Hernando was known for helping to take over the New World, or the Americas.
“De Soto was born in the province of Extremadura in Spain.” (World Book) When Hernando became a teenager, he set sail to the New World. Once in the New World, he began his new life. He became an explorer that worked in the Panama rain forests. Hernando de Soto worked in expeditions to enslave the natives that were called Indians. Hernando did the same with looking for golf and riches, as any other
explorer.
Hernando worked for Pedro Arias de Ávila while he was in America, and he also worked for Francisco Pizarro while in Peru. The explorer, or conquistador, as the Spanish called their explorers, became the governor of Cuba. Emperor Charles V had given Hernando this right, along with the right to take over Florida. Hernando decided to lead an expedition that started at Spain, and they sailed to the Florida coast, near Tampa Bay in 1539. Hernando and his crew looked for gold and jewels, but they were never found.
They met a tribe of Indians called the Timucuan. Timucuan had performed hit and run attacks because Hernando and his men had burned homes, and killed many people of the tribe. When Hernando and his men walked into a nearby tribe’s camp, the Apalachee Indians had prepared a skillfully laid out ambush on the men. Hernando and his men were in a tricky swamp crossing when it had happened. The Apalachee had constantly ambushed cut off groups of people who had gotten lost, or were searching for gold and riches.
Hernando had died in the year 1542. He was a noble and strong man who fought alongside his region. He hadn’t found much, but in the end he was smiling at his victories. Hernando hadn’t gotten rich off the land he explored, but that didn’t stop him from becoming a known conquistador that had a good life. That is where his story ends, and another explorer had his story written in history.