This detailed historical account traces the footsteps of one of the most daring and ambitious explorers of the 16th century: Hernando de Soto. The author, a renowned historian and expert on the Spanish conquests of the Americas, provides an in-depth analysis of de Soto's route through the southeastern United States, and sheds new light on the encounters between Europeans and Native Americans in this region. This book is a must-read for anyone interested in the history of the Americas, or the early modern period. This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.