The Coronado Expedition, 1540-1542. / Excerpted from the Fourteenth Annual Report of the Bureau of Ethnology to the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, 1892-1893, Part 1.

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

50448

Title

The Coronado Expedition, 1540-1542. / Excerpted from the Fourteenth Annual Report of the Bureau of Ethnology to the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, 1892-1893, Part 1.

Language

en

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

George Parker Winship's authoritative account chronicles Francisco Vázquez de Coronado's 1540–1542 expedition across the American Southwest. Blending historical narrative with ethnographic detail, this work explores the search for mythical Seven Cities, encounters with diverse Indigenous cultures, and the tragic realities of colonization.

Summary up to 500 words

George Parker Winship's *The Coronado Expedition, 1540–1542*, excerpted from the Fourteenth Annual Report of the Bureau of Ethnology, offers a comprehensive historical account of the Spanish military and religious venture into the American Southwest. The narrative is driven by the political and religious ambitions of the Spanish Crown, specifically the search for the legendary wealthy cities of Cibola and Quivira, fueled by the deceptive reports of the slave Estevanico and the reconnaissance of Friar Marcos de Niza. The expedition, led by Governor Nuño de Guzmán, departed from Culiacán in 1540, traversing rugged terrain that included the discovery of the Grand Canyon and the Pueblo villages of Zuni and Taos. The text details the arduous march, the organization of the army, and the interactions between the Spaniards and diverse Indigenous peoples. Key figures such as Captain Pedro de Tovar and the friars, who sought to convert the natives, play central roles in the narrative. The expedition faced severe hardships, including a violent Indian revolt at Tiguex, the death of Captain Melchior Díaz during an expedition to find ships, and the eventual disillusionment upon reaching the poor lands of Quivira, which were found to lack the promised gold. A significant portion of Winship's work includes translations of primary sources, notably the narrative of Pedro de Castañeda. These translations provide invaluable insight into the daily lives, customs, spiritual practices, and social structures of the Indigenous peoples encountered, including the Zuni, Tewa, and plains Indians. The book documents the tragic end of the expedition: after failing to find wealth, Coronado returned to New Spain with diminished forces and a ruined reputation. The work concludes by reflecting on the expedition's results, noting the discovery of the Colorado River and the profound cultural exchanges and conflicts that defined this pivotal era in North American history.

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4.2/5

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Categories

• History
• Travel