Final answer:
As a Spanish explorer in Georgia, you would find advanced Mississippian societies and earthen mounds, while contributing to the spread of European diseases and witnessing the effects of Spanish influence through gold-seeking, mission establishments, and interaction with local populations.
Step-by-step explanation:
As a Spanish explorer arriving to conquer the Mississippian Indians in what will eventually be Georgia, one would encounter the Mississippian culture, which built complex societies and large earthen mounds. Inspired by the successes of explorers like Hernán Cortés, explorers such as Hernando de Soto sought gold and glory in these lands. Hernando de Soto, instrumental in the conquest of the Inca, led expeditions through the southeastern United States, including Georgia, between 1539 and 1542. The Spaniards would witness vibrant societies but also bring with them European diseases, which had devastating effects on the native populations. The subsequent impact was significant, with intertribal warfare and slave trade becoming intertwined with European colonization, and the Spanish establishing religious missions to influence local populations and claim territories for Spain.