The Spanish in GeorgiaThe Spanish in Georgia

Why were the Europeans Why were the Europeans venturing out?venturing out?

Europe is in the Europe is in the midst of the midst of the RenaissanceRenaissance

Looking for a Looking for a shorter shorter route to Asia for route to Asia for tradetrade

The land route to the The land route to the east was controlled east was controlled by the by the Ottoman Ottoman EmpireEmpire

PortuguesePortuguese1497 explorer 1497 explorer Vasco de Gama Vasco de Gama sailed sailed

around around Africa Africa and northeast to Asiaand northeast to Asia in in caravelscaravels

SpanishSpanish Christopher Christopher

ColumbusColumbus, an Italian , an Italian explorer sailing for explorer sailing for Spain attempted Spain attempted sailing west across sailing west across the Atlantic in 1492the Atlantic in 1492

Found the Found the AmericasAmericas, , not Asianot Asia

Launched an era of Launched an era of wealth and power wealth and power for for SpanishSpanish

ConquistadorsConquistadors

ConquerorsConquerors who explored the who explored the AmericasAmericas

DestroyedDestroyed existing cultures existing cultures Used Used gunsguns to defeat Native to defeat Native

AmericansAmericans Brought Brought diseasedisease that killed millions that killed millions Looking for fabled cities of Looking for fabled cities of goldgold

Juan Ponce de LeonJuan Ponce de Leon Sailed with ColumbusSailed with Columbus Stayed in the Caribbean and became Stayed in the Caribbean and became

governor of Puerto Rico governor of Puerto Rico Explored Florida in 1515 and 1521 Explored Florida in 1515 and 1521

searching for a searching for a fountain of youthfountain of youth that that restored youth to anyone who bathed in restored youth to anyone who bathed in itit

Didn’t find the Didn’t find the fountain, but fountain, but something more something more important to important to navigatorsnavigators

The The Gulf StreamGulf Stream, , providing a fast providing a fast route north from route north from South AmericaSouth America

Vasquez de AyllonVasquez de Ayllon

First attempted Spanish settlement First attempted Spanish settlement 1525/61525/6 North Carolina, too buggyNorth Carolina, too buggy South CarolinaSouth Carolina Georgia, Georgia, San Miguel de GualdapeSan Miguel de Gualdape http://www.todayingeorgiahistory.org/co

ntent/lucas-vasquez-de-ayllon Many died there, including Ayllon, Many died there, including Ayllon,

and settlers left for Hispaniolaand settlers left for Hispaniola

Hernando de SotoHernando de Soto 15401540 In Georgia, encountered the In Georgia, encountered the CoosaCoosa Captured their chief Captured their chief

Native Americans pursued, but lost Native Americans pursued, but lost up to up to 3,0003,000 people people

De SotoDe Soto soon became fatally ill soon became fatally ill His soldiers sunk his body in the His soldiers sunk his body in the

Mississippi RiverMississippi River 300 Spanish survived to return to 300 Spanish survived to return to

Spain with Spain with nothingnothing Further explorers went to Further explorers went to MexicoMexico and and

South AmericaSouth America

DeSoto artifacts at DeSoto artifacts at FernbankFernbank

Settlement at lastSettlement at last 1565 Spain sends 1565 Spain sends

Pedro Menendez Pedro Menendez de Aviles to keep de Aviles to keep the French out of the French out of FloridaFlorida

He routed the He routed the French and built a French and built a fort named fort named St. St. AugustineAugustine

Pictured – Castillo Pictured – Castillo de San Marcos de San Marcos finished 1695 finished 1695

MissionsMissions

To keep the To keep the FrenchFrench off of the coast, off of the coast, Spain built Spain built missionsmissions

Also brought Also brought ChristianityChristianity to the Indians to the Indians

The The Santa Catalina Santa Catalina de Guale de Guale mission on mission on St. Catherine’sSt. Catherine’s Island was founded Island was founded in 1566in 1566

Coast and southern Coast and southern Georgia under Georgia under Spanish control for Spanish control for over 100 yearsover 100 years

Santa Catalina was Santa Catalina was discovered in the discovered in the 1980s1980s