County), ornate pottery, and sophisticated agriculture. 1500 - 1700 1519; Alonso Álvarez de Pineda of Spain explores Gulf of Mexico from Florida to Mexico, including Mobile Bay . 1528 - 1536; Spaniard Pánfilo de Narváez fails in Florida Gulf Coast colonization attempt. 1539 - 1541; Hernando de Soto explores Southeast, meeting Chief