Introduction and Index to Florida Exploration and Conquest by Hernando de Soto and Cabeza de Vaca, 16th century, in 14 states and 100's of today's cities.

Go to Chapter One Section Go to Book World's Review Hernando de Soto A Savage Quest in the Americas By David Ewing Duncan Chapter One : Soto is Born We start by imagining a wiry, muscular boy of perhaps eleven, riding a lean Andalusian stallion fast across a low, rugged range of mountains in south-central Spain--a hot, desolate place of rocks, gnarled oaks, sheep, goats, deer, rabbits, snakes, ...