Francisco Vasquez De Coronado

The Spanish Explorer

Who Was Francisco Coronado?

Coronado was born in Salamanca, Spain,

1510. He was born in a rich family, but later

left home because his family fortune was

promised to his older brother. So he barely

had any money.

He sailed to Mexico with Admiral de

Mendoza. Soon later he became the

governor of New Galica. In 1540, Coronado

was the first european to explore what is

now the U.S.

Where Did Coronado Explore?

In 1540 Admiral Mendoza sent Coronado to

explore what is now the United States to find

Cibolo, (the seven cities of gold)

representing Spain . It wasn't an easy trip

though. They were starved and attacked

sometimes.

They were running out of supplies as they

came close, and when they got there, it was

not a city of gold at all. The Zuni Indians

living there, would not let them enter, and

they were starving. So they attacked the

village, and drove the Indians off.

Coronado sent search parties to fInd Cibolo,

but it was not successful. Coronado spent

the winter in Tiguex (a village up the Rio

Grande.) Soon later he discovered the

Grand Canyon. Then he heard about a

country rich in gold called Quiver. He found

no gold there though.

How was he an explorer?

Coronado was born in a noble family. He

was sent from Mexico by Admiral Mendoza

to claim gold (and other wealth) for Spain.

Did Coronado benefit Spain?

Coronado did not benefit Spain with any

gold, but he did open up new lands for

Spain to know, explore further, and

research.

Does Coronado effect us today?

If Coronado didn't explore the southwest of

what is now America, there wouldn't be the

story of him searching for Cibolo, and

people wouldnt know that that land wasnt

real until later on.

Timeline

1510- birth, 1536-became governor of New

Galica, 1540- searched for the seven cities

of gold, Winter- spent in Tiquax, Spring- he

led his army to find Quivera, 1551- returned

to New Galica, 1544- death

Resources

Brad, j. a. (2000, 10 2). Francisco Vasquez

De Coronado. Retrieved May 31, 2011, from

www.east-buc.k12:

http://www.east-buc.k12.ia.us/00_01/Exp/fvd

c.htm

Discovery Education. (2011). Discovery

Education. Retrieved April 5, 2011, from

www.discoveryeducation.com:

http://www.discoveryeducation.com/

Era, E. (n.d.). Francisco Vasquez de

Coronado. Retrieved march 31, 2011, from

www.elizabethan-era.org:

http://www.elizabethan-era.org.uk/francisco-

vasquez-de-coronado.htm

school, b. e. (2000). Coronado. Retrieved

March 30, 2011, from Oracle Think Quest

education

foundation:http://library.thinkquest.org/J0026

78F/coronado.htm

Grant, M. G. (1974). Coronado. Creative

education.