Juan+Ponce+de+Leon+-+6C

=JUAN PONCE DE LEON (1460-1521)= =__Introduction__= Little is known about the early life of Juan Ponce. He was born in Santervas de Campos in (1460-1521), which is near the Spanish town of Palencia. He came from a noble family and served as a page in the Spanish court. He was also a fighter in a long Spanish campaign in 1492 that drove the Spanish Muslims out of Granada. Most people believe that joined the second expedition of Colombus as well. Ponce de Leon became a soldier of Hispaniola and he led Spanish forces against the Indians in the eastern province of Higuey, which is now part of the Dominican Republic. Ponce de Leon also founded the town of Salvaleon. There he built residences and invested in mining and agricultural enterprises. =__Purpose__= Ponce de Leon's purpose was to find the Fountain of Youth. When he was exploring he wanted to find more new lands and wealth. The second time he went to Florida he wanted to find out if it was an island.

=__Route__= Ponce de Leon got permission from King Ferdinand, the king of Spain, to look for the Fountain of Youth. It was said that the fountain could cure sickness and make you younger. Ponce de Leon and his crew left on March 3, 1513 and landed on April 3, 1513 on a large beautuful island with wildflowers and blossoming trees. Since it seemed like the "home of springtime" Ponce de Leon called the place "La Florida". He found a stream and thought that it was the fountain because of its beautiful clearness. Him and his crew drank some of the water but nothing happened. They sailed around the southern tip of Florida and up the west side. After going back to Puerto Pico, he sent 1 ship to look for Bimini, an island of those times, while his ship went south and west to look for the Fountain of Youth. When he landed he thought that he had landed on Bimini which is now called Cuba. The land was actually the Yuctan peninsula which is now called Mexico. He didn't know he was the first European to step on Mexico. When he went back to Puerto Rico he kept thinking about Florida. He wanted to find out if Florida was an island. On Februrary 21, 1512, he left with 200 men, 50 horses, swine, cattle, and sheep and landed on what is now called Sanibel Island. The people of Florida didn't want Spainards on their land and shot Ponce de Leon in his arm with an arrow. His crew brought him to Cuba and he died there, not sure if Florida was an island. The main hardship that Juan Ponce de Leon and his crew faced were unfriendly native people. The Florida natives didn't want Spainards being on and exploring their lands. Juan Ponce de Leon died by an arrow being shot deep in the flesh in his arm by a native.
 * __Hardships and Challenge__**

=__Interesting Facts__=

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In 1508, Juan Ponce de Leon was sent by King Ferdinand of Spain to conquer Puerto Rico which was called San Juan back then. He brought his famous red-coated dog, Bercerillo who was said to be equal to 50 men in a fight and the dog could tell with a single sniff if a stranger was friendly or not. Ponce de Leon became the governor of the island in 1509.====== =**__Historical Contributions__**= Ponce de Leon had many historical contributions. He led the first recorded European expedition to reach what is know Florida. He discovered Florida and was one of the first explorers to claim part of the North America mainland for Spain. Without knowing, he was one of the first Europeans to step on the land which is now called Mexico. On another voyage he also conquered Puerto Rico. In Florida he has a bay named after him. It's called Ponce de Leon Bay.

__Sources:__
"Ponce de Leon, Juan." __World Book Online.__ <[|www.worldbookonline.com]> May 4, 2009. Fritz, Jean. __Around the World in a Hundred Years__. New York: Scholastic, 1994. []

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