Early Explorers

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Early Explorers

• The Spanish Explore Texas
• p. 107 - 111

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The Quest for Texas Gold

• When Cabeza de Vaca arrived to Mexico City he
  recounted tales of herds of huge cows with
  small horns. What he had seen were buffalo, the
  first reported sighting of the animal by a
  European.
• He announced that he saw no gold, but heard about
  cities with magnificent houses and lands rich
  with copper, emeralds, and turquoise.
• Inspired by visions of gold and glory,
  conquistadors throughout New Spain volunteered
  for expeditions to Texas.

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Fray Marcos Leads a new Expedition

• Priest Fray Marcos de Niza, was chosen by the
  viceroy of New Spain to head an expedition.
• The expedition was looking for a land called
  Cibola. Within Cibola were seven cities, rich in
  gold, silver, and precious gems.

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Fray Marcos Leads a new Expedition

• Fray Marcos continued northward until he saw
  Cibola from a distance and returned to Mexico to
  report.
• Cibola was actually a pueblo, a series of
  connected flat-roofed buildings.
• Fray Marcos, who may have seen Cibola at sunset,
  claimed he got a glimpse of a golden city filled
  with treasures.

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Coronado is Disappointed

• The viceroy then sent Francisco Vazquez de
  Coronado in search of Cibola.
• After 5 months of travel Coronado found Cibola
  a disappointment. Instead of golden treasures,
  the expedition found only mud, stone, and angry
  Zuni warriors ready to defend their village.
• Rather than go back to New Spain empty handed,
  Coronado, believing treasure must lie somewhere
  in the vast wilderness, decided to stay and
  explore.

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Coronado is Disappointed

• On his journey, Coronado met a Native American
  whom they called the Turk. He told of a fabulous
  place called Quivira said to be filled with
  riches.
• With the Turk leading the way, they found
  Quivira. It was a Native American settlement
  built of sticks and skins, but no treasure.
• Angry and frustrated, Coronado put the Turk to
  death.
• After claiming the entire Wichita country for the
  King of Spain, Coronado began the long journey
  back to Mexico.

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Moscoso explores East Texas

• The explorers met many Native Americans, but
  found no riches.
• Spains interest in Texas decreased because
  little riches were found.

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