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The Spanish Explorers
Ch. 5
Christopher Columbus 1492
Propelled by Europe’s goal of finding new trade routes to Asia, Christopher Columbus (Cristóbal Colón) sailed to the Americas. However, not until after his death would the value of his discovery truly be known
COLUMBUS’S FOUR VOYAGES
At first they called the land the Indies because of the early belief that they were in India
Eventually Spanish explorers realized that the Americas could provide even greater riches than what could have been earned through trade with Asia. For the next 150 years after Columbus’s voyages, adventurers explored the new lands in search of wealth.
After Columbus’s 4th voyage he became the governor of a new settlement in Santo Domingo on the island of Hispaniola.
He was disliked by his men because he enslaved and killed thousands of natives.
Columbus died in 1506. This is his Tomb in Seville, Spain
Columbus’s voyages led to further European exploration and colonization, forever changing the Americas.
SPANISH EXPLORERS: 1519–1598
The Conquistadors
Spanish Explorers at this time are called Conquistadors which means conquerors.
They were looking for glory, gold, and adventure and God (to spread their religion).
They would often practice brutality to get it.
"We Spaniards have a disease of the heart, for which the only cure is gold." Cortes
1521 CortesHernan Cortes was a Conquistador that landed in modern Veracruz, Mexico.
He marched into the interior of Mexico and into the capital of the Aztec Empire, Tenochtitlan
Took control of the city by kidnapping the Aztec King, Montezuma, then fought and destroyed the Aztec army with their superior weapons.
Cortes renamed the city Mexico and the land became New Spain. This established a Spanish Empire in the Americas
Won tons of gold and silver for Spain and himself
Spanish Explorers
Come to Texas
1519 Alvarez de PinedaIn 1519 Pineda was
the first European to travel along the coast of Texas and map and explore the Gulf of Mexico
1527 Narvaez
Panfilo de Narvaez was sent to conquer FloridaThe Indians in Florida drove him out and he could not locate his ships.Built some rafts to sail from Florida to Mexico. The survivors landed in Texas (Narvaez was not one of them and he was never seen again)
Cabeza de VacaAlvar Nuñez Cabeza de Vaca was shipwrecked on Galveston Island as part of the Narvaez expedition.
Spent 8 years living with Native Americans including the Karankawas
Eventually he and 3 other survivors including a black Moor named Estevanico escaped and walked a thousands miles to Mexico exploring Texas along the way
Was a slave, trader, healer and spiritual leader to many natives along the way.
Cabeza de Vaca Journey
Cabeza De Vaca finally meet some Spanish slave-hunters near Culiacan in modern Mexico in 1536.
They did not believe he was a white man at first.
He became a celebrity in Spain and wrote La Relacion (The understanding) a book that told of his experiences in Texas
In Cabeza De Vaca’s journeys across Texas he heard stories of cities named Cibola filled with gold.
Narvaez and Cabeza de Vaca
1538 Friar Marcos de Niza
Sent to find Seven Cities of Cibola
Led the first expedition into the Southwestern United States
De Niza was a friar, not a military leader and only brought a few men with him.
Estevanico (from de Vaca’s group) came along with de Niza and was used as a scout to search for Cibola
But he was killed by Zuni Indians in New Mexico
Returned claiming to see a golden city (really a mirage or the sun reflecting off adobe roofs)
1540 CoronadoFrancisco Vázquez de Coronado was set out to conquer the golden city of Cibola.
He brought over 1,300 men with him
He and his men searched for months for Cibola
They found a Zuni village with pueblo houses, but no gold
A Tigua Indian named El Turco “The Turk” promised to lead Coronado’s group to a rich land named Quivira
In 1542 they return to Mexico failing to find gold
The Turk led the Spanish from New Mexico to Kansas where they found a simple grass hut village.
Turco was executed because Coronado knew that he was lying.
Niza Cibola Coronado
1540 Hernando de Soto
Sent to find the 7 Cities of CibolaExplored the Southeast United StatesReached the Mississippi River where he became ill and died.His men went into East Texas before returning to the Mississippi where they built boats and returned to Mexico
De Soto and his men “discover” the Mississippi River
After de Soto, Spain loses interest in Texas and N. America for a while (no gold)
Conquistador Recruitment Poster
