Spanish Conquistadors Pgs. 154-158 Ponce de Leon Hernando de Soto

New Explorations After Columbus, Balboa, and Magellan others from Spain went on to explore the Americas. Driven by their desire for gold and other riches, they pushed deep into North and South America. This was new land to the Spanish but it was home to people already living there.

Aztecs and Incas The Aztecs of Mexico and the Incas of South America were two native groups the Spanish encountered. Both groups were rich in gold, however, the Incas were far richer and more powerful than the Aztecs. Spanish soldiers were known as conquistadors meaning conquerors.

Spanish Conquistadors Explorer Date Area Explored *Ponce de Leon 1513 Puerto Rico and Florida Hernado Cortes 1519-1536 Mexico and California Fancisco Pizarro 1531-1535 West Coast of South America *Hernando de Soto 1539-1542 Southeast North America Coronado 1540-1542 Southwest North America

Ponce de Leon Ponce de Leon had sailed with Columbus on his second voyage. He explored and conquered Puerto Rico and became its governor. He later sailed to North America landing in present day Florida searching for the Fountain of Youth. He was the first Spaniard to set foot in what is today the United States.

Hernando de Soto Hernando de Soto traveled with an army of 600 soldiers. The group marched north from Florida to the Tennessee River Valley searching for gold. In present day Tennessee, they killed or captured Cherokee Indians and burned their villages.

Hernando de Soto De Soto encountered many other Indian tribes during his expedition. He encountered the Mound Builders killing between 2,500 to 11,000. After this battle, De Soto’s men were in poor condition. Many died others deserted. The remaining soldiers marched to the Mississippi River. They were the first Europeans to see the great river.

Hernando de Soto In 1542, De Soto died of fever. His men buried him in the Mississippi River to hide his death from the Indians. Though he found no gold, Hernando de Soto claimed the land he explored for Spain. The remaining men returned to Mexico.