration in northern ______________________________
o Provided U.S. a reason to claim Texas as part of
________________________________________ (1803)
o Caused ___________________ between U.S. and Spain for years over borders.
NAME: ___________________________________CLASS: ________________ DATE: ________________

Cause and Effects of Spanish Settlements of Texas:
Cause

Effects
Explorers Summary:
o 1492 – Christopher Columbus
o 1519 – Cortes in Mexico; Pineda maps Texas coast
o 1528 – Cabeza de Vaca in Texas
o 1540 – Coronado finds Cibola (no gold)
o 1541 – Coronado finds Quivira (no gold); De Soto explores Mississippi River
o 1609 – Spanish establish Santa Fe, New Mexico colony
o 1685 – La Salle establishes Ft. St. Louis near Matagorda Bay
o 1687 – Spain shifts focus to eastern Texas