Early Explorers of Texas

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Across
  1. 2. He became the first European to explore the Texas coast.
  2. 9. The Northern Pass
  3. 12. In 1598 he led an expedition to settle the upper Rio Grande. He is thought to have ordered the first Thanksgiving in North America.
  4. 13. The King of Spain wanted him to look for the Fountain of Youth.
  5. 14. In 1519 he landed in Mexico and overthrew the Aztec Empire.
  6. 15. The first European country to send explorers into what is now the United States
  7. 17. In 1492 he decided to go east by sailing west.
  8. 18. He was part of the Narvaez Expedition. A storm forced him to land near Galveston. He heard about seven golden cities from Native Americans.
  9. 20. The most direct result of French exploration for Texas was that Spanish interests shifted from West Texas to here.
  10. 21. He led an expedition of 300 soldiers looking for seven golden cities.
Down
  1. 1. This was the Aztec capital. It was destroyed by Cortes, and was replaced by Mexico City.
  2. 3. These were religious settlements established by Catholic Priests
  3. 4. La Salle named this after King Louis XIV of France.
  4. 5. He took over the de Soto expedition after de Soto died. They were the first to reach the Mississippi River and likely came to Texas as well.
  5. 6. These were the three Gs that drove Spanish explorers
  6. 7. These were soldier warriors who helped to conquer new lands for Spain and gain wealth and glory for themselves.
  7. 8. Cabeza de Vaca’s encounters with the Indians as he journeyed through Texas began an era called the Age of
  8. 10. He was the first French explorer to reach Texas.
  9. 11. He led an expedition to Florida and then died near the Mississippi River.
  10. 13. These were government sponsored pirate ships that preyed on the ships of other nations.
  11. 16. Only four men out of 600 survived this expedition.
  12. 19. This is an official who rules in a king or queen’s name