boiled or roasted corn on the cob. They
also use the kernels in corn bread and
other dishes. Farmers feed other kinds
of corn to their farm animals. The parts
of the plant that are not eaten may be
made into paper, fuel, and other
products.
#More to explore
Grain • Grass • Seed
Coronado,
Francisco
In search of gold, Francisco Coronado
led the first major European expedition
north from Mexico. His travels in the
1540s established Spain’s later claims to
what is now the southwestern United
States.
Francisco Vazquez de Coronado was
born in Salamanca, Spain, in about
1510. He arrived in the NewWorld in
1535 with Antonio de Mendoza, the
new ruler of New Spain (Mexico). In
1538, after putting down a slave revolt,
Coronado became governor of a Mexican
province.
At about that time the Spanish heard
tales of towns filled with riches. Mendoza
put Coronado in charge of a large
expedition to find the towns and to
bring back their treasures.
Coronado set out in 1540. In what is
now New Mexico he indeed found cities,
but they were made of adobe (sunbaked
clay), not gold. They were the
pueblos (villages) of the Zuni Native
Americans. However, some of his men
became the first Europeans to see the
Grand Canyon.
In spring 1541 Coronado went on to
what is now Kansas because a Native
American woman had told him of
another fabulously wealthy land called
Quivira. It again turned out to be only
an Indian village, but the Spaniards
became the first Europeans to see the
Great Plains and the large bison (buffalo)
herds that roamed there.
A substance
called highfructose
corn
syrup is used
to sweeten soft
drinks. It is
made from
corn.
200 Coronado, Francisco BRITANNICA STUDENT ENCYCLOPEDIA
In 1544 Coronado was charged with
corruption and cruelty to the Native
Americans. He was later removed from
his governorship. He died on September
22, 1554.
#More to explore
Zuni
Cortes, Hernan
The Spanish soldier Hernan Cortes conquered
the great Aztec Empire in 1521.
The conquest began 300 years of Spanish
rule over Mexico.
Hernan Cortes (also called Hernando
Cortez) was born in 1485 in Medellin,
Spain. At age 19 he sailed for the island
of Hispaniola in theWest Indies. There
he farmed and did legal work. In 1511
he helped Diego Velasquez conquer
Cuba. Cortes became mayor of Santiago,
the capital.
In 1518 Velasquez asked Cortes to start
a colony in Mexico. While exploring the
coast Cortes learned about the Aztec
Empire. He landed at what is now Veracruz
in April 1519. He burned his ships
so his men could not turn back.
After defeating the Tlaxcaltec people in
battle, Cortes made them his allies. The
Tlaxcaltec and other tribes resented
Aztec demands for sacrifices and treasure.
On November 8, 1519, Cortes
marched into the Aztec capital of
Tenochtitlan (now Mexico City). The
Aztec emperor Montezuma II welcomed
Cortes because he thought he was a god
of Aztec legend. Cortes quickly seized
power.
Meanwhile, the jealous Velasquez sent a
Spanish force against Cortes. Cortes
defeated them, but while he was away
the Aztec regrouped. They drove his
forces back. Cortes then rejoined the
Tlaxcaltec. He captured Tenochtitlan on
A painting shows Hernan Cortes leading a group of Tlaxcaltecs to the Aztec capital of
Tenochtitlan.
BRITANNICA STUDENT ENCYCLOPEDIA Cortes, Hernan 201
August 13, 1521, ending the Aztec
Empire.
The king of Spain made Cortes a nobleman.
Cortes spent the 1530s in Mexico
and explored Baja California in 1534–
35. In 1540 he went back to Spain. He
died there on December 2, 1547.
#More to explore
Aztec • Mexico
Cosmetics
Cosmetics are products that people put
on their bodies to make themselves feel
more beautiful. There are many types of
cosmetics, including face makeup, nail
polish, lotions, perfumes, and shampoos.
Cosmetics are very popular today,
and they were also used in ancient times.
Types of Cosmetics
Many women use cosmetics for the face.
Makeup, or foundation, gives the face
color and highlights the features. Powder
helps make the face look less shiny.
Blush makes cheeks look rosy. Lipstick
gives the lips color and shine. Eye
shadow and eyeliner can make the eyes
look bigger or more dramatic. Mascara
makes the eyelashes thicker and darker.
Many types of oils and lotions can
soften the skin on the hands and body.
Shampoos clean the hair, and
conditioners help keep the hair soft and
healthy. People use hair creams, gels,
and sprays to style the hair. Hair tints
and dyes come in many different colors.
Some are natural vegetable dyes such as
henna, which has a reddish tone. Other
hair color treatments use chemical
bleaches.
History
Ancient Egyptians were the first people
known to use cosmetics. Egyptian men
and women used perfumed oils to keep
their skin from drying out. They also
used natural coloring on their eyelids
and eyelashes. The Romans later introduced
more types of cosmetics.
For much of history rich and powerful
people were the main users of cosmetics.
In the 20th century cosmetics became
cheaper and more widely used. Today
millions of people throughout the world
use cosmetics every day.
#More to explore
Egypt, Ancient
Many people all over the world use cosmetics
