▁of ▁Spain ▁sought ▁to ▁establish ▁miss ions ▁to ▁convert ▁ind igen ous ▁people ▁in ▁Nueva ▁España ▁( New ▁Spain ), ▁which ▁consisted ▁of ▁the ▁Car ib bean , ▁Mexico , ▁and ▁most ▁of ▁what ▁is ▁now ▁the ▁South western ▁United ▁States ) ▁to ▁Roman ▁Catholic ism . ▁This ▁would ▁facil itate ▁colon ization ▁of ▁these ▁lands ▁awarded ▁to ▁Spain ▁by ▁the ▁Catholic ▁Church , ▁including ▁that ▁region ▁later ▁known ▁as ▁Al ta ▁California . ▁ ▁Early ▁Spanish ▁expl oration ▁▁ ▁Only ▁ 4 8 ▁years ▁after ▁Columb us ▁discovered ▁the ▁Amer icas ▁for ▁Europe , ▁Francisco ▁V áz quez ▁de ▁Cor on ado ▁set ▁out ▁from ▁Com post ela , ▁New ▁Spain ▁on ▁February ▁ 2 3 , ▁ 1 5 4 0 , ▁at ▁the ▁head ▁of ▁a ▁large ▁expedition . ▁Ac comp an ied ▁by ▁ 4 0 0 ▁European ▁men - at - ar ms ▁( most ly ▁Sp ani ards ), ▁ 1 , 3 0 0 ▁to ▁ 2 , 0 0 0 ▁Mexican ▁Indian ▁al lies , ▁several ▁Indian ▁and ▁African ▁slaves , ▁and ▁four ▁Francis can ▁fri ars , ▁he ▁tra ve led ▁from ▁Mexico ▁through ▁parts ▁of ▁the ▁south western ▁United ▁States ▁to ▁present - day ▁Kansas ▁between ▁ 1 5 4 0 ▁and ▁ 1 5 4 2 . ▁Two ▁years ▁later ▁on ▁ 2 7 ▁June ▁ 1 5 4 2 , ▁Juan ▁Rod rig uez ▁Cab ril lo ▁set ▁out ▁from ▁Nav idad , ▁Mexico ▁and ▁sa iled ▁up ▁the ▁coast ▁of