Spanish Exploration

Columbus First Voyage

Aug 3, 1492

Columbus set sail in August 3, 1492. He wanted to find a shorter route to Asia going through the West. However he did not find what he was looking for, instead he found America. Columbus did not know that what he found was a whole new piece of land and not India. This was important because he found gold and new goods that the old world did not have yet. He also started permanent civilization in the New world too.

Pineda's voyage

Jan 1, 1519

Pineda wanted to find a shorter water passage or route. He was the first to map the gulf coast. He eventually mapped 800 miles of shoreline. He also made a report of the region he explored. This was important because he was able to create a map that later others could follow.

Cortes Voyage

Feb 1, 1519

Cortes conquered the Aztec Empire in February 1519. (Back then the Aztec empire was located in present day Mexico city.) This was important because he "sparked exploration" and brought back six million dollars worth of gold. By 1570 he brought up to 99 tons of gold. Like I said this "sparked exploration" in Spain.

DeVaca Voyage Part 1 start day

Jan 1, 1528

DeVaca was originally looking for gold in Florida. Before DeVaca was a leader, Narvez was the leader. Narvez was killed when they were shipwrecked and could not safe his life due to low food and bad nursery.

DeVaca discovers Texas

Nov 5, 1528

Like I said DeVaca was shipwrecked after a storm. The Karankawas took them in for about four years. The Karankawas were the ones that helped them out like nursing the back to health. Most peole died fast like the leader but DeVaca separated and became a maid and a nursemen.

Fray Marcos and Estaban

Jan 1, 1539

They wanted to study the land to the north. Estavan was killed by one of the villagers for demanding women and food. So Fray went back and found a city that was made of gold. The city was actually fools gold and not real gold. Everyone wanted to find this city in the next exploration.

Coronado's Expedition

Jan 1, 1539

Coronado was looking for Cibola and Quivera He made two expeditions. For the second expedition his guide was "Turk". He was killed because he lied about a city made of gold, however Coronado did not find anything but a Indian civilization without any women or gold. "Turk" was told to build his own grave and then he will be placed dead in it. Coronado told Spain that Texas was not good land and had "difficult" Indians. This statement made Spain delay future exploration for 150 years.

Moscoso' Expedition

Jan 1, 1542

The original leader of Moscoso expedition was De soto. He dies of fever in May 21 1521. Moscoso reported that Texas was just as bad as Coronado had reported it to be; bad land and angry Indians.