1. Hernando de Soto

2. Hernando de Soto
Hernando de Soto was born in Spain, around the year 1500.  Since it was shortly after Columbus discovered the New World, de Soto grew up hoping for riches and glory as he explored new lands.

3. Hernando de Soto He got what he wanted.
In 1514, at only 14, he made his
first voyage to the New World. 
Over the years he helped
in the conquest of Central
America and worked in the
slave trade. 
In addition to gold, de Soto also searched for a passage that would connect the Atlantic Ocean with the Pacific Ocean. 

4. Hernando de Soto
When that didn't work out, he joined up with Francisco Pizarro, as second in command, on a trip to South America.
They conquered the Inca Empire
in 1533.

5. The conquest made de Soto extremely wealthy and
he returned
to Spain for a while. 
However, he had that adventure itch and eventually had to return to the New World.  King Carlos appointed him governor of Cuba.  And, part of his duties were to colonize mainland North America. Not to mention, there was still that elusive
passage to the Pacific Ocean. 

6. Hernando de Soto
In 1539 with 620 men as well as 220 horses, de Soto set out of a mission to explore the
mainland of what would become
the United States.

7. Hernando de Soto
As you might expect, the local inhabitants saw no need for colonization of their lands nor de Soto's brutality.  There were fights along the way.  But, de Soto and his men continued through what would become Florida, Georgia, South and North Carolina and on to Tennessee in search of gold. 
There was no gold in “them thar” hills.

8. Hernando de Soto The expedition spent the winter
of 1539 in Tennessee and the winter of 1540 in Mississippi.

9. Hernando de Soto
On May 8, 1541, de Soto made a discovery that less than thrilled him.  He found the Mississippi River. 
It took his men over a month to build the necessary floats to cross the river.  But, once over the river and through the woods, the expedition was free to explore present day Oklahoma, Texas and Arkansas (where they spent the next winter).

10. Hernando de Soto
Luck was not exactly on de Soto’s side at this point in time.
Juan Ortiz, the group’s faithful interpreter, died, making it much more difficult to speak with the local people, get directions for travel and gather food.  
On top of that ...

11. Hernando de Soto
… while in Arkansas, the Tula people fought the explorers and took a huge toll on the already weakened men. 
If that weren't enough, there was a fever that
took the life of de Soto on May 21, 1542.
He was 42.

12. Hernando de Soto
De Soto told the Native Americans he was an immortal sun deity.  He hoped that lie might convince them they should submit to him without fighting. 
So, when de Soto died, that was news the explorers wanted to keep a secret. 

13. Hernando de Soto
Instead of burying him with any kind of pomp and ceremony, they wrapped his body in a blanket filled with sand and slipped it into the Mississippi
River under cover of darkness.

14. Hernando de Soto No colonies were established. No gold was found.
No elusive passage connected the two oceans. 
Half the men and nearly all the horses died. 
If that wasn't enough, the explorers left death and disease everywhere they went.  So, it should come as no surprise that the expedition was seen as a failure at the time. 

15. Hernando de Soto
However, de Soto’s trip provided information about the people living in the southeastern United States.  It was enough information for the Spanish to leave the area alone and
focus on
Florida and
South
America.

16. The Real de Soto