Title: Hernando de Soto's American Expedition - SciHi BlogSciHi Blog
Headings: Hernando de Soto’s American Expedition
Hernando de Soto’s American Expedition
Hernando de Soto’s First Expedition
Arriving in Florida
Failing to Find Any Gold
The Mississippi River
The Expedition Failed
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Author
Tabea Tietz

Content: Hernando de Soto's American Expedition - SciHi BlogSciHi Blog
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Hernando de Soto’s American Expedition
explorer 3. June 2018 1 Tabea Tietz
Hernando de Soto
(1496/1497 – 1542)
On June 3, 1539, Spanish conquistador and explorer Hernando de Soto, with all the dignitaries and necessary paraphernalia, took formal possession of La Florida, where he landed nine ships with more than 620 men and 220 horses. De Soto ‘s expedition was the first European expedition leading deep into the territory of the modern-day United States, searching for gold, silver and also a passage to China. Moreover, he also was the first European documented to have crossed the Mississippi River. Hernando de Soto’s First Expedition
Hernando de Soto left for his first expedition to the Peninsula of Yucatán in order to find a passage between the Atlantic and the Pacific Ocean. The goal was to improve trading routes with the Orient. Unfortunately, his expedition failed wherefore he joined Francisco Pizarro ‘s fleet as a captain, departing for the present day Peru. De Soto’s troops fought against the Incan army and plundered their villages. During their following battles, the Spanish plundered further cities such as Cuzco, becoming very rich due to the great amounts of gold and silver found before returning to Spain in 1534.