Spanish Exploration

Columbus Explores

Aug 1, 1492

Christopher Columbus's goal was to find a new water route to Asia for trading of spices, silk and other goods. He tried to sail to Asia but ended up in the Bahamas. Oblivious to the fact that he wasn't in Asia, he called the natives "Indians." This discovery would fuel interest in America and lead to many expeditions.

Cortez Conquers

Jan 1, 1519

Hernan Cortez traveled to Mexico to look for gold after rumours of the New World had aroused. He found the Native People, the Aztecs. They treated him with kindness and gave hime gifts because they thought he was a god. Unfortunately for them, they were wrong. Cortez ended up killing them off and gaining six million dollars in gold from the Aztec Empire. Again, this striked more interest in the New World.

Pineda Maps the Coast

Jan 1, 1519

This helped explorers to not get lost on their expeditions. This was yet another fuel to the fire of Spanish expedition.

De Vaca Gets Lost

Period: Jan 1, 1528 to Jan 1, 1537

Cabeza de Vaca was stranded when his boat floated off. He and his fellow men (he wasn't leading the expedition) made crude rafts that were broken in a Gale that stuck them on an island (Galveston). He became a medicine man with the Indians and when Spanish men came and found he and his men, he told stories of a glorious city. He told of seven cities made entirely of gold. This striked interest in the Spanish.

Desoto and Moscoso find the Mississippi

Jan 1, 1539

These two people wanted to find the seven cities of Cibola, but this only ended in Moscoso's death. (he got sick, and when he died, Desoto and his men put him in the Mississippi) They also said, "Do NOT come to Texas." This also resulted in the Spanish not returning to Texas for 150 years.

Friar Marcos and Esteban do NOTHING

Oct 26, 1539

In the title, it says these two do nothing, but they explore the Texas land and verify Pineda's map. They also say there is another golden city bigger than Mexico City. This makes the Spanish VERY interested in Texas.

Coronado Gets Lost

Jan 1, 1540

Coronado wanted to find the seven cities of Cibola, that which Cabeza de Vaca spoke of. Instead of actually finding them, he roamed through five states with the "help" of a Native that Coronado called, "The Turk." Turk was supposed to lead them away from native settlements. He did a good job of that. Coronado didn't find the cities. Instead, he roamed around until he was angered and put the Turk to death. This lead to no one exploring America for 150 years.