Texas History Ch. 5-6 1519: De Pineda maps the Gulf of Mexico coastline and sees Texas coast for first time 1528: Cabeza de Vaca is shipwrecked on Texas coast and meets Karankawas Cabeza de Vaca and his companions found Texas to be harsh.

He wrote 1st European account of life in North America. Cortes led the conquest of the Aztec Empire.  Indians told Spanish tales of cities of gold in the region  Spanish were able to defeat large groups of Indians with superior armor, weapons, horses, and killing them by spreading European diseases  Diseases killed the Indians but did not kill the Europeans because Indians had not been previously exposed to those diseases.  Besides disease, food and animals were part of the Columbian Exchange.  Conquistadores wanted to find Gold, spread Catholic religion, and obtain Glory and land.  They did NOT want to befriend the American Indians  Coronado looked for gold at Cibola and Quivira  When Fray Marcos and Estevanico reached what they thought was a golden city, Estevanico was killed by the Indians.  Antonio Margil de Jesus was a Franciscan who founded missions in Texas.  Alonso de Leon and Damian Massanet established San Francisco de los Tejas.  Daily life in a mission included working and praying.  Native Americans had to stay inside the mission walls.  Native Americans often contracted diseases from Europeans inside the mission. Tejas Indians turned against the Spanish after a disease outbreak killed many Indians.  Both the Spanish and American Indians claimed the same land.  Apaches became feared enemies of the Spanish after they obtained horses.  Presidios were established to protect the missions.  Presidio soldiers guarded the missions and protected the Spaniards’ herds of horses. Spanish interest declined in 1540s when explorers failed to find gold or other treasure. Names, language, architecture, art, food, Catholicism, cowboy culture, and music are all evidence of Texas’ Spanish heritage. Father Hidalgo asked the French for help in establishing East Texas missions. Louis de St. Denis traveled to Texas to find Father Miguel Hidalgo.  To strengthen their claim to Louisiana  To gain a military base from which to conquer New Spain  To discourage other Europeans from moving into the area  They did NOT come to trade with Apaches and Comanches in central and west Texas  1685: La Salle established Fort St. Louis  Fort St. Louis was attacked and overrun by American Indians Spanish once again were interested in Texas after the French began exploring the area. 1718: San Antonio settlements were founded; 1st organized civil government in Texas was in San Antonio. The major economic activities in Spanish Texas were farming and ranching.