Spanish Conquest and Exploration (3)

The Iberian Legacy

  • Geographical Context

    • Displays important locations in relation to Spain and Portugal.

    • Illustrates the Iberian Peninsula, including vital cities like Lisbon, Seville, Bilbao, Madrid, and others.

    • Highlights neighboring areas like the Atlantic Ocean, Mediterranean Sea, and various kingdoms (e.g., Navarre, Castille).

Los Reyes Catolicos (The Catholic Monarchs)

  • Marriage of Ferdinand and Isabella (1469)

    • King Ferdinand of Aragon marries Queen Isabella of Castille.

    • Their union aims to consolidate power across the entire Iberian Peninsula.

    • By 1492, they successfully drove the Muslims from Spain, marking the end of the Reconquista.

  • Christopher Columbus' Expedition (1492)

    • Columbus seeks permission to sail west to find a faster trade route to India.

    • Sponsored by Ferdinand and Isabella, Columbus' expedition leads to the discovery of the Americas.

  • Impact of Discovery

    • Columbus' successful voyage creates opportunities for the Conquistadors to seek glory and expand Spanish influence in the New World.

The Slave Trade

  • Volume and Direction of the Transatlantic Slave Trade

    • Number of enslaved people transported across various regions from Africa to the Americas is approximately 5,695,000.

    • Breakdown of enslaved populations in various regions:

    • North American regions (Carolina/Georgia): 210,000

    • Spanish Caribbean/ Mainlands: 779,000

    • South America (e.g., Brazil, Rio de la Plata): 1,566,000

    • African regions contributing to enslaved population include the Windward Coast (1,999,000), Gold Coast (1,209,000), and Bight of Biafra (543,000).

Papal Bull of 1493

  • Grant of Possession

    • Issued by Pope Alexander VI, this decree grants Spain rights over the New World, conditional on the effort to Christianize native populations.

  • Requerimiento (1513)

    • Spanish explorers were mandated to read the Requerimiento document to indigenous peoples upon first contact.

    • Due to language barriers, many natives did not comprehend its content, yet they were still held accountable for not complying with its demands.

Spanish Exploration of the New World

  • Notable Conquests

    • Hernán Cortés conquered the Aztec Empire in 1518.

    • Francisco Pizarro defeated the Incas in 1521.

  • Focus on North America

    • Following successes in Central and South America, Spanish exploration extended to territories in North America.

Cabeza de Vaca's Route (1527-1536)

  • Exploration Overview

    • Alvar Núñez Cabeza de Vaca’s travels documented significant areas in North America, including Texas and the Gulf of Mexico regions.

Settlement Patterns

  • French, Spanish, and English Settlements to 1776

    • A diagram illustrates key settlements established by these powers in North America.

    • Highlights settlements such as San Francisco (1776), San Antonio de Padua (1771), and St. Augustine (1565).

The Struggle for Possession of Texas

  • Pull Factors for Settlers

    • Motivations for Spanish citizens to moved towards Texas include:

    • Papal Bull of 1493, which highlighted spiritual obligations.

    • Economic prospects like gold and potential land settlement incentives.

  • Resistances Against Moving

    • Challenges included an untamed region, presence of Indigenous peoples, and lack of colonial protections.

Frontier Institutions

  • Types of Institutions

    • Missions: Church-managed establishments aimed at converting indigenous populations.

    • Presidios: Military forts housing soldiers to protect settlements and enforce Spanish control.

    • Ranchos and Farms: Civilian-owned agricultural establishments granted by the King to those who settled.

    • Towns: By the end of the 18th century, Texas hosted only four towns.

  • Population Statistics

    • Numbers of residents for key towns around the Texas area during the colonial period:

    • Nacogdoches: 350

    • La Bahia: 450

    • San Antonio: 1,248

    • Laredo: 700

The Indian Tribes of Colonial Texas

  • Demographics and Changes

    • The diversity of indigenous populations in Texas transformed throughout the colonial period (1530 - 1800).

    • Notable tribes included Mescalero Apaches, Comanche, as well as other native groups.

Social Hierarchy in Spanish Texas

  • Spanish Caste System

    • The system comprises:

    • Peninsulares: Spaniards born in Spain.

    • Criollos: Spaniards born in the New World (Mexico).

    • Mestizos: Individuals of mixed Spanish and Indigenous heritage.

    • Other categories distinguish between Indigenous populations and various mixed ancestries (e.g., Mulatos, Zambos).

Bourbon Reforms

  • King Carlos III Reforms (1759)

    • Aimed to improve the governance and military structure of Spanish colonies.

    • Reforms focused on replacing local leadership with Spanish counterparts, lowering taxes, and encouraging free trade.

  • Marquis de Rubi's Investigations

    • Recommended abandonment of unproductive outposts like Nacogdoches.

    • Suggested fostering better relations with Comanche tribes while taking a harsher stance against Apache adversaries.

American Filibusterers

  • Distracted Spain

    • Various expeditions by American filibusterers challenged Spanish authority, such as:

    • Philip Nolan (1801)

    • Freeman-Custis Expedition (1806)

    • Gutierrez-Magee Expedition (1811)

    • James Long Expeditions (1819 & 1820)