EXPLORERS/CONQUISTA DORS

PIRATES OF THE CARIBEAN d

JUAN PONCE DE LÉON  Was born 1460 and died in 1521  He began to explore in 1493 when he accompanied Christopher Columbus in his second voyage  After serving as captain at Hispaniola he heard rumors of gold in the nearby islands  1508 the Spanish crown allowed him to explore there. When he returned to Hispaniola he was named governor of what is now Puerto Rico

 Encourage by the Spanish crown to seek more gold he decided to explore an island named Bimini. Because he had heard rumors of a rejuvenating fountain “fountain of youth” and of more gold could be found in this Island.  In 1513 he landed in what is now the east coast of Florida which he believed to be just another island and named it himself. (because of the lands flourish vegetation and because they landed during the Pascua Florida) he named it ‘Florida’

 In his absence from Puerto Rico the natives began an up rise. He was then giving power by the crown to subdue the up rise  On his return to Florida he found yet another up rise the led to a wound by an arrow and travel to Cuba and died