-
1000
Leif Eriksson: sponsored by the country of scandanavia
in 1000 leif eriksson was blown off course by a storm and landed in north america -
1488
Bartolomeu Dias sailed Portugal
sailed from Portugal southward, made it to the bottom of Africa, discovering the tip Africa, "the cape of good hope." -
1488
Pedro Alverez Cabral sponsored by the country or portugal
He is known for finding the country of Brazil in south america and starting a settlement their for Portugal -
1492
Christopher columbus who sailed the blue ocean
tried to reach Asia by sailing across the Atlantic but landed in the america's but believed we had reached Asia. -
1497
Vasco da Gama sailed Africa
Sailed all around Africa and all the way to India, winning the European race for a sea route to Asia. -
1497
john cabot sent by England
England sent john, an Italian, to look for a northern sea route to Asia in 1497. -
1499
America Vespucci led a Spain funded voyage
led a voyage funded by Spain on this journey he explored the coast of south america. -
1513
Vasco Nunez de balbao sponsored by spain
balboa saw a vast body of water which he claimed for Spain, along with the ajoining lands, balboa was the first European to see the pacific ocean from the Americas. -
1513
Juan Ponce de Leon sent by the spanish
Made the first Spanish landing on the east coast in Florida. Juan was not looking for gold, he hoped to find a legendary fountain of youth.His exploration led to what is now the first Spanish settlement in the United States. -
1519
Hernan Cortez from spain.
Hernan landed on the east coast if Mexico, within two years Hernan conquered the Aztec Empire that had ruled the region.Huge amounts of Aztec gold made Cortez and Spain wealthy. -
1520
Ferdinand Magellan Portuguese sailor sailing for Spain
a Portuguese sailor who was sailing for Spain reached the southernmost tip of south Africa. -
1524
Giovanni de Verrazano hired by france.
on 1524 France hired another Italian Giovanni to look for a northern route. -
1528
Alvar Nunez Cabeza de Vaca spanish conquistadors
He was part of the Spanish expedition to Florida. After coming into conflict with the native Americans in Florida, the expedition sailed south toward mexico. -
1531
Francisco pizzaro from spain
Francisco led an army into the Inca capital in Cuzco, Peru. The Spanish arrested and later exucuted the Inca ruler. Without their leader the inca were not able to fight effectivaly, Francisco soon ruled most of the vast and wealthy Inca empire. -
1535
jacques Cartier french explorer
in 1535 french explorer Jacques sailed up St.Lawrance river, hoping it would lead to the pacific.He didn't make it to the pacific but he discovered a mountain he named royal mountain. -
1540
Francisco Vasquez de Coronado an conquistador
Searched for the seven cities of Cibola His expedition reached Zuni, finally convinced theirs no gold, they traveled west, they found no gold, only windswept plains, and shaggy cows (buffalo) -
1541
Hernando de Soto searches for gold
Hernando was excited about these other conqustadors stories, that he led his own expedition to explore Florida and southeastern United States. He crossed the mississippi river, after traveling as far west as today oklahoma he died of a fever, and was buried in the mississippi river. -
1542
Juan cabrillo a spanish exploror
first sighted what is now california in 1542. -
Henry Hudson hired by the dutch
The dutch hired Henry Hudson to look for a passage through the Americas. in 1609 he discovered the river that now bears his name. -
Louis joliet and jacques Marquette two french explorers.
They traveled the missisipea river by conoe. Joliet and Jacques hoped to find precious metals. They were also looking for a northwest passage. -
Robert cavelier de la salle french explorer
Robert followed the Mississipea river all the way to the Gulf of mexico. He claimed the region for france, calling it luisiana in honor of lious XlV.
