Final answer:
The search for the kingdom of Cibola involved Spanish expeditions led by explorers like Francisco Vásquez de Coronado and Juan de Oñate to the American Southwest, motivated by rumors of wealthy cities and territorial ambitions following the conquests by Hernán Cortés and Francisco Pizarro.
Step-by-step explanation:
The steps taken to find the kingdom of Cibola involved a series of explorations and expeditions by the Spanish in search of wealth and territorial expansion.
The quest for Cibola, believed to be a city of gold, was particularly driven by accounts such as those from Francisco Vásquez de Coronado, who led a large expedition north of Mexico City between 1540 and 1542, and explored the area that is now the southwestern United States.
These explorations were fueled by earlier successes, such as those of Hernán Cortés, who conquered the Aztec Empire and sparked further interest in the mythical cities said to have vast riches.
King Philip II of Spain also commissioned Juan de Oñate to explore the American southwest looking for wealth. This initiative continued the Spanish legacy of exploration, which also saw the arrival in South America by the likes of Francisco Pizarro in pursuit of the Incan Empire.