spanish exploration
Hernando de Soto was the first explorer to explore Georgia under the Spanish crown in 1540. However, they did not establish settlements like the Spanish had already done in Florida. While in Georgia, de Soto ended the prehistory of Georgia Native Americans. He arrived at the end of the Mississippians Period. He began writing about the chiefdoms in the tribes, and his documents were the first account of humans in Georgia. The chiefdoms and tribes were very powerful. Most expeditions, including de Soto's and after, were held in mostly South Georgia, and the northern portion was explored by the English later.
The Spanish explored Georgia and its neighboring areas often, then establishing Spanish missions. The missions were created in an effort to sustain and spread the Catholic religion in the Florida colony. Naturally, the missions were spread into the new land. These missions offered Native Americans an opprutunity to learn a religion, and it brought forth a trade: slaves for material goods. Native Americans became involved in trade of leathers, hides,weapons, and slavery. When Natives got hold of a weapons, they were required to give up a number of slaves, which they robbed from other groups. However, constant contact with the European settlers made catching disease easier, thus spreading various European illnesses that the Native Americans had no defense against. This is one of the reasons of the quick population decrease of the Native Americans. The Native Americans began to die from overworking and illness. Then, chiefdoms began to break down dramatically. |