Final answer:
Juan Ponce de León was part of the wave of Spanish explorers seeking gold, trade routes, and new territories for Spain. The myth of his search for the Fountain of Youth, while widely recounted, is not the historically accepted motive for his explorations in Florida.
Step-by-step explanation:
Juan Ponce de León, a Spanish explorer, is famously associated with the quest for the Fountain of Youth, as per myth and legend. However, this narrative has been contested by historians and is not universally accepted as the main motivation for his explorations. Ponce de León did indeed land on what is now known as Florida in 1513, and contemporary accounts indicate that he was granted the right to explore an island that could yield great wealth. His expedition took place during a period when Spanish explorers were actively searching for gold, new trade routes, and new territories to claim for the Spanish crown. Ponce de León was part of this broader wave of Spanish exploration, driven by the desire to expand the Spanish empire and exploit the newfound lands for their resources.