European Explorers
FMS - Texas History
Christopher Columbus
• Sponsored by Spain’s to find a
shorter route to China
• Landed in Bahamas Oct 12, 1492
• Spain sponsored 4 voyages
between 1492 – 1504
• Lost sponsorship when he began
abusing the natives
Alonzo Alvarez de Pineda
• Led expedition to map
coastline of Gulf of Mexico &
established Spanish colony in
1519
• 1st European expedition to
observe the Texas coast
• Pineda settled near present-
day Mexican city of Tampico
Moctezuma
Hernan Cortes
• Spaniard commissioned by
Governor of Cuba to explore N.
Amer. continent in 1519
• Conquered Emperor Moctezuma
–Claimed Mexico for “New” Spain
–Renamed Tenochtitlan –Mexico City
Panfilo de Narvaez
• Granted land of Florida by Spain
along with permission to conquer
lands between Florida & Mexico
• His 400-man expedition capsized
in Gulf of Mex. during a storm;
80 survivors beached at
Galveston Bay
• 1st Europeans to set foot in Texas
• Assisted by Karankawas upon
arrival in Texas
Panfilo de Narvaez
Expedition
Alvar Nunez Cabeza
de Vaca
• Assisted by Karankawas,
survived Narvaez expedition
• Natives told him about 7
Cities of Gold (Cibola)
• 1st Euro. To explore interior of
Texas looking for Ciboloa
• Went across Tx to Mex. City
• Told Spain about Cibola
Francisco Vasquez
de Coronado
• Came to Texas specifically
looking for 7 Cities of Gold
(Cibola) … never found it
• A member of his group
(Fernandez) even traveled as
far as the Grand Canyon
• Saw buffalo and thought they
were cows
Hernando de Soto
•Led 2nd expedition to Texas
specifically looking for
Cibola
•1st European to explore
interior of U.S vs. just
Florida area to Texas
•Never found Cibola
Rene-Robert Cavelier
Sieur de LaSalle
• Claimed Louisiana, to include
Miss. River area for France
• Established Ft St Louis near
present day Corpus Christi
• Most of his expedition died from
fights w/ Karankawas
• His fort was over run by Indians