and reports, primarily from Cabeza de Vaca and Friar Marcos de Niza. The opening of this historical work provides an introductory note that outlines the contributions from various scholars and historians who supported Winship's research. It also details the preliminary itineraries and significant events that lead to the Coronado expedition, laying out the sequential events from previous expeditions that influenced Coronado's journey. Notably, the struggles faced by the earlier explorers, like Narvaez and Cabeza de Vaca, are mentioned, alongside the Californian and Mexican backdrops that shaped the Spanish colonial ambitions. It sets up a rich historical context, preparing readers for the detailed expedition narrative that follows. (This is an automatically generated summary.)