Juan Ponce de Leon

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Juan Ponce de Leon

• (1460-1521)

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• Lets tell the story about Juan Ponce de Leon
  before he became famous for his discovery.
• He was born in Santervas, Spain, in 1460.
• Ponce de Leon sailed on Christopher Columbus'
  second expedition to the Americas in 1493. Ponce
  de Leon did not return to Spain with Columbus he
  stayed in Santo Domingo (now called the Dominican
  Republic).

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He was appointed governor of the Dominican
province of Higuey. He later heard of gold in the
neighboring island of Borinquen (now called
Puerto Rico) and brutally conquered the island,
claiming it for Spain. He was then appointed
governor of this island. Due to his extreme
brutality to Native Americans, he was removed
from office in 1511.
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Since he was kicked out of office, then Leon set
out on another voyage. This time he landed in
Cuba. While in Cuba the natives told him of gold
and a magical fountain on an island called Bimini
that was just north of Cuba. Juan Ponce de Leon
left Cuba to find the fountain that he was told
could cure people of all illnesses and keep a
person young. Spain said he could claim it as a
reward for his service and paid for his voyage!
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Goal

• To find GOLD and the legendary fountain of youth.

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Exploration

• Instead of finding Bimini, he landed on the east
  coast of Florida in St. Augustine and claimed the
  land for Spain.
• The Spanish word for flowers is Flora. When he
  landed in Florida, he named it Florida for all
  the beautiful flowers he saw.

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• Ponce de Leon explored the area that later became
  St. Augustine, the first Spanish settlement in
  the New World. It is also the oldest city in
  America.

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Facts

• Juan Ponce de Leon was a Spanish explorer.
• Was searching for the Fountain of youth
• He established the oldest European settlement in
  Puerto Rico and discovered the Gulf Stream (a
  current in the Atlantic Ocean).
• He thought he had landed on an island. He named
  it Florida because he saw lots of flowers
  (florida in Spanish means flowery).

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Ponce de Leon did not find the fountain of youth
or any gold and left disappointed. After
returning home, he set out on another expedition
to find Bimini. When he landed in Florida again
his crew was met by Native Americans who shot
arrows and wounded Ponce de Leon and his men.
Ponce de Leon left and died from his injuries in
Cuba.
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Character Traits???

• What do you think?