Florida’s Contact Period: Indigenous and European Encounters

This course analyzes the historical period of first contact between European explorers and the indigenous nations of the Florida peninsula. It begins by examining the social structures and territories of the Calusa, Timucua, and Apalachee prior to 1513. The curriculum transitions into the early Spanish expeditions, covering the arrivals of Ponce de León and Hernando de Soto. Students will investigate the establishment of colonial settlements like St. Augustine and the subsequent development of the mission system. The program details the long-term biological, cultural, and political impacts of these interactions, providing a factual overview of how this era redefined the region's demographics and landscape.