what was the primary goal of hernando de soto as he explored the american southeast

Answer 1

Hernando de Soto's primary goal as he explored the American Southeast in the 1530s and 1540s was to find wealth and riches, particularly gold and silver. Motivated by the stories of vast riches in the New World, de Soto sought to expand Spanish claims in the region, establish trade routes, and secure new territories for Spain. Additionally, he aimed to convert Indigenous peoples to Christianity and to assert Spanish dominance over the lands he explored. His expeditions took him through modern-day Florida, Georgia, the Carolinas, Alabama, Mississippi, and Arkansas, but he ultimately did not find the wealth he sought and faced significant resistance from Native American tribes.