Native Americans and Spanish Explorers in North America
Native Americans & Spanish Explorers
They first arrived 30,000 years ago or before. It is believed that the first settlers came from Asia and crossed the land bridge that united the 2 continents (The Bering Strait – between Russia & Alaska).
Native American Cultural Regions
In the mid 1500s, 10 million Indians lived in North America with several hundred languages and varying social structures.
- Maize Regions – in Eastern half (NE & SE). Depended on hunting, fishing, farming, and gathering. (e.g., Iroquois, Huron, Cherokee)
- Bison Region – in Great Plains. Depended first on riverbank farming then on buffalo hunting. (e.g., Dakota, Sioux, Blackfoot)
- Pueblos – in Southwest. Depended on hunting, gathering, and advanced farming. Female dominated. (e.g., Hopi, Zuni, Acoma and, the Navajo and Apache, who were latecomers).
- Intermontane Indians – in California. Nomadic hunters and gatherers. Democratic political traditions, peaceful.
- Coastal Cultures – from N. Calif to S. Alaska. Depended on fishing salmon and saltwater fishing and whaling (e.g., Chinook, Tlingit).
- Inuits (Eskimos) – in Alaska and Aleutian Islands. Skilled sea hunters.
- Hawaiian indigenous culture – from Marquesas Is. and Tahiti. Depended on gathering, elaborate farming, and open-sea fishing.
Spanish Explorers
Juan Ponce de León
Columbus’ 2nd expedition (1493) Santo Domingo. Conquered island of Borinquen (Puerto Rico) and became brutal governor. Given right to find and take island of Bimini (Bahamas) – riches and Fountain of Youth.
Route: St. Augustine, Florida (Pascua Florida), Gulf Stream. 2nd attempt – Fought native warriors of Florida, died in Cuba.
Alvar Nuñez Cabeza de Vaca
Spent 8 years in the Gulf Region (Texas, & other S & SW states). Learned to appreciate and sympathize with the natives.
Chronology: Arrived in Florida in 1528 as treasurer to Panfilo de Narvaez’s expedition. Of the 300 men, only 3 survived storms, disease, starvation, enslaved on Isle of Misfortune (Galveston Is.), hunted, gathered, traded. Lived among natives. 1536 found a party of Spanish raider in N. Mexico & told stories of the 7 Cities of Cébola (El Dorado= Zuñi Pueblos in New Mexico).
Hernando de Soto
Known for having explored SE of the U.S. & for having discovered the Mississippi R.
Chronology: Became rich from slave trade & gold in South America. Searched for gold in Florida. Led by native guides through Florida, Georgia, the Carolinas, Tennessee. Found pearls. He and his followers went to Alabama & Louisiana – attacked by Indians. Discovered Mississippi R. And went through Arkansas & Louisiana. In Louisiana, he caught fever and died.
Francisco Vázquez de Coronado
1st European to explore the U.S. Southwest. Governor of New Galicia (western province of Mex). Searched for treasure in N. Mexico – The fabled seven Golden Cities of Cebola.
Expedition: Expedition with hundreds of Spaniards and enslaved natives. Traveled thru: – N.Mexico – Arizona – New Mexico – Texas – Oklahoma – Kansas.
Explorer and Conqueror
Found Zuñi, Hopi, and Pueblos. Attempted to convert to Christianity. Killed many Natives. Expedition branded failure – did not find any riches.
Spanish Settlements
St. Augustine – Sept 1565 Pedro Menéndez de Avilés (governor of Florida)-1st European settlement in the U.S. (captured French Fort Caroline- Fr. Huguenot settlement). Father Francisco López de Mendoza established the Franciscan mission of Nombre de Dios – devoted to converting the Timucuan, Appalachee, and Creek Indians to Christianity.
Missions along S. Pacific coast – San Diego – Santa Barbara – Monterey – San Francisco. (1769-1823 Franciscans built 21 missions in a chain from San Diego 650 miles N to San Francisco).