Question

Explain how Hernando de Soto was a conqueror and an explorer.

a. Hernando de Soto was a conqueror because he led expeditions to conquer and colonize parts of the Americas. He was also an explorer because he explored and documented new territories.
b. Hernando de Soto was primarily an explorer, as he focused on mapping uncharted lands and documenting indigenous cultures. His conquering activities were secondary.
c. Hernando de Soto's main role was that of a conqueror, as he played a significant role in the Spanish conquest of the Americas. His exploration activities were less notable.
d. Hernando de Soto's exploration and conquering activities were separate, and he was not known for excelling in both roles.

Answer 1

Hernando de Soto was both a conqueror, through his participation in conquering the Inca and leading expeditions in the southeastern United States, and an explorer, by venturing into and documenting new territories during his quest for gold.

Step-by-step explanation:

Hernando de Soto was both a conqueror and an explorer in the efforts of Spain to expand its empire in the Americas. As a conquistador, de Soto participated in Pizarro's conquest of the Inca and later led his own expeditions to conquer and claim new lands for Spain in the southeastern part of what is now the United States. The drive for wealth, specifically gold, led him to explore vast regions, including Florida, Georgia, the Carolinas, Tennessee, Alabama, Mississippi, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, and Texas.

In these explorations, although he did not find the anticipated riches, de Soto and his followers documented new territories, encountering and often clashing with indigenous populations, while inadvertently spreading European diseases that devastated native communities.