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Secondary sourceBook1896

The Coronado Expedition, 1540-1542

George Parker Winship · 1896

An 1896 scholarly study examining how Cabeza de Vaca's reports shaped later Spanish expeditions into the American Southwest.

This scholarly work explains how Cabeza de Vaca's survival account influenced later Spanish expeditions into the Southwest.

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About this source

What it is

This is a historical study written in 1896 by George Parker Winship, originally produced as research at Harvard University. It examines the Coronado expedition of 1540-1542 into the Southwest, drawing on translations of original Spanish documents.

Why it matters

The study discusses how reports from Cabeza de Vaca, who had earlier survived years traveling through parts of North America, helped inspire and inform later Spanish expeditions like Coronado's search for wealth and new lands. It shows how one explorer's experiences could shape the plans of those who came after him, and how historians piece together these connections from old documents.

Look closer

  • Why would later explorers and officials pay attention to Cabeza de Vaca's reports?
  • What kinds of sources did Winship use to write this study, and how reliable might they be?
  • How might the goals of Coronado's expedition differ from Cabeza de Vaca's original journey?

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The Account and Commentaries of Governor Álvar Núñez Cabeza de Vaca

Álvar Núñez Cabeza de Vaca · 1542

Title page of La relacion y comentarios del gouerna dor Alvar Nuñez Cabeza de Vaca, 1555, with a woodcut coat of arms of two eagles and a shield flanked by pillars, printed in black and red. Handwritten notes appear at top and bottom, and a Harvard College Library stamp is at lower left.Book

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La relación y comentarios del gouernador Álvar Núñez Cabeza de Vaca

Álvar Núñez Cabeza de Vaca · 1555

Title page of a 16th-century Spanish book in black letter type. Large heading reads COMMENTARIOS, with text naming Alvar Nunez Cabeza de Vaca, governor of the Rio de la Plata province. A woodcut coat of arms with a crown sits mid-page, and a blue Harvard College Library stamp appears at upper right. Printed dedication text is at the bottom.Book

Secondary source

Comentarios de Álvar Núñez Cabeza de Vaca

Pero Hernández · 1555

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Historia general y natural de las Indias

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Black ink handwritten signature on white background, with large looping flourishes in cursive script above and a smaller line of script below, underlined by a long stroke.Document

Primary source

Signature of Álvar Núñez Cabeza de Vaca

Álvar Núñez Cabeza de Vaca · reproduced 1886, original signature undated

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