The primary goal of Hernando de Soto as he explored the American southeast was to develop trade partnerships.
The primary goal of Hernando de Soto as he explored the American southeast was to find gold. To arrive at this answer, we can look at historical accounts and documents that highlight de Soto's motivations and objectives during his exploration. One key source we can refer to is his personal journals and letters, which reveal his obsessive search for wealth and his desire to find precious metals, particularly gold. These accounts depict de Soto and his expedition tirelessly exploring various regions in the hope of uncovering vast quantities of gold. Consequently, we can conclude that his main goal was to find this valuable resource rather than any of the other options provided: to conquer land, convert Native Americans, or develop trade partnerships.
