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Columbus set sail for Spain in hope for finding a new and faster route to India/Asia. They had items that no European had ever seen. Columbus found the Americas and called the people there "Indians" (he thought he was in India). This sparked the exploration in the Americas.
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Spanish explorers and their journeys that lad to discovering Texas.
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Cortez conquered the Aztecs in Tenochitlan (Mexico City) He recovered 99 tons of gold which started exploration for gold in the Americas (mostly near Mexico City).
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Pineda sailed on the coast from Florida to Texas. He was the first one to map this area. His map led others to explore the land on the Gulf coast.
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De Vaca traveled with Narvez, his leader. Their purpose for the expedition was to find gold in Florida.
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This happens after he and 300 men were stranded on Florida. They decided to make 5 crude boats and sail in the Gulf of Mexico. There was a storm and only 80 people made it alive on the beach of Galveston Island. He stayed there with the Karankawas for 4 years. He also met the Coahuilitecans and the Jumano Indians. He left for Europe in 1537 from Mexico City 4 years later after finding no gold. In all he was gone for 8 years.
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Their purpose was to study and evaluate the land to the north. Esteban was killed by the Zunis for demanding their women and food. Fray Marcos reported seeing the most beautiful grand and golden city.
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The original leader of the expedition was De Soto. He died on May 21, 1542 due to a fever on the western banks of the Mississippi. They are claimed to have discovered the Mississippi river.
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He searched for Cibola and and later Quivera. Coronado's guide on the 2nd part of the trip was Turk the indian. Coronado makes Turk dig his own grave and then strangles him for lying about the cities. Coronado dicovered the Palo Duro Canyon in Texas and the Grand Canyon in Arizona. The importance was that he told Spain that the land was useless. Spain would not explore Texas for another 150 years after Coronado and Moscoso's report.
