Francisco Coronado Research Paper

Conquistador is a term that defines the soldiers and explorers of the New World. There are many conquistadors before the discovery of the New World. However, the most important and unforgettable conquistador was born between sometime in the 1470s. Francisco Pizarro, Gonzalez, is the Spanish conquistador who was the leader of the expedition of the Inca Empire. And behind this expedition, there is a long story that defines a man and events that prove facts. So, who is Francisco Pizarro? According to the facts, Francisco Pizarro was born in Trujillo, Spain. His date of birth is unknown, but some say that it is sometimes in the 1470s, perhaps 1474. He was the illegitimate son of infantry Colonel Gonzalo Pizarro, who was

Alvar Nunez Cabeza de Vaca was born in 1490 at Jerez de la Frontera in Andalusia. His parents went by the name Francisco de Vera and Teresa Cabeza de Vaca. “Cabeza de Vaca means ‘head of cow’ and was derived from a peasant ancestor.” (elizabethan-era.org) “By 1528, he was appointed treasurer underneath the explorer Panfilo de Narvaez which reached what is now Tampa Bay, Florida later in the same year.” “By September of that year, all of the members of the expedition except for 60 of de Vaca’s men had died near the shore of present-day Galveston, Texas.” (Biography.com Editors). Alvar Nunez Cabeza de Vaca was a Spanish explorer who was the first historian of Texas, and one of the four survivors of the Narvaez expedition.

When they returned to Mexico, they had to publicly announce the failure of the expedition. Mendoza was the one to announce about the expedition. There were some large consequences to this failure of an expedition that affected them permanently. Coronado was the main one to face punishments and he faced very large punishments. They were actually charged for their failure to find the “Seven Golden Cities”, but luckily all charges were largely dropped. Coronado was actually removed from his governorship as governor of Nueva Galicia, as one of his punishments. This causing him to move to Mexico City, and he became a city council member for Mexico City in the last decade of his life. Coronado died on September 2, 1554 in Mexico City, Mexico. Even though Francisco Vasquez de Coronado failed to find the Seven Golden Cities of Cibola, he was still very largely known for being one of the first European Travelers to explore the American West. His remembrance was shown widely, while many towns/cities have his name in the

While at Hispaniola, I would have been able to see how settlements and colonies would be set up in the different regions, depending on the different geography and climate of each region. Settlements and colonies are the start of civilizations, and I would’ve been able to see the growing of the settlements after returning every couple years. Ponce de Leon also visited Florida where he was able to accomplish the “discovery” and naming of the region. He was also named military governor of Bimini and Florida. It would have been interesting to be on this voyage because he was searching for something that was rumored to be true but never found. It would have been fun seeing his reaction towards not finding the “fountain of youth”. I’m also curious if he ever realized that he sailed to North America instead of the Caribbean Islands. Another place he visited was Puerto Rico, which was rumored to have gold. Ponce de Leon found gold here and was named governor of Puerto Rico. He also established a settlement here, but this time through the use of slaves. I would have been so excited to search for gold on this journey, especially knowing that he eventually found some. While at all of these places, I would have especially enjoyed

Hernan Cortés was born at Medellin in Spain in the year 1485 and eventually became one of the great Governors of Mexico City. Cortés’ way of heading to the top to get noticed was by the Governor of Cuba, Diego Velazquez. He placed Cortes in charge of an expedition to colonize Mexico. He had many great success; he claimed land for Spanish Crown King, Charles V. Since Cortés claimed it for King Charles V he was named the Governor and Captain General of Mexico in 1523. He had many great successes that was still going on when he was on his way to colonize the The New World.

His travels lead him more around different parts of America and not different countries. An article, titled Álvar Núñez Cabeza de Vaca: The Great Pedestrian of North and South America, briefly describes some of the whereabouts of Cabeza de Vaca as he traveled around America. “All five rafts eventually wrecked along the coast of Texas… Soon Cabeza de Vaca was traveling into the southeastern Texas mainland… Cabeza de Vaca and the other castaways decided to escape their Indian captors and marched south and west hoping to find their Spanish compatriots in central Mexico,” (Álvar Núñez Cabeza de Vaca: The Great Pedestrian of North and South America). From this portion of the article, it is understood that Cabeza de Vaca did traveling, just as Herodotus did. Both men were also known for their firsts. Cabeza de Vaca was one of the first to visit America and stay with the tribes that inhabited land. Also one of the first from his country to document what he had seen while there. Herodotus was also known for his firsts. Scott W. Nixon, in his article, elaborates on this. “Herodotus, is thought of as the first Greek and thereby the first Western historian…Those who did archaeological exploration in Egypt and Mesopotamia found Herodotus ' writings on these subjects useful,” (Nixon). His first were very important not only for that time but for people in the future as well. Nixon continues by saying, “His writings also became valuable to biblical scholars in their

Hernando De Soto was born in 1500 in Jerez de los Caballeros, Spain. At the age of 14, De Soto took his first adventure in 1514. He traveled to Seville with Davila, a governor. During this expedition, De Soto was appointed captain of the cavalry due to serving as such as great horseman. On this expedition, de Soto proved that he was worth being an explorer and trader.

Hernando De Soto was born in Extramadura, Spain. While he was born to a family of minor nobles, they still lived modestly and weren’t rich. He dreamed of striking it rich conquering in the newly discovered Americas. He earned his fortune in stole goods from the Incas when he joined the conquest in 1531. Unsatisfied with gold and wanting a higher social status, he left in 1537 to explore La Florida. (Now known as the Southeast U.S.)

Hernando de Soto was a Spanish explorer conquistador who made three main voyages. He participated in the conquest of Peru and Central America and discovered the Mississippi River, which the Inca emperor financed. De Soto was born into a poor but noble family. He was educated at the University of Salamance, which was funded by Pedro Arias Davila. De Soto’s family wanted him to be a lawyer but he wanted to be an explorer.

a soldier, and a conquistador, Francisco Pizarro was born in the year of 1474 in Trujillo, Spain. As a soldier, he went on the big, important trip of Vasco Nunez de Balboa in 1513. When he went there, he discovered the Pacific Ocean. Since he wanted to make his own discoveries and his own fortune, Pizarro found a partner named Diego de Almagro. They decided to go to Peru in 1526 and then came back to see if they can claim Spain as theirs. In 1531, their big, important trip (which had Pizarro's three half-brothers) sailed from Panama. The next fall Pizarro went to Cajamarca and took Atahualpa (Inca Leader) hostage. Even though they had paid a ransom to spare his life, Atahualpa was

Accomplished navigator Hernan Cortes had many significant expeditions including the conquer that impacted the Aztec Civilisation all due to his motives, causes and changes. Spanish conquistador and explorer Hernando Cortez growing up with military running in the blood as his father was an officer of the Spanish Army had an extremely pressured life. Both parents wanting his to become a lawyer, he attended an university at age of 14. By the age of 19 he was pursuing his dream and began his first voyage, becoming one of the most significant figures in history. Born in 1485, Medellin, Spain conquistador Cortes was best known for his many expeditions and his well-known expedition to the now known Mexico, where he conquered the Aztec society.

Hernan Cortes was born in 1485 in Medellín, Spain. He originally studied law, but left school to discover the Americas. In 1504, he sailed to the Dominican Republic, and eventually moved to Cuba in 1511, where he helped Diego Velázquez in his conquest of the island. This is how he gained his reputation for courage and exploration. In fifteen eighteen, Cortés persuaded Velázquez, who was now governor, to make him head of an expedition to Mexico. It had been said that this newly discovered land contained great wealth. Shortly before Cortés set sail, Velázquez became suspicious of his motives, and cancelled Cortes’ commission. Cortés ignored Velázquez and set out on his commission.

Alvar Nunez Cabeza de Vaca was born around the year 1490 in a Spanish province of Andalusia, in the town of Jerez de la Frontera. Cabeza de Vaca is Spanish for “ head of a cow,” meaning that he is strong-headed and full of wisdom. Cabeza de Vaca is one of the most well known Spanish conquistadors. Not only was he well known for his achievements in Spain, he is also noticed for his discoveries in North America including Texas. Alvar Nunez Cabeza de Vaca was influential to Texas because of his discovery of the Texas coast and Galveston, his successful relationship with the Karankawa Indians, and his influence he had on others to continue exploring Texas and North America. (La Relacion)

As de Soto wished he was invited to join Davila on his expedition to the west indies. De Soto was an excellent horseman and appointed captain of a cavalry troop. Setting out from Panama to Nicaragua and later Honduras, de Soto quickly proved his worth as an explorer and trader, he reaped large profits through his bold and commanding exchanges with the naives.

In 1540, a Spanish Conquistador ( Conqueror in English) named Francisco Vasquez de Coronado led a journey to the Southwest. Coronado was born in Salamanca, Spain in 1510. His army had included Europeans and enslaved Africans. He was looking for the riches of the Seven Cities of Cibola, he was following the footsteps of a man by the name of, Estevanico. Estevanico was also looking for the Seven Cities of Cibola, Estevanico was a scout for Marcos de Niza. It was rumored that it was filled with gold and silver. Sadly, Coronado never found the riches or the cities, all that he found was the Native Americans which had included, the Utes and Comanches. They had looked intimidating to the Native Americans with his army. He had the better weapons and armor. The intimidation made the tribes react and defend, using bows, arrows, and spears. Eventually, the Spanish had decided that they would have to leave. He had ended his search at the Wichita’s Village. He left with discouragement to his home, Nueva Galicia. It was a place where Native Americans rebelled against harsh Spanish rule. Coronado lost his position as governor and retired in Mexico City, and died in 1554.