Explorer: Columbus (1492)Known for: Disovering West Indies/Hispanola

Why in Texas? He wasn’t! He was trying to reach India/China.

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 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.

• All 4 of his trips gave Spain claim to land in the Western Hemisphere.

• Result? The Spanish established an empire called New Spain.

• New Spain using conquistadores and friars to conquer natives.

Conquistadores (Spanish soldiers), sought riches and power for themselves, and wealth and glory for Spain.

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

Hundreds of Conquistadores were able to conquer thousands of natives. How?

1. Superior weapons: Guns Cannons Metal Swords

2. The Spanish had horses.3. Some natives believed the Spaniards were gods.4. 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.

Explorer: Pineda (1519)

Known for:

1st European to explore and map

the Texas coast

Why in Texas?

Was exploring the coast from Florida to Mexico

Impact of Expedition:

Success: Reported his findings in Texas to the governor

of Jamaica and returned to Mexico to begin a settlement

Impact on Texas:

More explorers began coming to Texas

Explorer: Cortes (1521)

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); renamed Aztec capital to “Mexico City”

Impact on Texas:

Inspired others to explore more territory in North America

Known for: SHIPWRECK; Writings about Texas

Why in Texas? It was an accident… shipwrecked near Galveston; captured by Karankawas

Impact of Failure – no GOLD, no GLORY… but he did… Expedition meet the Karwankawas, Texas’ 1st explorer, 1st surgeon, 1st author with book Relacion

Impact on Texas Told tales of cities of gold – led to more exploration

Explorer: Cabeza de Vaca (1528-1536)

Cabeza de Vaca – survived shipwreck in Galveston 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.

Estevanico – survivor with de Vaca; first black man to enter Texas; studied geography of Texas and later became a guide for Spanish explorers

Known for Exploring the Panhandle

Why in Texas? Looking for the 7 cities of gold (Quiviera & Cibola)

Impact of Failure – No gold, no settlements ; Expedition crossed the “Sea of Grass” (TX Panhandle)

Impact on Texas Told about buffalo, villages, and available land in the Panhandle

Explorer: Coronado (1540-1542)

Known for :

Exploring East Texas

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. They found no gold. However,

they did find “black gold”.

Impact on Texas:

1st European in East Texas

Explorer: Moscoso (1542-1543)

Hernan de Soto

Known for :

Exploring Rio Grande Valley and New Mexico

Why in Texas?

To explore and create settlements in “El Paso del Norte” (Rio Grande passage between 2 mountain ranges)

Impact of Expedition:

Success. Claimed the entire Rio Grande Valley for Spain and found settlements all throughout present day New Mexico

Impact on Texas:

Inspired many expeditions in West Texas

Explorer: Onate (1598)