which of these statements best identifies how Spanish settlers in san Antonio modified their surrounding environment when they first arrived in the early 1700s

1 answer

Spanish settlers in San Antonio modified their surrounding environment in several ways when they first arrived in the early 1700s. Some of the statements that best identify these modifications are:

1. Constructing irrigation systems: Spanish settlers developed irrigation infrastructure to support agriculture, including the diverting and channeling of water from the San Antonio River to their fields.

2. Building missions and presidios: They constructed missions, such as San Antonio de Padua and San Antonio de Béxar, along with presidios (military fortifications) to protect the missions and settlements. These buildings not only served religious and military purposes but also provided the community with stability and resources.

3. Establishing ranching and livestock practices: Spanish settlers introduced ranching and livestock practices to the region, which involved clearing land for grazing, building corrals, and managing herds of animals like cattle, horses, and sheep. This had a significant impact on the landscape and local ecosystems.

4. Cultivating crops and orchards: The settlers cultivated crops and orchards, such as corn, wheat, beans, peppers, and fruit trees, which required the clearing of land, planting, and tending to these agricultural areas.

5. Developing transportation routes: Spanish settlers constructed roads and trails to connect San Antonio with other settlements and missions in the region to facilitate trade and communication. These routes often followed existing Native American paths.

Overall, the Spanish settlers in San Antonio significantly transformed the environment by reshaping it for agriculture, building structures and infrastructure, and developing transportation networks.