1. Florida in the 1500’s
By E.I. See

2. Florida “Forests once covered most of Florida's land area.”
Encyclopedia Britannica
Do you think it would be easy or difficult to create a settlement in this environment? What makes you say that?
Florida. ( 2012). In Britannica Elementary Encyclopedia. Retrieved from
Loxahatchee River. [Photograph]. In Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved from
Loxahatchee River, Photograph, from Encyclopedia Britannica, accessed September 28, 2012,
Loxahatchee River [Photograph]. Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved 28 September 2012, from

3. Hernando De Soto
“In 1537 the king of Spain sent De Soto to North America. The king wanted De Soto to conquer the land that is now Florida. He arrived in May 1539 and traveled through what is now the southeastern United States. He treated the Native Americans cruelly, trying to force them to lead him to gold. In response, the Native Americans frequently attacked the Spaniards.”
Encyclopedia Britannica
De Soto, Hernando. ( 2012). In Britannica Elementary Encyclopedia. Retrieved from

4. Juan Ponce De Leon
“Ponce de León returned to Spain in The king gave him permission to start colonies in the areas he had visited. In 1521 Ponce de León sailed again to Florida. He was wounded in an attack by Native Americans. His crew took him to Havana, Cuba, where he died.”
Encyclopedia Britannica
Ponce de León, Juan. ( 2012). In Britannica Elementary Encyclopedia. Retrieved from

5. The Timucua
“The Native Americans known as the Timucua once lived in northeastern Florida. At their height they numbered about 13,000 and lived in some 150 villages. By the middle of the 18th century, however, the Timucua no longer existed. Disease and warfare had wiped them out.”
Encyclopedia Britannica
Based on the experiences of earlier Spanish explorers, what kind of interactions do you think the Spanish of St. Augustine had with the Timucua of Northeatern Florida?
Timucua. ( 2012). In Britannica Elementary Encyclopedia. Retrieved from
Timucua: Timucua hunting party. [Photograph]. In Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved from