Fired by tales of legendary Seven Cities of Cibola and their alleged riches, Coronado left New Spain (Mexico) in 1540 with 300 soldiers and became the first European to set eyes on the Grand Canyon.
Part 2 recalls the conquest of the Southeast and the rivalry between France and Spain in establishing settlements in present-day South Carolina and Florida.
Part 3 recalls the conquest of the Northeast and chronicles Henry Hudson's 1610 expeditions in search of a northern sea route to the West Indies that lead him to what will be called the Hudson River and Hudson Bay.
The conclusion recalls the conquest of the Northwest and Russian expeditions led by Vitus Bering, who explored Alaska in 1741; and Nicolai Rezanov, who negotiated with Spanish colonists.
