Preview of Age of Contact
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About

The video describes the arrival of the first Europeans in Texas, led by Cabeza de Vaca, who washed ashore in 1528 after a failed expedition. Although the Spanish initially left Texas, their brief presence had profound effects, including the introduction of European diseases that devastated Native populations and the accidental release of horses, which transformed the hunting and military capabilities of tribes like the Apache and Comanche. When Spain returned to Texas in the 1680s, they encountered a dramatically changed landscape with fewer but more powerful Native groups.

Updates

The page was updated on 10/28/2024.

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