What was the primary goal of DeSoto's expedition?

The primary goal of DeSoto's expedition was to find gold and silver. Hernán de Soto, a Spanish explorer, led an expedition through parts of the southeastern United States in the 1530s and 1540s, driven largely by the desire for wealth, specifically precious metals. His journey was motivated by legends of rich Native American empires that promised bountiful treasures. This quest for gold and silver was a common driving force behind many Spanish explorations during this era, as explorers sought to enhance their fortunes and gain favor with the Spanish crown.

While establishing trade routes, converting natives to Christianity, and surveying land for colonization were certainly aspects of Spanish exploration endeavors, DeSoto's personal ambition and the explicit instructions he received were primarily concerned with wealth acquisition, making the search for gold and silver the most accurate characterization of his expedition's main goal.