Alonso Alvarez de Pineda mapped the Texas Gulf Coast in the 1520s. In 1527, Panfilo de Narvaez led an expedition to Florida in search of gold but his forces became lost in swamps. Storms destroyed their ships, leaving Narvaez and his men stranded. They built boats to escape but Narvaez drowned, and two ships landed on an island off the Texas coast called Malhado. Only four men, including Cabeza de Vaca, survived. They spent eight years traveling along the Texas coast, interacting with Native Americans and gathering food to trade before being rescued in 1536.

1. Chapter 5.2: Spanish Explore Texas

2. Pineda Explores the Gulf Coast Alonso Alvarez de Pineda —drew the first map of the Texas Gulf Coast

3. Narvaez & the “Island of Misfortune” 1527: lands near in present-day Florida Told they could find gold at Apalachee Divides Forces Panfilo de Narvaez

4. Narvaez & the “Island of Misfortune” Become lost in swamps No gold found Could not find ships Built small, flimsy boats

5. Narvaez & the “Island of Misfortune” Storm washed three ships into Matagorda Bay Narvaez drowns Two ship land on a Texas island—Cabeza de Vaca called it “Malhado”

6. Narvaez & the “Island of Misfortune” Cabeza de Vaca— Spaniard who spent 8 years among the Texas Indians during the 1500s Cabeza de Vaca

8. Worked as a servant and a healer Traveled along the Texas coast gathering sea shells and mesquite beans to trade for animals skins Narvaez & the “Island of Misfortune”

9. The Spaniards’ Adventures in Texas Cabeza de Vaca meets three others Estevanico—North African Cabeza de Vaca removed an arrowhead from a man’s chest and stitched up the wound—fame as a healer helped him survive.

10. The Spaniards’ Adventures in Texas Estevanico had skills communicating with different Indian groups Estevanico

11. The Spaniards’ Adventures in Texas 1536: The four lost explorers come across a group of Spanish soldiers Taken to Mexico & returned to Spain

12. Cabeza de Vaca Estevanico