Early American Explorers

Marco Polo

Dec 1, 1271

Marco Polo first set sail in 1271. He set sail with his dad and his uncle to China or what it use to be called Cathey to meet the empire. Yes his trip was successful but it took three years. he was essentially a stranger to the elder Polos, Marco joined them when they left on their more extensive second trip in 1271. While they originally planned only a brief stay in the Far East, the three men would eventually travel Asia together for more than 20 years.

Bartolomeu Dias

Dec 1, 1488

Barltolomeu Dias went in his first voyage in 1488. He was the first European mariner to go around the southuen tip of Africa. His trip was successful but it was a rough voyage. Famous as the first European to lead a 1487 voyage around the Cape of Good Hope on the Southern most tip of South Africa;
The voyage of exploration lasted sixteen months;
January 1488 he sailed through a terrible storm around the Cape of Good Hope which Diaz called called Cabo Tormentosa - the Cape of Storms.

Christopher Columbus

Aug 3, 1492

Christopher Columbus went on his first voyage on Auguest 3, 1492.
He went on his voyage because he needed to find a new route to Asia to get goods. His voyage was notsuccessful but he found a new land but he thought it was Asia but it was a new world. When he went back he said, "I found a new route to Asia!" Thats why Amerigo Vesspucci set sail to prove him wrong.

Amerigo Vespucci

May 10, 1497

Vespucci first voyage was on May 10, 1497. He went to a new land and called it South America. His voyage was successful. He discovered a present day Rio de Janeiro and Rio de la Plata. Vespucci was the first person to recognize North and South America as distinct continents that were previously unknown to Europeans, Asians and Africans.

Vasco Da Gama

Jul 8, 1497

Vasco Da Gama went on his first voyage July 8th, 1497. He went on his voyage to prove Cristopher Columbus wrong. It was a successful trip because he did prove Cristopher Columbus wrong.In 1497, John’s successor, King Manuel I (crowned in 1495), chose da Gama to lead a Portuguese fleet to India in search of a maritime route from Western Europe to the East. At the time, the Muslims held a monopoly of trade with India and other Eastern nations, thanks to their. geographical position

Giovanni Caboto

Dec 1, 1497

Giovanni Caboto first set sail in 1497. His goal was to reach Asia sailing west. He went threw the mouth of the St. Lawrence River. Yes it was successful and many diffrent stories came back form the trip. When he went to America he got his name changed and his name to John Cabto. Italian sailor and explorer John Cabot was born Giovanni Caboto around 1450. In 1497, Cabot traveled by sea to Canada, where he made a claim to land for England, mistaking the North American land for Asia.

Alvarez Cabral

Mar 9, 1500

Alvarez Cabral went on his first voyage in the 1500's. His goal was to sail to India and set up a trading post. His achievement was he was the first European to discover Brazil. He also established a successful sea route to India and was a leader in commercial expdition.

Vasco Núñez de Balboa

Dec 1, 1513

Vasco Nunez de Balboa first set sail in 1513. His goal was to get to amercia and help establish the South American Continent.By the end of 1510 Balboa's authority was certified by King Ferdinand, who commissioned him captain general and interim governor of Darién. Balboa extended his conquest westward along the Central American coast and into the interior, subjugating the Native Americans or allying with them by a combination of terror and diplomacy. At last Balboa decided to strike one more :

Juan Ponce de León

Dec 9, 1513

He went with Christopher Columbus on his second voyage. And later he help take over Puerto Rico. He heard about a island to the north called Bimini. In 1513 he set out to find Bimini but instead he found what is now called Flordia. When he got to Flordia he claimed it for Spanish and called it La Flordia. He never found the great riches he was looking for. Later in 1519 the war for Mexico started Spain Vs. Mexico.

Ferdinand Magellan

Dec 2, 1519

Ferdinand Magellan first misson was in 1519. They tried to discover a westren route to the spice islands. His misson was successful to Becasue he did find a westren route to the spice islands. claimed the lives of hundreds of people and forever changed Europe’s understanding of world geography. Nearly five centuries after Magellan’s fleet first left Europe, explore 10 little-known facts about one of naval history’s most legendary—and deadly—voyages.

Hernán Cortés

Dec 9, 1519

When they were fighting half or Hernán Cortés soldgers died. He broung 3 ships and sunk two so his cre couldn'Hernán Cortés and his crew found safty with the indains who helped him earlier The next year Hernán Cortésretemed to Tenochitilan to capture Aztec's Treasure. With the help of the indains the Spanish tore down the Aztec's temple and destryoed the great city.

Pánfilo de Narváez

Dec 9, 1528

Pánfilo de Narváez a spanish explorer led a experdtion to La Flordia.