European Explorers That Impacted Texas

The way to get power and wealth was New World N. & S. America European nations * Early exploration in the “new world” of the Americas was motivated by the economic idea called Mercantilism- the belief that a nation’s (country’s) power is based on its wealth ($$) African nations The way to get power and wealth was for nations to claim land in many areas and also to trade with other nations

Christopher Columbus Date: 1492 Country: Sailed for Spain but was Portuguese Where: Cuba and islands of the Caribbean Credited with being the first European to explore the Caribbean. http://app.discoveryeducation.com/core:player/view/assetGuid/2799162B-7BC4-4C6A-AAA0-954F2C1C398A Columbus-http://app.discoveryeducation.com/core:player/view/assetGuid/1018BECD-B205-4166-8D76-739DDA40F6C1

Hernán Cortez Date: 1519 Country: Spain Where: Mexico Explored and conquered the natives of Mexico. First European to explore Central America Recovered vast wealth in gold and silver Catalyst for future exploration of the Americas

Alonso Alvarez de Pineda Date: 1519 Country: Spain Gulf of Mexico coast First person to map the coastline of Texas What he did: Explored and mapped the Gulf coast from Florida to Texas. What impact? - Map allowed other explorers to find Texas

Alvar Cabeza de Vaca Date: 1528-1536 Country: Spain Where: Shipwreck near Galveston What he did- Lived among Karankawa and others -Adapted to Native American culture, learned languages Impact? 1st to explore South Tex

Hernando De Soto Date: 1539-1542 Country: Spain Where: Southeastern U. S. What he did: Explored Mississippi River Impact? Died before reaching Texas 2nd in command Luis de Moscoso lead expedition around Tex coast to Mexico http://app.discoveryeducation.com/core:player/view/assetGuid/A6F3B4E8-685A-4B4D-9E5A-2524CCF73F07

Francisco Vázquez de Coronado Date: 1540-1541 Country: Spain Where: N. Texas, New Mex.& Kansas What he did: - searched for cities of gold: Cíbola & Quivira Impact? No gold, but found good land for farming, ranching Discovered and explored N. West Texas http://app.discoveryeducation.com/core:player/view/assetGuid/A6F3B4E8-685A-4B4D-9E5A-2524CCF73F07

Sieur de La Salle Date: 1681-1682, 1685 Country: France Where: Mississippi River What: He explored Mississippi River and E. Tex coast Impact? Got lost & landed at Matagorda Bay, Texas Established Fort St. Louis for France http://app.discoveryeducation.com/core:player/view/assetGuid/A58F49B4-7597-4089-AEDD-4811405EB5D2

Sieur de La Salle’s Journey