JUAN PONCE DE LEON
Read to discover how Ponce's search stumbles into another.
Kenley Miller From the NWR series
Introduction
Leon's Early Life
Not long after that Ponce went to America (known as the new world) with another Famous explorer, Christoper Columbus, they went with him on his second voyage to the new world.
When they were there they used the Native Americans on that island as slaves. Except for Ponce. While the other people were cutting of the Native Americans ears, Ponce was studying them and found out that they had a Traditional piece of jewelry called a heirloom and found that they were very wise.
From solider to planter
Then Ponce was willing to work as a planter for a king did not know very well but he was poor and needed fortune. Ponce was a successful planter because of the Native Americans that helped him. They taught him how grow sugar cane and native corn called maize. The Spaniards used sugar cane to make rum a liquor. After all that work ponce had done he then became wealthy.
An Island of Endless Youth?
They went to an island called Bimini, believing it was there. Then he soon found out the king's true nature and disliked him. Soon enough people were getting impatience and told that they would give gold for youth.
the last expedition
They were being very careful but suddenly a violent Native American tribe called Seminole attacked with bows and arrows. They fought back with many weapons and a type of gun called a arquebuse. Ponce got shot by an arrow in his leg and died in July 1521.
Glosssary
Bimini-an island the Native Americans told them the "fountain of youth" was on
"fountain of endless youth"-a fountain the Native Americans thought was on an island called Bimini and it could heal and give youth
Florida-a peninsula witch means full of flowers
heirloom-a special and traditional piece of jewelry that is passed down from generation to generation
immune-protected from diseases
maize-a native corn called Indian corn
new world-America
slavery-working for someone constantly
violent-a fight trying to hurt, damage, or kill someone or something
youth-the age between child hood and an adult (teen or pre teen)