Final answer:
Explorers and missionaries claimed the land now known as Texas for the king of Spain in 1528, during a period when European powers were competing for territory and influence in the New World.
Step-by-step explanation:
In 1528, explorers and missionaries claimed the land that is now Texas for the king of Spain. This was part of the broader context of European exploration and colonization during the Age of Discovery. At this time, Spain was at the forefront of Atlantic exploration and efforts to establish colonies in the Americas. The country had begun its conquests and expeditions in the Caribbean and Central America, leading up to places like Puerto Rico, Florida, and Cuba. After the successful ventures of Hernán Cortés in the Aztec Empire, Spanish interest expanded northward into areas that would later become part of the United States, including Texas.
Spain's colonization efforts were often in competition with other European powers like Portugal, France, and England, each eager to expand their territories and influence. Spain and Portugal had even divided much of the known and unknown world between them through treaties like Zaragoza and Tordesillas, although other countries did not always respect these agreements. As the century progressed, other nations like England and France started to establish a stronger presence in the Americas, often with differing approaches and motivations compared to Spain.