1. Spanish Explorers Come to Texas

2. 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)

4. 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.

5. Cabeza de Vaca Journey

6. 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 (The understanding) a book that told of his experiences in Texas

7. In Cabeza De Vaca’s journeys across Texas he heard stories of cities named Cibola filled with gold.

8. 1538 Friar Marcos de Niza Sent to find Seven Cities of Cibola
Led the first expedition into the Southwestern United States

9. 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

10. Returned claiming to see a golden city (really a mirage or the sun reflecting off adobe roofs)

12. 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

13. A Tigua Indian named El Turco “The Turk” promised to lead Coronado’s group to a rich land named Quivira

14. 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

17. 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

18. De Soto and his men “discover” the Mississippi River

19. 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)

21. Conquistador Recruitment Poster