Exploration of the America

1
Exploration of the Americas

• Spain comes to the Americas

2
The Reconquista 711 to 1492!
The Opponents

• The Moors (Islamic people) dominated Spain and
  were from northwest Africa.
• Brought Islamic ideas and goods
• Cities in Spain grew and business prospered
• Culture flourished

• The Christians
• Original rulers of Spain
• Believed that God desired them to return Spain to
  Christian rule
• Struggled to fight the Moors as they were not a
  united front (Christians also fought one another)
• In the endChristian rule was restored over the
  Moors

The Effects The Roconquista (meaning
reconquest) and the successful restoration of
Christian Spanish control led to the Spanish
being inspired to explore new lands.
3
Soldiers of Spain 1492

• A soldiers life
• War was all they new (job, way of life, and
  religion) after 800 years of fighting
• Warwealth and glory as you took the wealth of
  the person you defeated
• After conquering the Moors, men needed a new
  purpose and desired a new land or people to
  conquer

• Led to the
• 3Gs of exploration God, Glory, Gold

4
Exploration by Spain

• The World Situation (why explore?)
• Looking to expand trade with Asia
• Looking for a shorter route to Asia
• The Middle East and the Sultan Taxes (how can
  we avoid these?)
• Sailors search for new routes and trade

5
Christopher Columbus

• Biography Born in Italy and lived in Portugal

• Was declined funding from Portugal to set sail

• Was also rejected by Queen Isabella and King
  Ferdinand of Spain until they later changed their
  mind in 1492.

6
Christopher Columbus

• Columbus promise
• Find route to China India
• Bringing wealth to Spain
• Spreading Christianity
• And hurting Portugal (current leader exploration)

• The results
• After 2 months, Columbus landed in the Caribbean
  (first time for Europeans to make it to the
  Americas)
• Indigenous (native) people of the area were named
  Indians as Columbus believed he found India.
• Columbus returned to Spain with gold and enslaved
  Indians setting the foundation for further
  expeditions.

7
Exploration by Spain

• Conquistadors (meaning conquerors)
• 2 main goals wealth and spread faith
• Believed they were doing Gods will by conquering
  anyone who did not believe in their god.
• Used their experience with war along their
  journey.

7 Cities of Cibola Conquistadors and soldiers
sought to find similar wealth that supposedly 7
Bishops found North of Mexico when establishing
the Seven Cities of Cibola. It was said that the
7 Bishops left Spain heading out to sea during
the Moors invasion.
8
Exploration by Spain

• Weapons and tools
• Spanish steel armor, cannons, guns, horses
• Aztecs bows and arrows m(made from black
  volcanic glass)

• Tenochtitlan-the golden city
• Emperor Montezuma II and the Mexica (Aztecs)
  welcomed Cortes as he resembled an Aztec god.
• Cortes and his men conquered the city filled with
  riches and killed any native that acted against
  the Christian faith.
• Mexico City was later built atop the ruins of the
  former Aztec capital.

Cortes allies were other natives that the Aztecs
had conquered, sacrificed members, and made
people pay tribute (food and valuables).
9
The Narvaez Disaster

• Cabeza de Vaca survivor and explorer
• Landed near Galveston Island on San Luis Island
  and named it Malhado (meaning misfortune)
• 1528-1534
• Traveled Texas for 4 years.
• Estevanico the Moorish slave also survived.
• Becoming a shaman-de Vaca was known as a
  medicine man and even performed surgery on a
  Native American
• His book Relacion recorded the hints of the
  fabled 7 Cities of Gold.

10
Cabeza de Vaca

• Based on the source to the right
• Cabeza de Vaca felt the life of a trader gave him
  advantages. What were these advantages?
• What was Cabeza de Vacas principal objective
  in becoming a trader?
• What did the Coastal Indians think about Cabeza
  de Vacas role as a trader?

from The Journey of Alvar Nunez Cabeza de
Vaca and His Companions, from Florida to the
Pacific, 1528-1536
11
Exploration by Spain

• Marcos de Niza and Estevanicos Expedition
• Hunt for the 7 cities of gold (Why?)
• Cibola, pueblo homes of the Zuni people.
• Zunis kill Estevanico
• Marcos de Niza sees the 7 Cities of Gold!
• Top of the Hill

12
Francisco Vasquez de Coronado

• 1540
• Over 1,000 men and horses
• Captures the Zuni Pueblo
• No Gold, Silver, or jewels.
• El Turco leads them on .Texas to Kansas
• Palo Duro Canyon and Llano Estacado.
• Nothing hereleave Texas alone for 142 years no
  Spaniard will return to Texas.

13
Cabeza de Vaca
Based on the source to the left What effect
did the hailstorm have on the Spaniards
equipment and supplies? The hailstorm
destroyed their crockery or water container.
Why was this important? You are a Spanish
explorer traveling across the featureless Great
Plains. A devastating hailstorm destroys much of
your equipment and injures your horses. What will
you do next?
From Pedro Castañedas The Journey of
Coronado, 1540-1542 translated by George Parker
Winship

• View of the Great Plains
• courtesy photographer Barney Fitzpatrick

14
Exploration by Spain

• The 3 Gs - Matrix
• 1.Gold money and wealth
• 2. Glory fame and power
• 3. God religion and faith
• To please their King and Pope
• To return home with money and fame
• To elevate your family name
• To live a life of adventure and wealth

15
Create the Exploration Timeline of Spain

• 1519 Pineda
• 1519 Cortes
• 1528 Cabeza de Vaca
• 1540 Coronado
• 1682 Spain establishes Missions in Texas
• 1690 Spain builds East Texas Missions
• 1718 San Antonio Missions built as mid-point
  supply depot for East Texas Missions.

16
Exploration by Spain

• De Soto and Moscoso
• 1539-1542 explored from Florida west.
• De Soto dies after Mississippi crossing, Moscoso
  takes over.
• Visits East Texas Indians they say
  .Tay-yas! Tay-yas! Meaning friends.
• No Gold, silver, or jewels.
• They return to Mexico.
• Oh yeahthey find this sticky stuff oil.