| A | B |
| Christopher Columbus | Discovered American in 1492 |
| Conquistadores | Spanish soldiers-sought riches and power |
| Friars | Members of Catholic religious order |
| Missions | Religious outpost-often the first Spanish settlement |
| Hernan Cortes | Conquistadore who defeated the Aztecs |
| Quetzalcoatl | Aztec God |
| Reason Aztecs welcomed Cortes | They believed he was their god |
| Tenochtitlan | Capital city of the Aztecs |
| Moctezuma | Emperor of the Aztecs |
| What did Cortes do to Moctezuma? | Took him hostage |
| Alonso Alvarez de Pineda | First European to explore the Texas coast |
| Alvar Nunez Cabeza de Vaca | Explorered Texas for 6 years after being shipwrecked |
| Panfilo de Narvaez | Led an expedition to conquer land between Florida and Texas |
| Malhado | Name given to Galveston Island by Cabeza de Vaca |
| Karankawas | Indian tribe that helped Cabeza de Vaca |
| Estevanico | First know African in Texas. |