Final answer:
Juan Ponce de León explored Florida to extend Spain's empire, confront European rivals, and possibly find new wealth like the gold and riches discovered by Cortés and Pizarro in other parts of the Americas.
Step-by-step explanation:
Juan Ponce de León explored present-day Florida primarily because Spain sought to enlarge its empire and establish a stronger presence in the New World. Spain had already claimed the area around today's St. Augustine in 1513, naming it Pascua Florida, and saw the territory as a vital strategic point to expand its Caribbean empire. Aside from wanting to thwart the efforts of other European powers, such as the French and English, who used Florida as a base for privateering, the Spanish driven by tales of gold and riches in the Americas, longed to replicate the successes of Hernán Cortés in Mexico and Francisco Pizarro in Peru.
In the broader context of Continued Spanish Exploration, Florida presented opportunities not only for territorial expansion but also for finding quicker routes to the Spice Islands, controlling shipping lanes vital to the Spanish treasure fleets, and defending Spanish claims against French incursions, especially after the establishment of Fort Caroline by the French near modern-day Jacksonville.