Long before Arizona became part of the United States, it was home to numerous Native American...
26
Early Arizona: The Spanish Era Long before Arizona became part of the United States, it was home to numerous Native American groups. Some of these farming and hunter-gatherer cultures lived along the Santa Cruz and San Pedro Rivers - and throughout the Sonoran Desert - for several centuries before the arrival of Anglos into what is now Southern Arizona. The written history of Arizona began when the Spaniards sent exploration parties northward from Mexico. 1 This exploration focused on the three "Gs": God, Gold and Glory.
Long before Arizona became part of the United States, it was home to numerous Native American groups. Some of these farming and hunter-gatherer cultures
Long before Arizona became part of the United States, it was
home to numerous Native American groups. Some of these farming and
hunter-gatherer cultures lived along the Santa Cruz and San Pedro
Rivers - and throughout the Sonoran Desert - for several centuries
before the arrival of Anglos into what is now Southern Arizona. The
written history of Arizona began when the Spaniards sent
exploration parties northward from Mexico. 1 This exploration
focused on the three "Gs": God, Gold and Glory.
Slide 2
Early stories told of seven wondrous cities of great wealth
that were thought to be located north of what is now present day
Mexico. This possibility lured the Spanish into the region north of
what is now Mexico.
Slide 3
(map c.1536) (map c.1536) He reached Florida in 1528, then
rafted across the Gulf of Mexico and was shipwrecked off the Texas
coast. With three other survivors, he journeyed overland for
hundreds of miles. Their wandering led them through west Texas,
then into the New Mexico and Arizona area.
Slide 4
In 1536, they turned south and arrived in what is now Mexico
where they told their story to Spaniards there. This expedition was
likely the first time Europeans saw bison. Also, their stories
about meeting the Pueblo Indians of todays Arizona and New Mexico
regions gave rise to the legend of the Seven Cities of Cibola~seven
cities of gold. But, were they just stories?
Slide 5
In 1539, De Niza was a missionary explorer who headed an
expedition planned by Viceroy Antonio de Mendoza. He traveled north
at least into SE Arizona and perhaps into New Mexico. Although the
truth isnt certain, it seems as de Niza arrived at a hill
overlooking what was supposed to be the smallest of the Seven
Cities, he became fearful for his life since hed heard that
Esteban, a companion, had been killed when he ventured into the
golden city. So, de Niza returned to Viceroy Mendoza with fantastic
stories of grandeur, even though he never truly saw it.* *Some
suspect he mayve seen the sparkle of quartz in the buildings from
the distance and believed it was gold or maybe he saw a pueblo
blanketed with the golden hues of a southwestern sunset. Who was
Mendoza?
Slide 6
He was the first viceroy of New Spain (153550). His wise and
compassionate rule earned him the nickname the good viceroy because
he: 1. improved living conditions of the native people, 2. fostered
religion, 3. encouraged education, 4. settled/prevented numerous
revolts 5. pushed exploration far north of New Spain in search of
the seven Cities of Cibola, adding to Spains territory All of these
brought prosperity to New Spain. Back
Slide 7
Probably duped by native stories, de Niza enthusiastically, but
inaccurately, described fabulous riches of the Seven Cities of
Cibola. (Where was this? Many believe he was talking about Zuni or
Hopi land along the modern Arizona- New Mexico border.) The stories
proved to be only tales when Francisco Vsquez de CoronadoCoronado
led his soldiers there in1540. Fray Marcos de Niza was dismissed as
a guide and sent back to Mexico in absolute disgrace.
Slide 8
In 1540, he explored present- day Arizona and New Mexico areas
Searched for the fabled seven cities of gold, Cibola
Slide 9
His team made the first purposeful European exploration of the
Southwest and claimed it all for Spain. Members of his party were
the first Europeans to view the Grand Canyon.
Slide 10
The nonexistent gold was never found, but many new lands were
explored, mapped, and claimed for Spain. Coronado, with Marcos de
Niza, set out with 336 Spaniards, 1,000 Native Americans, 1,500
horses, mules, and countless slaves, cattle, and sheep. He returned
a failure, with about 100 men.
Slide 11
In his quest for gold, which present-day states did Coronado
travel through ? Where did his journey begin? What did they gain?
This map shows the explorations of Francisco Vsquez de Coronado in
the American Southwest. In his search for the legendary seven
cities of Cibola, he found only poor pueblo Indians in what is now
Arizona and New Mexico.
Slide 12
Eager to convert the natives to their Catholic religion,
Franciscan priests from Spain, the first Europeans to live in
Arizona, tried to establish missions in the northern regions of
present day Arizona, near the Hopi. They were unsuccessful. These
Native Americans didnt cooperate with the newcomers.
Slide 13
Father Eusebio Kino, a Jesuit priest, gained the trust and
respect of the Pima. He founded 22 missions, several in what is now
southern Arizona. He selected sites near existing native
settlements and earned their cooperation to develop the new
missions. The Spanish Empire, later expelled, or removed, the
Jesuits in 1767.
Slide 14
SAN XAVIER~ WHITE DOVE OF THE DESERT TUMACCORI
Slide 15
Some Spanish missionaries were not well received. The Indians
feared losing their land and being forced to adopt the Spanish
culture. The Pima or Tohono Oodham eventually rebelled.
Slide 16
The Oodham groups were forced to give up much of their power
and land due to treaties allowing mining and herding as the
Spaniards and Mexicans eventually outnumbered Native Americans.
This caused a major battle. The Pima Rebellion at Tumacori mission
was brutal, causing the Spanish to leave. The mission was greatly
damaged.
With increasing hostilities between the Pima / Oodham cultures,
plus the aggressive Apache*, the Spanish began building presidios,
or forts, for shelter from the attacks. Tubac Presidio, established
by the Spanish, became the first European community in Arizona.
Tubac 1752 Apache info Skip ahead
Slide 19
The Apache were nomadic hunters and fierce warriors. They
traveled in bands, attacking both native peoples and colonists---
raiding peaceful peoples for food and slaves.
Slide 20
Fierce fighters and masters of survival in the wilderness, they
were feared by other inhabitants of the Southwest Pueblo Indians,
Spanish, and Mexicans. Return to text
In spite of the challenges from the Native Americans, mining,
ranching, and missions prospered in what became the future Arizona
regions.
Slide 23
http://player.discoveryeducation.com/index.cfm?guidAssetId=82F57506-B5BE-
4B30-A062-22F86432557D&blnFromSearch=1&productcode=US
http://player.discoveryeducation.com/index.cfm?guidAssetId=82F57506-B5BE-
4B30-A062-22F86432557D&blnFromSearch=1&productcode=US
Scroll down to Conflict in the Southwest
Slide 24
http://player.discoveryeducation.com/index.cfm?guidAssetId=82F57506-B5BE-4B30-A062-
22F86432557D&blnFromSearch=1&productcode=US Scroll down to
Relations with Native American
Slide 25
While the colonist were establishing their independence in the
east, New Spain thrived in the southwest from about 1790-1821.
Missions and presidios were built and relations were better between
the Spanish and Native Americans. Consequently, more Spanish people
were drawn to New Spain. New Spain spread its reach during this
successful time.