Spanish Exploration

Columbus's 1st Voyage

Jan 1, 1492

After many tries at getting the funding for his voyage, Queen Isabella finally agrees to Columbus's reasonings. He was to find a water route to India and Cathay by going West. On his way West, he discovered a new world and brought back grand stories of what was over there. This sparked European exploration to this new world that he found.

Cortes' Voyage

Jan 1, 1519

Cortes was sent to the New World after Columbus in search for gold. When he arrived at the Aztec Empire, they believed he was a god from one of their prophecies. He easily became incharge of them and their gold which he was searching for. He killed the Aztec leader Montezuma which sparked a war between his men and the Aztecs. They were outnumbered largely, but ended up winning the war. When he brought back all of that gold, people wanted to go to the new world so that they could be wealthy.

Pineda's voyage

Jan 1, 1519

Pineda went on a voyage for Spain to map out and observe the area near the Gulf of Mexico. He and his crew trekked through Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Texas. He is credited for discovering the Mississippi River and possibly finding the Rio Grande River. This journey was important because Spain now knows what is in that area and has that region mapped out for further exploration.

Cabeza de Vaca's 1st day of exploration

Jan 1, 1527

This journey was meant to re-explore Pineda's mapped area of the Gulf of Mexico. The original leader of the expedition was Narvaez until he later died.

De Vaca Discovers Texas

Nov 6, 1528

De Vaca and his men were washed ashore after a tropical storm, on what is now Galveston Island. He and his men built 5 unstable rafts and sailed across the Gulf of Mexico. He was there for 4 years and encountered the Karankawas, Jumanos, and Cohuelitecans. He was a medicine men for the indians and performed the first surgery in North America.

Fray Marcos and Esteban's Journey

Jan 1, 1539

Fray Marcos and Esteban's mission was to study and evaluate the land in the north of New Spain (Mexico). Esteban said that he would send white crosses as a signal to Fray Marcos. Esteban found the Zunis (an indian tribe) and demanded their women and food. He was eventually murdered by a Zuni. Fray Marcos found a city of "gold" and reported to Spain that it dazzled in the sunlight. Coronado will later be sent to find this city of "gold".

Moscoso's Expedition

Jan 1, 1539

De Soto was the original leader of this expedition until he later died from a fever in what is now present-day Arkansas from a fever. They discovered the Mississippi River, but didn't find what they were searching for (gold). This exploration was important because he had negative things to say about the Gulf Coast states and what was there. This caused people to not come over and settle or explore in this area for a while.

Coronado's Expedition

Jan 1, 1540

Coronado and his men searched for the two cities of gold (Cibola and Quivira). He was guided by a Zuni slave named Turk who told grand stories of cities made of gold. When Coronado and his men found only Zuni adobe villages, they becme raged at Turk. In rage, Coronado told him to make his own grave and then strangled him to death. In later travels, Coronado and his men discovered Palo Duro Canyon and The Grand Canyon. This journey's important because it made the New World seem less valuable.