1. Juan Ponce de Leόn
By: Elsie & Emelia

2. Past
Juan was a soldier before he was an explorer. Juan helped the Spaniards win a battle against the Taino on the island of Hispaniola.

3. Sponsoring City
King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella of Spain helped Juan sail to the New World with Columbus providing money and other supplies.

4. Motivations
The gold on Puerto Rico motivated Juan to search the island.

5. Dates Juan was born in 1460 during the Age of Exploration.
Juan traveled from 1493 to 1511.
Juan was born in 1460 during the Age of Exploration.

6. Route
Juan’s route was from Hispaniola, to Puerto Rico, to Mexico.

7. Impact
Juan Ponce de Leon impacted the world in many ways. First he found new land. The land we now know as Florida. He named it that after the Spanish name of Pascua de Florida, the place of flowers.

8. Fun Facts
While searching for the mythical fountain of youth, Juan Ponce de León founded the oldest settlement in Puerto Rico and discovered Florida.
Born into a noble family, Juan Ponce de León became a soldier, fighting in a notable campaign against the Moors in Granada.
Years later, after suppressing an Indian uprising in Hispaniola (comprising modern-day Haiti and the Dominican Republic), Ponce de León was named the provincial governor of the eastern part of the country.

9. Resources