AGE OF CONTACT: European Exploration of New Spain

But the Indians Were So Happy… When we began our story, we explored the beautiful and varied GEOGRAPHY of Texas High Plains Then, we added some PEOPLE in Texas and looked at how these people ADAPTED to their GEOGRAPHY (environment) Rolling Plains Cross Timbers Blackland Prairie Grand Prairie Piney Woods Mountains & Basins Post Oak Belt But the Indians Were So Happy… Llano Basin Edwards Plateau Gulf Coast Plains South Texas Plains Now… it’s time to see what happens when people from ANOTHER WORLD discover the area that would become TEXAS

New World vs. Old World France mostly claimed what would become the Midwestern U.S. and Louisiana England FRANCE France ENGLAND England mostly claimed the East Coast of North America SPAIN Spain Spain mostly claimed what would be Mexico, California , Florida and TEXAS These new people in the New World came from three countries: Spain, France, and England

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

How It All Started Spain Christopher Columbus Looking for a route to China Looking for riches and power Expansion of Catholicism Wanted to spread the Spanish religion to Asia Spain

Christopher Columbus 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.

The Spanish Arrive 1492-1519 Wanted to establish colonies in the Indies Called the colonies “New Spain” Early expeditions and shipwrecked travelers 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 Conquistadors 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

But there was a little something in his way… The Americas What actually happened was this… Spain Columbus Columbus The Indies Columbus The Indies Columbus thought he could do this… The Americas