Juan Ponce De Leon Research Paper

In 1474, years after Prince Henry the Navigator’s death, Juan Ponce de Leon was born to a noble, yet poor, family in Santervás de Campos, Spain. Although early historians placed his birth in 1460, more recent evidence shows he was likely born in 1474. Juan Ponce de Leon wanted what everyone wanted, fame and fortune. So as a young man, Juan Ponce de Leon would deliver messages to the royal court. Once he had finished doing this, he met up with Pedro Nunez de Guzman, Knight Commander of the Order of Calatrava., who was well known to train young boys to become knights. Ponce de Leon served as a squire with him. Guzman not only taught Leon important fighting skills, but the importance of religion and manners along with other traits. As Leon grew

up, he began to help Pedro Nunez de Guzman in battles against the Nasrid dynasty. Leon’s first taste of real battle was in 1492 at the battle of Granada which ended all Islamic rule on the Iberian peninsula. After that, he led a ten year conquest in Granada in the Muslim kingdom in southern Spain.
On August 3, 1492 Columbus set sail in 3 caravels, Niña, Pinta, and the Santa Maria, to find a faster route to India. On this voyage, Columbus’ compass had stopped pointing toward the North Star, causing them to miss India and go toward unknown land (America). When Columbus had reached shore, he explored the land and observed the native people and their cultural lifestyle. On January 15, 1493 Christopher Columbus had finished his exploration and set sail for home aboard the Niña. When Columbus had returned to Spain, he showed off what he had brought back from his voyage, including a few small samples of gold, pearls, gold jewelry stolen from natives, a few natives that he had kidnapped, flowers, a hammock, an unknown tobacco plant, pineapples, and turkey. This was the beginning of the Columbian Exchange. After a long time of extensive trading, the impact of the Columbian Exchange caused the triangular trade which was the trade between Africa, America, and Europe. The trade between Africa and America was called the Middle Passage which was when they captured hundreds of native Africans and took them to America to work for them. Eventually after all the trading going on, the system of Mercantilism developed. With all the money being made during the Columbian Exchange, this provoked many people into traveling to the New World, including Ponce de Leon.
Once the war against the Emirate of Granada ended, there was no need for Ponce de Leon’s military services at home so Ponce de León looked for more opportunities.

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

tenable.
In an effort to reward Ponce de León for his services, Ferdinand (The King of Castile and Leon) urged him to explore some land outside of Colon’s authority later called Florida. Ponce de León equipped three ships with at least 200 men to sail to Florida with him. They had explored most of south and west Florida and then later set sail again looking for a chain of islands in the west that had been described by their captives. There they captured giant sea turtles, Caribbean monk seals, and thousands of seabirds. At the end of their voyage, they attempted to go home to Puerto Rico but had been caught in a strong current and had landed in Cuba instead.
Many people claim that Ponce de Leon was actually searching for the Fountain of Youth during his voyage to Florida. The fountain of youth was said to be fountain with water that cures old age. Caribbean islanders say the fountain of youth is located in a mythical land called Beniny that Ponce de Leon had discovered.
Ponce de Leon should be remembered as a positive influence in today’s society because he worked hard for what needed to be done during his time. Ponce de Leon fought as a soldier for Spain in a campaign that defeated the Moors in Granada and completed the re-conquest of Spain in 1492. In 1492, Ponce de Leon, along with 1,200 other sailors, rode with Christopher Columbus on his 2nd voyage to America. Ponce de Leon played a key role in the expansion of the new territory. Ponce de Leon had established the oldest European settlement in Puerto Rico and discovered the Gulf Stream. During his time in Puerto Rico, he maintained a job as governor 3 times (1st, 3rd, and 7th). He also built a small financial empire that helped advance Spanish colonization. After being succeeded for the last time by Sánchez Velázquez and Antonio de la Gama, Ponce de Leon went on to go discover more unknown land that we know today as Florida. While in Florida, he discovered many islands and declared himself governor for all of them. Ponce de Leon also was one of the first explorers to experience the Gulf Stream, which was where the current had reached maximum force between the Bahamas and the Florida Coast. This soon became the primary route for ships leaving the Spanish Indies traveling to return to Europe because it gave a powerful boost.
Ponce de Leon had very few gray areas during his time as an explorer/politician. Enslavement and disease were on the rise during Ponce de Leon’s political run as governor. Many of his people had died or became very sick because of the diseases the Europeans had been carrying. Also, many uprisings had occurred during his time as governor. As an explorer, Ponce de Leon did very few things wrong.