Spanish Explorers Come to Texas

1527 Narvaez Panfilo de Narvaez was sent to conquer Florida The 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 Vaca Alvar 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 (Ray-lass-E-On) (The Report) 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.

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 Coronado Francisco 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. In 1542 they return to Mexico failing to find gold

1540 Hernando de Soto Sent to find the 7 Cities of Cibola Explored the Southeast United States Reached 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 After de Soto, Spain loses interest in Texas and N. America for a while (no gold)

Analogy Exit Ticket!!!! Fill in the blank and finish the sentence Conquistadors are like _____________________ Because they ….. I’m what?

Better analogies throughout the years Conquistadors are like the Kardashians because they’re always looking for fame and money Conquistadors are like my mom because if you disobey or disagree with her she will hurt you Conquistadors are like pregnant women because they crave so many things and like gold and food. Conquistadors are like bullies because they take advantage of people who can’t defend themselves Conquistadors are like ball-hogs in sports because they are very greedy

Conquistador Recruitment Poster