​Christopher Columbus

Christopher Columbus first made contact with the New World in 1492​

​3 Important Reasons

​1. Religion

​2. Resources

​3. Knowledge

​Conquistadors

​Spanish explorers were known as "Conquistadors" and they were sent to find gold.

​Hernando De Soto

​The most important explorer for Arkansas' history is the Spanish Explorer, Hernando De Soto.

​De Soto

​De Soto explored much of the Southeastern United States, but is most known for discovering the Mississippi River.

​"Casqui" or "Quizquiz"

​One of the largest settlements De Soto encountered was "Casqui", near the present day town of Parkin.

"With the aid of God we will enter your land against you with force and will make war in every place and by every means we can and are able. We will take you and your wives and children and make them slaves. And we will take your property and do you all the harm and evil we can." -- Warning against Native Americans who did not cooperate from De Soto, from a Narrative from De Soto's Journey

​Death

Eventually, after many problems, De Soto died of some disease and his body was ​sunk in the Mississippi River