Today I am learning about the ancients of Georgia because these people had a great influence on how we live today. Warm Up – Which countries explored the current east coast of the United States? What problems may arise because of competing and overlapping claims?

Hernando de Soto and Spanish Missions Explorers to the New World

Hernando DeSoto First to record expedition through Georgia in 1540 In search of Gold and silver Explored much of the South Eastern US Came up through Florida with more than 600 men

De Soto (Cont.) Explored Savannah and Ocmulgee River Never found gold He encountered the Mississippian Natives

90% of the Native population vanished Natives had never seen: Guns, steel swords, metal armor, or horses Only weapons Natives had were made of wood and stone Many were killed in battle or just plain murdered Many were made slaves

Natives Vanished Continued 1 in 3 Natives died from Measles, chicken pox, small pox Because they had never been exposed to these diseases With so few Natives left, the Spanish began to import black slaves from Africa to work in the fields and mines

Spanish Settlements

Pedro Menendez Spain sent him because they were worried about French success He built St. Augustine First successful settlement in North America

St. Augustine Menendez helped build missions Church outpost The Friars (Church Missionaries work with the natives teaching them: Read and write Modern agricultural techniques They also traded with the natives

Missions St. Catherine’s Island Spanish called Santa Catalina de Guale Georgia’s coast was called Guala named after the natives there

Quick Write (Summarizer) Which European country had the most negative impact on the natives in either North or South America? Why? Explain.