Early Exploreers

  • Leif Erikkson
    1000

    Leif Erikkson

    He was a viking who left Scandavia and landed at persent-day Canada, Sponsored by Noway
  • Bartoloumeu Dias
    1487

    Bartoloumeu Dias

    Discovered the Southern tip of Africa and named it "Cape of Good Hope". Sponsored by Portugal.
  • Christopher Columbus
    1497

    Christopher Columbus

    He tried to reach Asia by sailing west across the Atlantic, Sponsored by Portugal.
  • John Cabot
    1497

    John Cabot

    Landed on present-day Newfoundland, Sponsored by France.
  • Vasco Da Gama
    1497

    Vasco Da Gama

    First European to find an ocean trading route to India, Sponsored by Portugal.
  • Pedro Alvares Cabral
    1500

    Pedro Alvares Cabral

    An Portuguese navigator who discovered Brazil, Sponsored by Portugal.
  • Amerigo Vespucci
    1507

    Amerigo Vespucci

    discovered present-day Rio de Janeiro and Rio de la Plata, Sponsored by Spain.
  • Juan Ponce de Leon
    1513

    Juan Ponce de Leon

    Made the first landing on the east coast of present-day Florida, sponsored by Spain.
  • Vasco Nunez de Balboa
    1513

    Vasco Nunez de Balboa

    First person to see the Pacific Ocean from the Americas, Sponsored by Spain.
  • Ferdinand Magellan
    1519

    Ferdinand Magellan

    Set sailed with a crew and were the first people known to circumnavigate the world, Sponsored by Spain
  • Hernan Cortes
    1519

    Hernan Cortes

    Landed on the east coast of present-day Mexico, Sponsored by Spain.
  • Giovanni de Varrazano
    1524

    Giovanni de Varrazano

    Explored the coast of North America from present day Nova Scotia down to the Carolinas, Sponsored by France.
  • Alvar Nunez Cabeza de Vaca
    1528

    Alvar Nunez Cabeza de Vaca

    Made out of a storm and told about the Seven Cities of Cibola, Sponsored by Spain.
  • Francisco Pizarro
    1531

    Francisco Pizarro

    Led an Army into the Inca Capital in Cuzco, sponsored by Spain.
  • Jacques Cartier
    1535

    Jacques Cartier

    Sailed up the St. Lawrence River, but discovered Mount-Royal, Sponsored by France
  • Francisco Vasquez de Coronado
    1540

    Francisco Vasquez de Coronado

    Search of gold by going through Northern America to present-day New Mexicom Sponsored by Spain.
  • Hernado de Soto
    1541

    Hernado de Soto

    Crossed the Mississippi River, sponsored by Spain.
  • Juan Cabrillo
    1542

    Juan Cabrillo

    Discovered present-day California, was sponsored by Spain.
  • Henry Hudson (twice)

    Henry Hudson (twice)

    Discovered present-day Albany,New York, Sponsored by Dutch.
  • Henry Hudson (twice)

    Henry Hudson (twice)

    Discovered the river that bears his own name, Sponsored by Dutch.
  • Louis Joliet and Jacques Marquette

    Louis Joliet and Jacques Marquette

    Discovered that the Mississippi flowed south into the Gulf of Mexico rather than west into the Pacific, Sponsored by France.
  • Robert Cavelier de La Salle

    Robert Cavelier de La Salle

    Claimed the region of France, calling it Louisiana, Sponsored by France.