1. Spanish Conquistadors
Pgs
Ponce de Leon
Hernando de Soto

2. 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.

3. 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.

6. Spanish Conquistadors
Explorer
Date
Area Explored
*Ponce de Leon
1513
Puerto Rico and Florida
Hernado Cortes
Mexico and California
Fancisco Pizarro
West Coast of South America
*Hernando de Soto
Southeast North America
Coronado
Southwest North America

8. 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.

10. 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.

11. 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.

12. 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.