Regions of Texas AND Early Explorers

The Gulf Coast (Coastal Plains) Has many chemical and manufacturing plants Lots of rain Hurricanes It's very humid

Great Plains Elevations of 1,300 feet or less Open forest of oak, mesquite, and juniper Wide open spaces

North Central Plains Center part of the state Hill Country in the southern part Bordered by the Cap Rock Escarpment on the west Bordered by the Balcones Escarpment on the east Prairies Forests in the Cross Timbers Rolling Plains and Hills Variety of trees Small shrubs Limestone rock Thick grass

Mountain and Basin Region Far west Texas East border near Pecos River South border is the Rio Grande North border is New Mexico Towering Peaks, Rocky Canyons, and flowering cacti. Dry, rocky soil Big Bend National Park, Guadalupe National Park, and Davis Mountains

Early Native Americans They are believed to have walked across the land bridge now called the Bering Strait They were tracking and following the large mammals that they hunted for food

….Native Americans Inca Tribe * lived in the Andes Mountains in South America Karankawa: *used alligator grease to fight mosquitos *nomadic people Aztecs *floating garden *grew chili peppers, corn, beans, and squash

….Native Americans Lipan Apache * Nomadic hunters *Nomadic Kiowa

Spanish Missions Were started near rivers Were meant to spread the Catholic religion Spread Spanish culture and language Spanish settlers could protect their claim on the land

Early Explorers Hernando Cortes - Spanish *His exploration of the New World ended the Aztec Empire Álvar Núñez Cabeza de Vaca - Spanish *explored and mapped Texas Robert La Salle - French *He claimed part of Texas for his country *He helped establish Fort St. Louis in Texas in 1685

….Early Explorers Europeans explored the Western Hemisphere To seek riches To seek new lands To spread religion To find gold in Cibola (The Seven Cities of Gold)