Seven Cities of Cibola and Quivira
Spanish explorers or conquistadors entered new territory for gold, glory and God, in that order. Wealth from new lands, along with the honor of having discovered them was paramount. And, by the way, saving the souls of the inhabitants was important, too. Nowhere was this hierarchy of priorities more evidence than the legends of the Seven Cities of Cibola and another legend regarding Quivira. And, like all good legends, there's some grains of truth in the tales. Legends of lost cities and the wealth that lay waiting to be discovered are as old as time. Europeans yearned for the riches of Prestor John, a supposed Christian civilization in Africa. Marco Polo's travels in China inspired endless speculation of the wealth of India, China and Arabia, which led to the need for a shorter route to reach these lands. Hence the need for a Northwest Passage around the gigantic landmass that is North America. Having encountered North America mere...