Spanish exploration

Christaphor Columbus

Mar 8, 1492

Colubes departs from Spain in search of a new route to India. Queen Isabella finds his search because she needs money after figting the Moors/Muslums. Columbus ends up in the Bahaman. Columbus brought back treasure and encouraged people to go to the new world. This led to the explorations of Cortes and Pineda.

Pineda

Jan 1, 1519

Pineda sets off to coast the map of Florida to Texas. He was the first one is History to map to map this area. This map led off to De Vaca and Estaban

Cortes

Feb 18, 1519

Cortes sails out to Mexico on February 18, 1519 . he land on Mexico conquers the Aztecs and brings back 99 tons of gold. After seeing how much gold was brought back, every one wanted to go to Mexico to get riches. Mexico City was built on the ruins of the Aztec city and it soon became the most important spanish city.

De Vaca

Apr 1, 1528

Under the leader of Panfilo de Narvaez, De Vaca and 300 men set out to explore the Florida coast.He got shipwreaked on Galveston and De Vaca is the 1st to explore texas, and to write about the Texas Indians. His leader was Narvez and he was helping him look for gold. He also performed the first "surgery" in Texas as a medicine man, from removing an arrowhead.

De Vaca Discovery of Texas

Nov 6, 1528

De Vaca is shipwrecked on near Galveston TX when he was exploring Florida and became stranded with the crew of 300. To try to get back they constructed 5 flimsy barges. Storms and gales eventually blew them to Galveston where they were shipwrecked and remained in east Texas for about 4 years. He met 3 tribes, Karankawas, couhiltecans and Jumano.

Fray Marcos

Jan 1, 1539

Fray Marcos was sent north to search for wealthy cities that might have lots of gold and riches. Fray Marcos searched all over and around what is now New Mexico. He did not find any wealthy citys but reported to have seen the seven citys of gold which had more gold than Mexico city, which turned out to be Quivera

Moscosos Expidition

Nov 7, 1539

The leader of this expedition was Hernando de Soto. Moscoso and de Soto set off to try to find a new rout to China and to explore Pineda's map after De Vaca had failed. They discover many things including the Mississippi river. Along the way De Soto died and Moscoso took over. Moscoso's explorations, taken together with those of de Soto and Coronado, provided Spain with much information on the interior of the vast country north and east of Mexico.

Cornado's Expidition

Jan 1, 1540

Coronado went to find gold in the city which Fray Marcos had spoke of. He searched for the cities Cibola and Quivera, but both turned out to be simple indian villages. Even though Coronado didn't find any gold, he gave Spain claim to all of the large area that he explored. He explored 5 states. he reported dont go to Texas,and no one came to Texas for 150 years