Final answer:
The Age of Contact in Texas began with the Spanish explorers' arrival and continued until the establishment of Spanish colonies in 1690, marking this period as a significant phase within the broader Age of Discovery.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Age of Contact began with the arrival of the Spanish in what is now Texas and lasted until 1690, when Spain made its first colonies in the area. The Age of Contact is part of a larger period known as the Age of Discovery, which extended from the 1500s to the 1700s. This was an era characterized by European nations, including Spain, Portugal, and others, aggressively exploring and establishing territories in the New World to expand their global influence. The Spanish were indeed the earliest Europeans to set up permanent settlements in the Americas. Their conquests and expansion efforts after Columbus's initial voyage in 1492 led to the establishment of powerful empires in the Caribbean, Mesoamerica, and the Andes. It is this historical period of exploration, conquest, and colonization that set the stage for the changes in Texas and the entire region.