Discovering Florida: First-Contact Narratives from Spanish Expeditions along the Lower Gulf Coast (2014)

“Gives voice to a period in U.S. history that remains virtually unknown, even to specialists in the field.”—J. Michael Francis, coauthor of __Murder and Martyrdom in Spanish Florida__ “With these transcriptions and translations, Worth provides an important service to ethnohistorians, archaeologists, and others who share an interest in the Spanish colonial explorations of the greater Southeast.”—Mariah F. Wade, author of __Missions, Missionaries, and Native Americans__ “A model for how to handle important primary sources. The historical introduction is a treasure in its own right.”—Amy Turner Bushnell, author of __Situado and Sabana: Spain’s Support System for the Presidio and Mission provinces of Florida__ Florida’s lower gulf coast was a key region in the early European exploration of North America, with an extraordinary number of first-time interactions between Spaniards and Florida’s indigenous cultures. __Discovering Florida__ compiles all the major writings of Spanish explorers in the area between 1513 and 1566. Including transcriptions of the original Spanish documents as well as English translations, this volume presents—in their own words—the experiences and reactions of Spaniards who came to Florida with Juan Ponce de León, Pánfilo de Narváez, Hernando de Soto, and Pedro Menéndez de Avilés. These accounts, which have never before appeared together in print, provide an astonishing glimpse into a world of indigenous cultures that did not survive colonization. With introductions to the primary sources, extensive notes, and a historical overview of Spanish exploration in the region, this book offers an unprecedented firsthand view of La Florida in the earliest stages of European conquest. Florida's Lower Gulf Coast Was A Key Region In The Early European Exploration Of North America, With An Extraordinary Number Of First-time Interactions Between Spaniards And Florida's Indigenous Cultures. Discovering Florida Compiles All The Major Writings Of Spanish Explorers In The Area Between 1513 And 1566. Including Transcriptions Of The Original Spanish Documents As Well As English Translations, This Volume Presents--in Their Own Words--the Experiences And Reactions Of Spaniards Who Came To Florida With Juan Ponce De León, Pánfilo De Narváez, Hernando De Soto, And Pedro Menéndez De Avilés. These Accounts, Which Have Never Before Appeared Together In Print, Provide An Astonishing Glimpse Into A World Of Indigenous Cultures That Did Not Survive Colonization. With Introductions To The Primary Sources, Extensive Notes, And A Historical Overview Of Spanish Exploration In The Region, This Book Offers An Unprecedented Firsthand View Of La Florida In The Earliest Stages Of European Conquest--publisher Description. Introduction: Sixteenth-century Spanish Exploration Of Florida's Lower Gulf Coast -- 1. The Juan Ponce De León Expeditions, 1513-1521 -- 2. The Pánfilo De Narváez And Hernando De Soto Expeditions And The Captivity Of Juan Ortiz, 1528-1539 -- 3. The Luís Cancer Expedition, 1549 -- 4. The Captivity Of Hernando De Escalante Fontaneda, 1549-1566 -- 5. The Pedro Menéndez De Avilés Expeditiions 1566-1569 -- Notes -- References -- Index. Edited And Translated By John E. Worth. A Florida Quincentennial Book--title Page Verso. Includes Bibliographical References (pages 293-302) And Index. Florida's lower gulf coast was a key region in the early European exploration of North America, with an extraordinary amount of first-time interactions between Spaniards and Florida's indigenous cultures. Discovering Florida compiles all the major writings of Spanish explorers in the area between 1513 and 1566. Including transcriptions of the original Spanish documents as well as English translations, this volume presents-in their own words-the experiences and reactions of Spaniards who came to Florida with Juan Ponce de León, Pánfilo de Narváez, Hernando de Soto, and Pedro Menéndez de Avilés. These accounts, which have never before appeared together in print, provide an astonishing glimpse into a world of indigenous cultures that did not survive colonization. With introductions to the primary sources, extensive notes, and a historical overview of Spanish exploration in the region, this book offers an unprecedented firsthand view of La Florida in the earliest stages of European conquest Cover 1 Title 4 Copyright 2 Contents 8 List of Illustrations 10 Preface 12 Introduction: Sixteenth-Century Spanish Exploration of Florida’s Lower Gulf Coast 20 1. The Juan Ponce de León Expeditions, 1513–1521 62 2. The Pánfilo de Narváez and Hernando de Soto Expeditions and the Captivity of Juan Ortiz, 1528–1539 106 3. The Luís Cancer Expedition, 1549 173 4. The Captivity of Hernando de Escalante Fontaneda, 1549–1566 209 5. The Pedro Menéndez de Avilés Expeditions, 1566–1569 241 Notes 294 References 312 Index 322 A 322 B 323 C 323 D 325 E 325 F 325 G 326 H 327 I 327 J 327 K 327 L 327 M 328 N 330 O 330 P 330 Q 331 R 331 S 332 T 333 U 334 V 334 W 334 X 334 Y 334 Z 334