Spanish Exploration

Christopher Columbus' First Voyage

Aug 3, 1492

Spain's King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella fund three ships for Columbus' first voyage to find a trade route to Asia to compete with Portugal.

Cortes Voyage

1519

Conquistador Hernan Cortes was a member of Diego Velazquez's expedition to Cuba in 1511. He ignored orders and led 500 men and 11 ships to Mexico in 1519 to overthrow the Aztec ruler Montezuma II and raided the capital city of Tenochitilán. After leaving to avoid arrest by Spanish soldiers, the Aztecs eventually drove the Spanish from Tenochitilán. Cortés later returned in 1521 to defeat the natives and retake the city. Cortés continued expeditions to gain wealth and land in new areas.

Pineda's Voyage

1519

In 1519, the Spanish government commissioned Alonso Alvarez de Pineda to find a route to the Orient from Brazil. Pineda and his men journeyed from the western coast of Florida along the Gulf of Mexico to present-day Vera Cruz. Pineda's nine-month exploration led to the creation of the first map of the Gulf Coast and Texas shoreline, encouraging further Spanish exploration and colonization.
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DeVaca discovers Texas

1528

After sailing from Florida along the Gulf Coast, Alvar Nunez Cabeza de Vaca and 80 other men are shipwrecked near Galveston Island, Texas in November 1528. They were the first Europeans to set foot on Texas soil. Only de Vaca and a few others survived the first winter and were later captured and enslaved by Hans and the Capoques (Karankawa and Coahuiltecan) Indians from 1529 to 1543. After escaping, De Vaca and four other men survived the trip across Texas and Mexico to reach Mexico City.

DeVaca Voyage Part 1

1528

In April 1528, Cabeza de Vaca lands with an expedition to Florida led by Panfilo de Narvaez to claim the territory from Florida to Mexico for Spain. Short on food, they travelled by boat along the coasts of Alabama, Mississippi, Lousiana and Texas. Most of the men died of starvation or Indian attack. Only De Vaca and few men made it to Mexico with the help of other native Americans after being shipwrecked near Galveston Island, Texas, and enslaved by Karankawa Indians for four years.

Moscoso' Expedition

Apr 7, 1538

Luis de Moscoso Alvarado traveled with Hernando de Sotos expedition to the Americas. On April 7, 1538 de Soto reached the Florida coast and marched westward. After encounters with Indians de Soto dies in Mississippi on May 21, 1542 leaving Moscoso in command. Mosocos and his men decide to march west to New Spain, taking them throughout much of the coasts of Louisiana and Texas. Moscoso reported his trip in two letters to the King of Spain, but little else is known about his expedition.

Fray Marcos and Esteban Journey

1539

Fray Marcos explored lands of New Spain (Mexico) in the name of Catholicism and the King of Spain. In March 1539, Marcos and a moor, Esteban, led an expedition to find the fabled Seven Golden Cities of Cíbola in what is now New Mexico. Marcos turned back after Esteban, who had journeyed ahead of him, was killed. Marcos's exaggerated claims of seeing towns rich in precious stones, gold and silver stimulated exploration of the region, though Coronado found only poor Indian pueblos a year later.

Coranado's Expedition

Mar 28, 1540

From 1540 to 1542, Coronado explored Mexico and the southwestern United States to find the 7 Cities of Cíbola. Instead he found Zuni Indian pueblos and no gold as Marcos told. Coronado then went east to Quivera since the Pueblo Indians said it was full of gold. Led by The Turk, a Zuni slave, they crossed Texas to Quivera and found it well settled but no gold. Coronado was upset and ordered the Turk strangled. Because of Coronado failed to find gold, Spain would not explore Texas for 150 years.