Title: Death and Legacy – Georgia Historical Society
Headings: Death and Legacy
Death and Legacy
Content: Although he made it farther into the interior of the territory ofLa Florida than any previous explorers, he failed to establish good relations with the natives and find treasures (such as silver and gold) or other items that would bring riches to the members of the expedition and the Spanish crown. De Soto was also unable to conquer the natives and establish a Spanish settlement within the territory. Instead, he lost his life in the process. With the passage of time, de Soto’s expedition has also become associated with the destruction of Native American groups in North America as a consequence of European contact. Despite these negative points, de Soto proved himself as a brave and ruthless conquistador. He and his men ultimately traveled over 4,000 miles within the interior of North America and were the first Europeans to explore the majority of the places they visited. They were also the first Europeans to cross the Mississippi River – one of the continent’s most defining features. As a result, the de Soto expedition also provided Spain with new, important information about the territory of La Florida. The information the men gathered led to the creation of a more detailed map of the region, which is commonly referred to as “The de Soto Map” and can be seen below. Additionally, the surviving accounts of members of the expedition, including those written by the Knight of Elvas, Rodrigo Rangel, and Luis Hernández de Biedma, provide historians with a plethora of information about the native cultures the expedition encountered.