Discovery Videos

The end of the Mississippi era was marked by the Europeans’ arrival to what they called the “New World.”

15 Items

1540: De Soto Arrives in a "Little Ice Age"

Richard Green
Climatologists assert that the Mississippi area was much colder in 1540 than it is today.

The Chickasaws: Knowing of de Soto's Brutality and Demands

Richard Green
The Chickasaws had heard of de Soto’s brutality on the “Indian grapevine” and retreated to their villages.

De Soto Invades and Chickasaws Ensue Surprise Night Attack

Brad Lieb
The first historical mention of the Chickasaws occurs as de Soto and his Conquistadors attempted a river crossing in search of winter quarters.

De Soto Defeated by Chickasaw Tribe

Brad Lieb
The Chickasaws quickly earned a valuable reputation as a "ferocious" tribe with the European explorers after their surprise attack on de Soto.

The Significance of de Soto

Scott Pardue
Scott Pardue shares the significance of de Soto's exploration throughout the Southeastern United States.

De Soto from the Native Perspective

Scott Pardue
The retelling of the de Soto story has been biased from a European perspective. It is time for Native Americans to offer their perspectives.

De Soto Arrives in North America: A Great Collision of Cultures

Hermann Trappman
Historian and artist Hermann Trappman describes the cultural clash when European explorers arrived on the North American continent.

The Chickasaws: Leaving a Village and Food for de Soto

Richard Green
De Soto always demanded food, so the Chickasaws vacated one of their villages for de Soto’s army to occupy, also leaving them a supply of food.

The Chickasaws' Surprise Night Attack: A Decisive Defeat

Richard Green
Tribal Historian Richard Green tells the remarkable story of how, on the eve of de Soto’s departure the Chickasaws famously attacked.

Why Didn't the Chickasaws Kill de Soto?

Richard Green
Richard Green notes historians don’t agree on the number of de Soto’s camp who were killed – from a dozen to many more.

De Soto Was No Hero

Richard Green
Richard Green describes two vastly different historical viewpoints about De Soto.

De Soto Expedition: Telling a Balanced Story

Scott Pardue
Scott Pardue explains the importance of telling the story of De Soto in a balanced way.

Chickasaws Complete the de Soto Story

Scott Pardue
Scott Pardue believes it is important for the Chickasaws to share their perspective of de Soto.

De Soto: A Tragic Figure

Scott Pardue
If de Soto had returned to Spain he would not have been a hero since he failed to find gold.

The Native Outlook on a Sustainable Way of Life

Hermann Trappman
Hermann Trappman, historian and artist, discusses how the Native Americans viewed the world differently than the European conquistadors.