Andrés Reséndez, a professor of history at University of California, Davis, will address the earliest sustained European exploration of large areas that become the United States, a venture that turned out to be an unmitigated disaster. Of the 300 explorers who landed in Florida in 1527, only four survived (three Spaniards in commanding positions and one African enslaved person). These survivors spent almost a decade living among Indigenous societies in Florida and Texas, then journeyed through parts of the American Southwest that no other Europeans or Africans had seen before. They lived by their wits, mastering half a dozen native languages and making sense of societies other Europeans could not begin to fathom.

Reséndez specializes in early European exploration and colonization of the Americas, the U.S.-Mexico border region, and the early history of the Pacific. The Organization of American Historians and Cal Lutheran’s Department of History and Alpha Xi Psi chapter of the Phi Alpha Theta History Honor Society are sponsoring the free event. For information, contact David Nelson at dnelson@CalLutheran.edu. Cal Lutheran Visitor Policies:

At this time, the following policies are in place for visitors to Cal Lutheran: Everyone, regardless of vaccination status, must wear face masks in indoor public or common spaces on campus. Everyone coming on campus must fill out the Visitor Health Check Form prior to arriving. People who are not feeling well — particularly those who have a fever, cough, sore throat or any other cold or flu symptoms — are asked to stay home. The Visitor Health Check Form is available online at callutheran.edu/visitors. These policies may change. Please check callutheran.edu/visitors for the latest policies before visiting campus.

Event information is subject to change. Please visit callutheran.edu/events before attending to verify details. ### MEDIA NOTE: Contact Karin Grennan at kgrennan@callutheran.edu or 805-493-3512.