What was the primary goal of Hernando de Soto as he explored the American southwest?

Answer 1

Hernando de Soto's primary goal during his exploration of the American Southwest was to find gold and other riches. He was motivated by the desire for wealth, glory, and the opportunity to expand Spanish territories. De Soto aimed to discover and conquer new lands, similar to the conquests of earlier explorers and conquistadors in South America. His expedition, which began in 1539, took him through various regions of what is now the southeastern United States, but despite extensive exploration, he did not find the riches he sought and ultimately faced many challenges along the way, including conflicts with Indigenous peoples.