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Leif Erikson is generally believed to be the first European to reach North America, nearly four centuries before Christopher Columbus arrived in 1492.
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Prince Henry, also known as "Prince Henry the Explorer", was a famous Portugese prince who was credited for starting an "Age of Exploration" during the 1500's, and was responsible for many great exploration-related achievements for Europe.
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Zheng He was a Chinese commander of treasure ships, who made a total of seven voyages throughout his life, during one of which he may have discovered America.
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Ferdinand Magellan was the first European - as well as first person ever - to fully navigate across the globe.
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Christopher Columbus is possibly the most well-known explorer in the U.S. as well as much of the rest of the western world, to this day maintaining the the title of "the man who discovered America".
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Vasco da Gama was a famous explorer who began his career when his father died before setting off on a big voyage, and decided to lead the expedition in his stead.
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The Columbian Exchange was the widespread transfer of goods, technology and culture between Europe and the New World during the 15-1600's.
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While Columbus is accredited with having discovered America, it was actuallly named after Amerigo Vespucci. Originally he had thought that the land he had discovered was India, rather than its own continent. However, after he had figured out that it was not, in fact, India at all, he promptly named it after himself, in traditional European fashion.
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He is most well-known for conquering the Aztec Empire in 1519 and building Mexico City on top of the rubble, which became the Spanish stronghold in the New World.
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He is most known for conquering the Incan Empire of Peru and killing its king, Atahualpa, which firmly established control over South America for Spain.
