Admin Table of Contents
Why did Juan Ponce de Leon want to explore?
Despite his success in farming, Ponce de Leon wanted to find gold. He often heard tales from sailors and natives alike of the bountiful land called Boriquen – the native name for modern day Puerto Rico. Ponce de Leon set out to see for himself if the stories of gold in Puerto Rico were true.
Why did Hernando de Soto explore Florida?
Seeking greater glory and riches, de Soto embarked on a major expedition in 1538 to conquer Florida for the Spanish crown. He and his men traveled nearly 4,000 miles throughout the region that would become the southeastern United States in search of riches, fighting off Native American attacks along the way.
What country did Juan Ponce de Leon explore for?
Juan Ponce de León was a Spanish explorer. In 1508–09 he explored and settled Puerto Rico, founding the colony’s oldest settlement, Caparra, near what is now San Juan. He is also credited with being the first European to reach Florida (1513). What did Juan Ponce de León discover?
What did Juan Ponce do for a living?
Born in 1460 into a noble family in León, Spain, Juan Ponce served as a page in the royal court of Aragon. He later became a soldier, fighting in the Spanish campaign against the Moors in Granada. After that war ended, he may have gone along on the second voyage to the West Indies led by Christopher Columbus in 1493.
Did Juan Ponce de Leon search for the Fountain of youth?
Although the quest for this fabled site might have been a contributing influence to Ponce de León’s explorations, modern scholarship suggests that it was not the primary motive. The expedition of Juan Ponce de León searching for the Fountain of Youth in Florida in 1513. Learn more about Florida and its geography, people, economy, and history.
What happened to Ponce de Leon after he returned to Florida?
In 1521, he returned to Florida in an effort to establish a Spanish colony on the island. However, hostile Native Americans attacked his expedition soon after landing, and the party retreated to Cuba, where Ponce de Leon died from a mortal wound suffered during the battle.