Spanish Conquistadors

1
Spanish Conquistadors
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.

4
(No Transcript)
5
(No Transcript)
6
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
7
(No Transcript)
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.

9
(No Transcript)
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 Sotos 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.

13
(No Transcript)
14
(No Transcript)