Spanish Explorations

    Conquistadors  - Spanish noblemen
who explored and conquered the New
World 
            Why?  for Glory, Gold, and God.

    Indians told the Spaniards of rich
kingdoms to the north called Cale, Gran
Quivira, and the Seven Cities of Cibola
        Tales of a cities walls being made of gold,
doors of the shops and houses were covered
with turquoise drew the conquistadors

    First Conquistador
Francisco Vasquez de Coronado
    1.  led an expedition of nearly 1500
        Spaniards and Mexican Indians
    2.  found the humble settlements of the
       Wichita Indians who grew fields of corn,
        beans, and squash
    3.  Coronado brought history to Oklahoma
          through his written records
    4.  Coronado claimed the land he explored
        for Spain (Spanish flag was the first
        European flag to fly over Oklahoma)

    2nd Conquistador
  Juan de Onate
    1.  he explored western Oklahoma in the
         valley of the Canadian River

    French Claims in the Southwest
    1.  Robert La Salle  claimed the Mississippi
        River basin for France and called it
        Louisiana (France is the second European
        flag to fly over Oklahoma)
    2.  Jean Baptiste de Bienville established the
         trading post @ New Orleans
    3.  Juchereau de St. Denis explored Red
            River region
    4.  Bernard de La Harpe explored eastern
        Oklahoma and described the wealth of
        the Wichitas and Caddos, called
            "Taovayas" by the French

Workbook page 6

Workbook page 7