USA HISTORY

Detailed explanation-1: -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.

Detailed explanation-2: -Hernando de Soto is most famous for his exploration of North America. He led 600 men on a journey through what is now the southeastern United States. They were the first Europeans to explore most of this region. De Soto was sent by the King of Spain to explore and settle La Florida.

Detailed explanation-3: -In 1539, two years after their departure from Spain, De Soto and his crew landed on the west coast of Florida in the area historians believe is the location of present day Tampa.

Detailed explanation-4: -Hernando de Soto is famous in Latin American history as the Spanish conquistador who joined Francisco Pizarro in the invasion of the Inca Empire, but he is also a critical player in American history as the first European to discover the Mississippi River.

Detailed explanation-5: -The next day Ponce de León and his men came ashore and claimed La Florida for Spain, becoming the first documented visitors of European culture to Florida’s coast. By stepping foot in Florida, Spanish explorer Juan Ponce de León, by many accounts, discovered mainland America.