AGE OF CONTACT: European Exploration of New Spain

When we began our story, we explored the beautiful and varied GEOGRAPHY of Texas

But the Indians Were So Happy…

Piney Woods

Gulf Coast Plains South

Texas Plains

Rolling Plains

High Plains

Edwards Plateau

Mountains & Basins Llano

Basin

Then, we added some PEOPLE in Texas and looked at how these people ADAPTED to their GEOGRAPHY (environment)

Now… it’s time to see what happens when people from ANOTHER WORLD discover the area that would become TEXAS

These new people in the New World came from three countries: Spain, France, and England

New World vs. Old World

France

England mostly claimed the East Coast of North America

France mostly claimed what would become the Midwestern U.S. and Louisiana

Spain mostly claimed what would be Mexico, California , Florida and TEXAS

SPAIN

FRANCE

Gold – Rumors of GOLD – made men believe they

could get rich quickly

Glory – To be found in the adventure and in the

LAND they might claim, making them rich instead of poor sailors

God – Some (not all) went believing that they must

bring their religious beliefs to these new, native people discovered in the New World (the Americas), and that God would reward them for doing it

Three Reasons for SPANISH EXPLORATION

The SPANISH had reasons for coming to this New World (the French and English came for different reasons):

Christopher Columbus

Looking for a route to the Indies

Looking for riches and power

Expansion of Catholicism

Wanted to spread the Spanish Catholic religion to Asia

How It All Started

The Nina, the Pinta, and the Santa Maria

Columbus’ ships, given to him by the Spanish king and queen

Found land on October 12, 1492

Thought they were in the Indies.

Named land San Salvador in the Carribean

Actually landed in the Bahamas

Called the natives “indios” (but actually named the Taino people)

Even after the blunder Spain agreed to fund more expeditions.

Christopher Columbus

Wanted to establish colonies in the West Indies

Called the colonies “New Spain”

There were reports of large wealthy cities in the interior of the continent

Explorers loved their country, but also wanted wealth for themselves

Known as Conquistadors

The Spanish Arrive 1492-1519

Conquistador – a Spanish soldier who sought riches and power for themselves, and wealth and glory for Spain, in the conquest of the Americas (1500s)

Important Explorers That Were Never in Texas: Christopher Columbus

Hernan Cortes

Conquistadors that were involved with Texas: Alonzo Alvarez Piñeda

Alvar Nuñez Cabeza de Vaca

Francisco Vasquez de Coronado

Luis de Moscoso

Don Juan de Oñate

The Conquistadors

Columbus

Columbus

Columbus thought he could do this…

The Indies

But there was a little something in his way…

What actually happened was this…

Columbus