Wait a second!
More handpicked essays just for you.
More handpicked essays just for you.
puerto rico political history
essays on the background of puerto rico
essays on the background of puerto rico
Don’t take our word for it - see why 10 million students trust us with their essay needs.
Recommended: puerto rico political history
Spanish 10th essay Ponce De Leon
Don Juan Ponce de Leon "To bad he had to kick the bucket!"
	Don Juan Ponce de Leon was a Spanish conqueror and explorer. He was born around 1460 in San Tervas de Campos, Spain. Ponce de Leon lived during an age of great discovery and excitement. Ponce de Leon is well known, claiming and naming what is now Florida, the discovery of Puerto Rico, and his never-ending search for the old time classic, the Fountain of Youth!
On November 19, 1493 Ponce de Leon was one of the first Europeans to see the small island of Borinquen, the Indian name for Puerto Rico. Ponce de Leon sailed to Puerto Rico in 1506 with two hundred men to the island and found out that it had rich gold deposits. He enslaved the natives, and forced them to mine gold for him. Ponce de Leon left Puerto Rico and returned again in 1508 this time he brought with him only fifty men. On this voyage his ship went through a terrible storm that caused him to run onto the rocks on two occasions. The crew was forced to throw over much of their supplies in order to keep the ship from sinking. After Ponce de Leon finally arrived in Puerto Rico he became the governor of the island. This caused him to become very wealthy, and the most powerful man on the island, who only received orders from the kind himself!
In 1511 King Ferdinand ordered Ponce de Leon replaced as governor by Diego Columbus. Life for Ponce de Leon would have been difficult if he stayed in Puerto Rico since much of his power over the island was taken when his rank was taken away. It was at this time that Ponce de Leon began his search for the Fountain of Youth. Many historians feel it was not only to discover the LENGENDARY waters, but also for the gold and silver that was supposed to be at the sight of the fountain. Ponce de Leon explored many regional islands in his search for the Fountain of Youth, including the Bahamas and Bimini.
It was during Ponce de Leon's search for the Fountain of Youth that he came to a land that he eventually named, La Florida or "land of flowers". He made two visits to this new land. On his first visit the native inhabitants were friendly to Ponce de Leon and his men.
I, Francisco de Bobadilla was a colonial administrator and Spanish conquistador. I was a Knight of the Order of Calatrava and an Castilian of the Royal House . I was sent as a judge to the island of the San Salvador, where I arrested Columbus for Corruption in his government. I served as governor of Indies for 2 years .
The Spanish crown also ordered him to organize a small army to subdue a native uprising on Puerto Rico that had continued in his absence. He left Spain with a small fleet in May 1515. Historical accounts of his encounters with the Caribs on Puerto Rico are vague, but it seems there was a series of military engagements with no clear outcome. Ponce de León eventually broke off hostilities upon learning that his major supporter, King Ferdinand, had died in Spain, and he quickly returned to protect his claims and titles. He stayed there for two years, until he finally received assurances that his financial empire was secure and returned to Puerto
Slide 2- the man the Spanish monarchy chose was Christopher Columbus. Columbus is known for stumbling into America while looking for Asia.
Juan Ponce de Leon is most recognized as the Spanish explorer who discovered Florida. However this was not his only achievement or contribution to the Spanish empire. Prior to discovering Florida he helped fight off the last of the Moors in Granada, he prevented the Indians from attacking the Spaniards in Hispaniola, he served as the first governor of Puerto Rico, discovered other geographical features off of Florida’s coast all while never giving up on his quest for gold or to gain the same recognition as Christopher Columbus.
The early years of Spanish rule began with the gradual development of a settler society as well as the native Taino Indians. The Taino population was soon drastically reduced and the structure of this society, diversified with the introduction of African Slave laborers. Race is therefore a core element in the discussion of the Puerto Rican identity. The early settlers came from Europe in search of riches that were soon diminished and therefore a natural need for other economic means had to be developed by the people who decided to remain behind. Some of the people who remained in Puerto Rico were coerced into doing so because of...
In September 1493, Ponce de Leon went on Columbus’ 2nd voyage as one of the 200 “gentlemen volunteers.” His boat reached the Caribbean in November 1493. He and his other sea mates visited several islands before arriving at their primary destination in Hispaniola. During his time in Hispaniola, Ponce de Leon was assigned many jobs like crushing rebellions and to establish new towns. Once Ponce de Leon had settled in and gotten more responsibility and power, he was allowed to explore Puerto Rico for gold and other good things for trade. During his exploration, he got a good understanding of the geographic features of the land and did confirm the presence of gold. His exploration was a success and he was appointed governor of San Juan Bautista (Puerto Rico). He was later instructed to extend the land and look for more gold. While Ponce de Leon went out to explore, he used a system called Encomienda, which allows you to use natives to work for you. He used his slaves to grow crops and help mine for gold. During his time exploring the land, Diego Colon (Columbus’ son) had arrived in Hispaniola as acting Viceroy. This caused a political struggle between Colón and Ponce de León. Colón's position as Viceroy made him more powerful than Ponce de Leon so Ponce’s position in San Juan was not
Juan Ponce de Leon in 1513 discovered Florida and was later met by a southern Indian tribe that would cut Leon’s triumphant moment short. A second attempt to colonize in America was led unsuccessful by Panfilo de Norvaez in 1528. Many men were lost at sea and others were among the Indian people. The first Spanish expedition in 1539 to what would later be known as Florida was an invasion that would be soon attacked twice by natives. Herman de Soto and his group of men in 1542 were defeated along with the rest of the Spanish attempts. Francisco Vasquez de Coronado was another explorer in 1540 that attempted to bring back any rare goods to Spain. The army traveled through the southwest and to the Great Plains, returning empty-handed.
Puerto Rico was “discovered” by Christopher Columbus, on November 19, 1493.There he discovered the native, Taino.
Reading both passages of the two explorers, Christopher Columbus and Álvar Núñez Cabeza de Vaca, gives a great description of how the world was back in the 1500s. Now, although both were Spaniard explorers, each had different experiences and discoveries. One of the differences is how they approached exploring the new world. For instance, Columbus went to find new land in the west, while Cabeza de Vaca went as an expedition to already found lands. In addition, Columbus had a lot of success, while Cabeza de Vaca since the beginning, because of Narváez, “endured many disasters” (Baym, et al., 2013, p. 28). Furthermore, Christopher Columbus considered most important to find more land, and especially the route to reach Asia.
In 1514 de Soto sailed with the new governor of modern day Panama. Six years later he was a captain who because of his part in military action against the Indians of Panama had earned the right to own Indian Sl...
To begin, in 1517 Francisco Hernández de Córdova, Bernal Díaz del Castillo, and some other gentlemen embarked on a journey to explore new lands in hopes of seeking employment since they had yet to find it in their new home of Cuba. In need of additional provisions, the governor of Cuba, Diego Velásquez, loaned the group supplies and a boat with the agreement that they return with Indians to be used as slaves.
No one is entirely sure of Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo’s birth and early life, but they are sure of his accomplishments as and explorer. Cabrillo was an asset to the exploration of earth and the spread of civilization. Cabrillo was an educated man and taught the natives of the New World many things. He was held in high regard in the Americas which gave Spain, the place he explored for, a good foothold on things like territories and goods. Lastly, he was one of the very first Europeans to scout out the west coast of North America.
This greeting evoked strong sentiments within Columbus, however, it was not the kindness of the natives that primarily affected him, but rather, it was the sight of gold that moved his greed hardened heart. Consequently, Spain was placed under the impression that the region was brimming with riches, prompting King Ferdinand to send Diego de Nicuesa on a mission of colonization. While de Nicuesa’s efforts were unsuccessful due to the natives’ resistance, his attempts were representative of the advent of a lengthy struggle on the part of Costa Rica’s indigenous
In 1492, Christopher Columbus was a self-made man who worked his way up to being the Captain of a merchant vessel. He gained the support of the Spanish monarchs, Ferdinand and Isabella, for an expedition to the Indies. With the support of the Spanish monarchy, he set off to find a new and faster trade route to the Indies. Upon the arrival of his first voyage, Columbus wrote a letter to Luis de Santangel, a “royal official and an early supporter of his venture,” in February 1493 (35). The epistle, letter, entitled “Letter to Luis de Santangel Regarding the First Voyage” was copied and then distributed in Spain before being translated and spread throughout Europe. The Letter is held in such regard with the people as it is considered the first printed description of the new world. Through his description of the nature of the islands, Columbus decided the future fate of the islands. His description of the vast beauty of the nature around him, declares both the economic and nationalistic motivations for colonizing the new world.
“Cabeza de Vaca was born into the Spanish nobility in 1490. Little of his early life is known, except that he made his career in the military. In early 1527 he left Spain as a part of a royal expedition intended to occupy the mainland of North America.” http://www.pbs.org/weta/thewest/people/a_c/cabezadevaca.htm