Download Exploration and Colonization of Texas: Spanish Gold Seekers and Missionaries, 1519-1779 - and more Study notes World History in PDF only on Docsity! 1 Spanish Texas: Exploration and Search for Gold, 1519-1689 I. First Spanish Explorers in Texas a. Treaty of Tordesillas (1493) b. Alonso Alvarez de Pineda c. Panfilo de Narvaez d. Alvar Nuñez Cabeza de Vaca e. Estevanico f. Fray Marcos de Niza g. Francisco Vasquez de Coronado h. Quivera 1492, Columbus set sail from Spain in search of route to E. Indies o Found W. Indies instead Status of soldier elevated in Spanish society o Appealing to second sons, etc o Equal to status of lawyer, doctor, priest o “We came to serve God and get rich” God, gold, glory Spain found substantial amount of silver and gold in C and S America o Some riches in Mexico o Texas barren wilderness devoid of riches Bases set up in Caribbean (Cuba, Haiti) o Mexico quickly became prize of Spanish empire Spain came with advanced military technology, disease, horses, metal o Natives did not put up much resistance 1519: first expedition to coastline of N. America o Alonso Alvarez de Pineda led expedition from Caribbean base Covered FL and Mexico extensively, Texas not so much 2nd expedition searched along TX coast looking for waterway to India 1st exploration of inland TX came about by accident o Hernan Cortes sent by Gov. of Jamaica to FL to explore and claim Panfilo de Narvaez sent by Cortes’ sponsor to fire him and continue exploration of FL o Narvaez and Cortes’ men fought Narvaez’s men lost and he was unable to gain FL Lost an eye and returned to Cuba to heal Bad mouthed Cortes enough to get lots of support from Spain o Gained FL o Narvaez’s 2nd in command: Alvar Nuñez Cabeza de Vaca Also treasurer Narvaez’s second trip disastrous o Encountered 2 hurricanes o Had him and 300 men dropped off on E coast of FL Ships would sail around peninsula 2 BAD IDEA: 3 months to cross FL, ships left Built rinky-dink ships to cross gulf Narvaez’s boat swept out to sea Cabeza de Vaca landed on San Luis Island o Found by group of Karankawa with small band of survivors Badly malnourished; resorted to cannibalism Spent 4 yrs in TX among numerous Indian groups Slaves Numerous escape attempts Cabeza de Vaca came across Coahuiltecan o Knew he was Spanish and returned him to group o Estevanico, slave of another Spaniard, in surviving group o Finally got back to Mexico Upon return, Cabeza de Vaca told authorities he’d heard stories of gold and silver o Had to be more than failure => lied o Spanish very interested o Took 8 ½ yrs of wandering wilderness to get back Fray Marcos de Niza led expedition to look for gold and silver in TX o Took Estevanico as guide “Extended” expedition to enjoy freedom Got too friendly with Zuni females Zuni males killed him Zunis inform Fray Marcos of no gold Tells Spanish officials he’d heard stories of great riches Francisco Vasquez de Coronado led last expedition for 50 yrs into TX o Brought Fray Marcos de Niza with him Believed he went through Amarillo Contingent may have passed near Lubbock Picked up Indian guide in N. Mexico “The Turk” or “El Turco” Leads them throughout TX and OK to KS Killed after leading Spaniards on wild goosechase o Told officials NO GOLD o Expedition termed “successful failure” Allowed Spanish to gain knowledge of region Allowed Spanish to claim TX and SW Spanish concentrated on C and S Mexico o Had silver and gold II. Initial Spanish Colonization Efforts in Texas a. Jan de Oñate b. The Pueblo Revolt (1680)