Reasons for Exploration
Key Explorers
Impacts on Texas
Spain vs. France
Vocabulary & Concepts
100

What were the three main reasons for Spanish exploration?

Gold, God, Glory

100

Who conquered the Aztec empire in Mexico, establishing Spanish rule?

Hernán Cortés

100

Why is the year 1519 significant in Texas history?

First reliable map of the Texas coastline was created

100

What country was Cortez from?

Spain

100

What were Spanish soldier-explorers called?

Conquistadors

200

Which explorer traveled west in 1492 looking for a trade route to Asia, but discovered the Americas instead?

Christopher Columbus

200

Which explorer mapped the Texas coastline in 1519?

Álvaréz de Pineda

200

Cabeza de Vaca’s journal and expedition had what effect on exploration?

It fueled further exploration in North America

200

What country was La Salle from?

France

200

Which religion did Spain try to spread during the Age of Contact?

Catholicism

300

What was the initial reason most European explorers sailed to the Americas?

Find new trade routes to Asia

300

Who was shipwrecked in Texas, lived among the Karankawa, and wrote a journal about his experiences?

Cabeza de Vaca

300

What was the most important result of La Salle’s failed expedition in Texas?

Spain renewed interest in Texas and began colonizing

300

What action by La Salle caused conflict with Spain?

He built a French fort in Texas

300

When government is based on the consent of the people.

Popular sovereignty 

400

What motivated Spanish conquistadors to continue their expeditions despite hardships like hunger and injury?

Gold

400

Which explorer led an expedition through the Southwest searching for Cibola but never found gold?

Francisco Coronado

400

Why did Spain eventually lose interest in Texas during the Age of Contact?

They found no riches like gold

400

After La Salle’s expedition, how did Spain strengthen its claim over Texas?

By establishing more settlements in Texas

400

What is the Age of Contact Era?

When explorers came to the Americas

500

What legend inspired explorers such as Coronado to travel through Texas searching for riches?

Cibola, the Seven Cities of Gold

500

Which French explorer shipwrecked at Matagorda Bay and built Fort St. Louis in Texas?

La Salle

500

What was the main reason Spain built settlements in Texas?

To block the French from controlling Texas

500

Name three Spanish explorers, and one French explorer.

Spanish-Cortez, Cabeza de Vaca, Pineda, Moscoso

French- La Salle

500

Which tribe did Cabeza de Va encounter?

Karankawa