SPAN407

The impact of Spanish early modern literature, cartography and architecture in the US Atlantic Coast (Labrador Peninsula to Florida). The class will start with readings that will provide a general overview of the Spanish presence in the US and its role in the early history of this country. We will continue reading about the voyages of exploration to the US East Coast of 1521-1526, which were sponsored by a Spaniard, Lucas Vazquez de Ayllon. These voyages subsequently resulted in a territory named "Tierras de Ayllon" (from Florida to the Chesapeake Bay). These Lands of Ayllon were located on the settlement of Chicora and the Missions of Ajacan and San Miguel de Gualdape. We will focus on the history and the geographical location of these Spanish establishments; they paralleled geographically and anteceded chronologically those of the British colony at Roanoke (1585) and the eventual establishment of Jamestown (1607). Taught in Spanish.