Running head: CALIFORNIA HISTORY ASSIGNMENT 1

California History Assignment

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CALIFORNIA HISTORY ASSIGNMENT 2

California History Assignment

Sebastian Vizcaino was a Spanish explorer who explored the California coast and named

many landmarks. He led the exploration of California in the early 1600s (Cherny, Lemke-

Santangelo, & Castillo, 2013). In 1602, Vizcaino led an expedition consisting of three ships,

which explored the California coast, made a survey of Monterey Bay, and named it after the

viceroy of New Spain. Vizcaino continued his exploration to California, at which time he

explored and named the Santa Barbara Channel, among other bays. He later returned to Mexico,

where he wrote a detailed report of his expedition and recommended that Monterey Bay be

established as a port for Spain's Pacific fleet. Vizcaino's contributions to the exploration of the

California coast were significant, as he helped set the stage for the Spanish colonization of the

region in the following centuries. Through his voyages, Vizcaino not only mapped the coast but

also realized the potential for using the region as a base for further exploration and expansion.

During his expedition, Vizcaino not only mapped the territory but also made contact with

the indigenous peoples who lived along the coast. He established a relationship of mutual respect

and cooperation with the local people, which helped the Spanish later when they began to

establish missions and settlements in the area. Vizcaino also named landmarks such as Point

Reyes, Carmel River, and the Santa Cruz Mountains. In sum, Sebastian Vizcaino was a crucial

figure in the exploration and colonization of California and its history creation of mapping and

naming. His voyages were instrumental in setting the stage for Spanish colonization (1769) of

the region, and his reports provided valuable insights into the local terrain and peoples. His

legacy thus lives on in California's history and geography.

CALIFORNIA HISTORY ASSIGNMENT 3

References

Cherny, R. W., Lemke-Santangelo, G., & Castillo, R. G. (2013). The Spanish Colonization of

California, 1769–1821. In R. W. Cherny, G. Lemke-Santangelo, & R. G. Castillo,

Competing Visions: A History of California (pp. 31-64). Boston, Massachusetts: Cengage

Learning.