Exploration of the America’s

Spain comes to the America’s

The Reconquista – 711 to 1492!

The Moors (Islamic people) dominated Spain and were from northwest Africa.

• Brought Islamic ideas and goods

• Cities in Spain grew and business prospered

• Culture flourished

The Christians

• Original rulers of Spain• Believed that God desired

them to return Spain to Christian rule

• Struggled to fight the Moors as they were not a united front (Christians also fought one another)

• In the end…Christian rule was restored over the Moors

The Opponents:

The Effects: The Roconquista (meaning reconquest) and the successful restoration of Christian Spanish control led to the Spanish being inspired to explore new lands.

Soldiers of Spain 1492

Led to the3G’s of

exploration: God, Glory,

Gold

A soldier’s life

• War was all they new (job, way of life, and religion) after 800 years of fighting

• War=wealth and glory as you took the wealth of the person you defeated

• After conquering the Moors, men needed a new purpose and desired a new land or people to conquer

Exploration by Spain

The World Situation (why explore?)

• Looking to expand trade with Asia

• Looking for a shorter route to Asia

• The Middle East and the Sultan – Taxes (how can we avoid these?)

• Sailors search for new routes and trade

Christopher ColumbusBiography: Born in Italy and lived in Portugal

Was declined funding from Portugal to set sail

Was also rejected by Queen Isabella and King Ferdinand of Spain until they later changed their mind in 1492.

Christopher ColumbusColumbus’ promise:

• Find route to China & India…• Bringing wealth to Spain…• Spreading Christianity…• And hurting Portugal (current

leader exploration)

The results:

• After 2 months, Columbus landed in the Caribbean (first time for Europeans to make it to the Americas) in 1492.

• Indigenous (native) people of the area were named “Indians” as Columbus believed he found India.

• Columbus returned to Spain with gold and enslaved Indians setting the foundation for further expeditions.

Exploration by Spain

Conquistadors (meaning conquerors):

• 2 main goals= wealth and spread faith

• Believed they were doing God’s will by conquering anyone who did not believe in their god.

• Used their experience with war along their journey.

7 Cities of Cibola:

Conquistadors and soldiers sought to find similar wealth that supposedly 7 Bishops found North of Mexico when establishing the Seven Cities of Cibola. It was said that the 7 Bishops left Spain heading out to sea during the Moors invasion.

Hernan Cortes in 1519Weapons and tools:

• Spanish: steel armor, cannons, guns, horses

• Aztecs: bows and arrows m(made from black volcanic glass)

Cortes’ allies were other natives that the Aztecs had conquered, sacrificed members, and made people pay tribute (food and valuables).

Tenochtitlan-the golden city:

• Emperor Montezuma II and the “Mexica” (Aztecs) welcomed Cortes as he resembled an Aztec god.

• Cortes and his men conquered the city filled with riches and killed any native that acted against the Christian faith.

• Mexico City was later built atop the ruins of the former Aztec capital.

Alvarez de Pineda• 1519 • Sailed Texas coast to Mexico • Created the first maps and charts of

coast• Determined that Florida to Mexico=

solid land with no water passage• Future explorers used maps and

charts for expeditions

The Narvaez DisasterCabeza de Vaca – survivor and

explorerLanded near Galveston Island

on San Luis Island and named it Malhado (meaning “misfortune”)

1528-1534Traveled Texas for 4 years.Estevanico – the Moorish slave

also survived.Becoming a ‘shaman’-de Vaca

was known as a “medicine man” and even performed surgery on a Native American

His book ‘Relacion’ recorded the hints of the fabled 7 Cities of Gold.

Cabeza de Vaca

from The Journey of Alvar Nunez Cabeza de Vaca

and His Companions, from Florida to the Pacific, 1528-1536

Based on the source to the right…

• Cabeza de Vaca felt the life of a trader gave him advantages. What were these advantages?

• What was Cabeza de Vaca’s “principal objective” in becoming a trader?

• What did the Coastal Indians think about Cabeza de Vaca’s role as a trader?

New Spain’s exploration1538Marcos de Niza and

Estevanico’s ExpeditionHunt for the 7 cities of

gold (Why?)Cibola=pueblo homes

of the Zuni people.Zuni’s kill EstevanicoMarcos de Niza see’s

the 7 Cities of Gold from the top of a hill and spreads the word back to New Spain.

Francisco Vasquez de Coronado

1540Searched the Plains region of TexasOver 1,000 men and horsesCaptures the Zuni PuebloNo Gold, Silver, or jewelsEl Turco leads them on ….Texas to

Kansas (in search for Quivira-a city of gold)

Traveled past the Palo Duro Canyon and Llano Estacado

‘Nothing here…leave Texas alone’ for 142 years no Spaniard will return to Texas

Francisco Vasquez de Coronado

From Pedro Castañeda’sThe Journey of Coronado,1540-1542translated by George Parker Winship

Based on the source to the left…

What effect did the hailstorm have on the Spaniard’s equipment and supplies?

The hailstorm destroyed their “crockery” or water container. Why was this important?

You are a Spanish explorer traveling across the featureless Great Plains. A devastating hailstorm destroys much of your equipment and injures your horses. What will you do next?

View of the Great Plains

courtesy photographer Barney Fitzpatrick

De Soto and Moscoso1539-1542 explored from

Florida westDe Soto dies after

Mississippi crossing, Moscoso takes over.

Visits East Texas Indians (Caddoes)– they say “Tay-yas! Tay-yas!”(meaning friends)

No Gold, silver, or jewelsThey return to MexicoOh yeah…they find this

sticky stuff – “black gold”

Motives for Exploration-recapThe 3 G’s - Matrix1.Gold – money and wealth2. Glory – fame and power3. God – religion and faith

To please their King and PopeTo return home with money and fameTo elevate your family name To live a life of adventure and wealth

1519 C.E.

1492 C.E.

1541 C.E.

1685 C.E.

1528 C.E.

1519 C.E.

1538 C.E.

1607 C.E.

1542 C.E.

1673 C.E.

1689 C.E.

Create the Exploration Timeline of Spain

Create the Exploration Timeline of Spain

1519 Pineda 1519 Cortes 1528 Cabeza de Vaca 1540 Coronado 1682 Spain establishes Missions in

Texas 1690 Spain builds East Texas Missions 1718 San Antonio Missions built as

mid-point supply depot for East Texas Missions.