Explorers Of Texas

Explorers of New Spain (Texas)

Explorer: Columbus (1492)Year He Discovered the West IndiesKnown forWest Indies/New WorldWhy in Texas? He wasn’t!!!Impact ofExpeditionFailure – he didn’t discover a fasterroute to IndiaSuccess – he opened up the“New World” to EuropeImpacton TexasStarted Spanish explorationin North America (Texas)

In 1492, Christopher Columbus left Spainafter being given permission to sail to Indiafrom King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella. Hispurpose was to find a new trade route to Indiaand to bring back spices from India. Spiceswere as valuable as gold. On his way acrossthe Atlantic Ocean, Columbus sailed to a newland and met new people which he called“Indians” thinking he had landed in India.Because of Columbus, a new age of explorationof North America began.

Explorer: Cortez (1521)Year He Conquered the AztecsKnown forMexico/AztecsWhy in Texas? He wasn’t!!! BUT his purpose for exploringwas to get GOLD, GLORY and GOD for SpainImpact ofExpeditionSuccess - conquered the Aztecs and becamethe first “governor” of New Spain (Mexico)Impacton TexasInspired others to explore moreterritory in North America

ColumbusCortesThe two explorers that we just talkedabout were NEVER IN TEXAS!!!!PinedaDe VacaAll of the rest of theexplorers WERE inTexas at somepoint!!!CoronadoMoscosoOnateLa Salle

Explorer: Pineda (1519)Year TX History began(the year he mapped our coast)Known forMAPWhy in Texas?The governor of Jamaica ordered Pineda toexplore this new area in order to find a routeto the PacificImpact ofExpeditionSuccess (he mapped the coast)Failure (no route to the Pacific)Impact on Texas1st to observe and map the Texas Coast

Alonso Alvarez de PiñedaMy TexasHistoryNotebook :ExplorersOf TexasThe year 1519 was very important for Alonso Alvarezde Piñeda and for Texas. Piñeda sailed along theTexas coast toward Mexico. During his journey, hecreated the first maps and charts of the coast.Because of Piñeda, future explorers knew where tosail to get to Texas.

Explorer: Cabeza de Vaca (1528-1536)Years he was stranded in North AmericaKnown forSHIPWRECKWhy in Texas?Oops it was an accident shipwrecked(looking for GOLD in FL, Narvaez was killed)Impact ofExpeditionFailure – no GOLD, no GLORY but he did meet the Karwankawas, Texas’ 1st explorer,1st surgeon, 1st author with RelacionImpact on TexasTold tales of cities of gold – led to moreexplorationwww.texasbeyondhistory.netClick on “Prehistoric”Choose “South Texas Plains”Click on “Kids Activities”Choose the “Journey with anExplorer”

Álvar NúñezCabeza de VacaOne of the most amazing journeys took place inTexas. In 1529, Cabeza de Vaca crashed onGalveston Island because of a hurricane. He wascaptured by an Indian tribe and almost became aslave. Luckily, Cabeza de Vaca knew enough aboutmedicine that he was able to heal many Indians. Hebecame known among the tribe as a “medicine man.”When he made it to Mexico he told others aboutmany wonderful cities made of gold. Who would bethe first explorer to find and capture these richcities?

Explorer: Coronado (1540-1542)Years he explored the Great PlainsKnown forPANHANDLEWhy in Texas?Looking for the 7 cities of GOLDQuiviera & Cibola)Impact ofExpeditionFailure – No gold, no settlementscrossed the “Sea of Grass” (TX Panhandle)Impact on TexasTold about buffalo, villages, TX LAND in thePanhandle

Francisco Vásquez de CoronadoGold! In 1540, Francisco Vásquez de Coronado was placed in chargeof a great search to find the City of Gold. With 1,000 men, 1,500horses, mules, wagons, cooks and farm animals, Coronado and hisgroup headed north. When Coronado thought he found the City ofGold, it was only mud bricks reflecting the sun, making it look brightand shiny. The city was really an Indian village. Coronado did notgive up. He kept searching and found more villages and people as hewent.

Explorer: Hernando De Soto (1542-1543)Years he was in charge of the expeditionKnown forEAST TXWhy in Texas?Hernan de Soto was looking for GOLD,when he died, Moscoso took overand took the expedition to East TXImpact ofExpeditionFailure – no goldImpact onTexas1st European in East TXHernan de Soto

Explorer: Onate (1598)Year he was exploring the El Paso areaKnown forEl PasoWhy in Texas?Looking for gold that Coronado hadfailed to findImpact ofExpeditionFailure – no goldImpact onTexas1st Thanksgiving in North America? Explored the El Pasoarea and gave it the name “El Paso”

Explorer: La Salle (1685-1687)Years Fort St. Louis was in TexasKnown forFrenchWhy in Texas?He was LOST!! Looking for the Mississippi RiverImpact ofExpeditionFort St. Louis (settlement) – claimed TX for theFrench for two years – murdered by his owncrewImpact onTexasMade the Spanish paranoid – the Spanish gotmore serious about settling TX and not justexploring it

Rene Robert Cavalier,Sieur de LaSalleFrance wanted to claim the area around the Mississippi riverbefore the Spanish got there. So in 1684, the French King, LouisXIV, gave LaSalle ships and colonists to set sail. After a scaryjourney, LaSalle’s group missed the Mississippi river andactually landed near Matagorda Bay, Texas. LaSalle set up FortSt. Louis in 1865. Because of LaSalle’s new French settlement,Spain hurried to build more missions throughout the area,hopefully to push France off the land.

Gold! In 1540, Francisco Vásquez de Coronado was placed in charge of a great search to find the City of Gold. With 1,000 men, 1,500 horses, mules, wagons, cooks and farm animals, Coronado and his group headed north. When Coronado thought he found the City of Gold, it was only mud br