Spanish Conquest

• Spain wanted to expand their empire by controlling the Americas

• Wanted riches of the land and to spread Christianity

• Expeditions were led by conquistadors – soldiers and adventurers in search of glory, gold and land

• Conquistadors wore suits of armor and steel helmets.

• They would often use American Indians as guides

Cortes 1519 Spain

• Conquistador that explored Mexico in 1519

• Conquered the Aztecs Empire (Tenochtitlan) in 1521

• Most of the riches of the Aztec village were sent to Spain

• Cortes built Mexico City where Tenochtitlan once stood

Pineda – 1519 Spain• Searched for a northern waterway to the

Pacific Ocean

• Followed the coastline from Florida to Texas in the Gulf of Mexico

• First European to map the Texas coast

Cabeza de Vaca – 1527 – 1536 Spain

• Built small boats and eventually landed near Matagorda Bay, Texas

• Took over the expedition after Narvaez drowned when his poorly anchored boat washed out to sea.

• Lived with the Karankawas where himself and the crew were held captive

• Worked as a servant, trader and healer• Kept a journal about his life with the Karankawas

Estevanico

• 1st African to explore the Texas coast.

• Traveled with Cabeza De Vaca and served as a trader, translator and guide

• Was killed by the Zuni Indians while serving as a guide for Niza in searching for the lost cities of gold.

Coronado – 1540 Spain

• Went in search of Cibola – Niza was his guide• Reached Cibola and conquered the Zuni

Indians, but they did not find any gold• Sent Niza back to Mexico City• Heard tales of Quivira, another city full of gold• Traveled throughout Texas but never found gold

De Soto – 1539 Spain

• Also searched for Cibola

• Landed in Florida in 1539

• Explored the southern United States

• Died of a fever in 1542

• Moscos Alvarado took command of the expedition

Moscoso – 1542 Spain

• Led the expedition toward Mexico City• Never found any gold• Reported back to Spain about the

geographically varied land• Spain was only interested in gold and silver• Spanish expeditions slowed at this point since

they never found any riches

Onate – 1598 Spain

• After the Coronado & de Soto expeditions Spain lost interest in the “New Spain” since it didn’t produce and treasures or riches

• During the 1550’s and 1590’s a new goal was to spread Christianity and look for riches one last time

• In 1598 Onate took 500 colonists north to settle• He claimed the Rio Grande region for Spain• The settlement was not successful• Spain lost interest in Texas for the next 80 years

La Salle – 1682 France

• In 1682 La Salle sought to expand the French Empire

• Claimed the land that drained by the Mississippi for France and named it Louisiana after King Louis XIV.

• Returned to France in 1684 and requested to set up a colony in the region

• Became lost and landed in Martagorda Bay, Texas in 1685

La Salle• Set up Fort St. Louis with 300 soldiers and settlers• Hunger and disease killed many settlers• They were attacked by the Karankawas• By July 1685, over half of the settlers were dead• La Salle decided to look for help. He left with 17

soldiers. While on his journey he was killed. • In 1688-1689 the settlement was attacked by the

Karankawas, they killed all the adults and took the 5 children captive. (They were later rescued by other expeditions)

• La Salle was blamed for the failure of this expedition

Spanish Reaction

• Spain realized that France had gained control of their territory

• They knew they had to start settling the area to keep their power in North America

• This began a time of Spanish Missions….

Effects of Spanish Exploration

• Spanish changed the lives of the Native people by spreading diseases such as measles and smallpox

• American Indians died from this disease because they had never been exposed before

• Brought new plants and animals such as bananas, cattle, and horses

• Took back to Spain American plants and animals, such as corn, peanuts and turkey

• Horses changed the lives of the plains Indians, who learned to become better hunters and fighters