-
1000
Leif Erikson - Viking
First European to reach North America. -
1488
Bartolomeu Dias- sailed for Portugal
Sailed to the bottom of Africa and found the cape of good hope. (southern Africa) -
1492
Christopher Columbus- sailed for Spain
His first voyage, he sailed the Atlantic Ocean, and believed he reached Asia. -
1493
Christopher Columbus- sailed for Spain
His second voyage to the Americas across the Atlantic Ocean -
1496
Christopher Columbus- sailed for Spain
His third voyage to the Americas across the Atlantic Ocean -
1497
Vasco da Gama sailed for Portugal
First to sail all the way around Africa to Asia. -
1497
John Cabot- sailed for England
Looked for a northern sea route to Asia-probably landed on the coast of present-day Newfoundland -
1499
Amerigo Vespucci- sailed for Spain
Sailed along the coast of South America. He took such good notes about the coast that map makers were convinced this was not Asia and named the new land “America” in his honor. -
1500
Pedro Alavres Cabral- sailed for Portugal
On his way around Africa he went to wide and ended up in Brazil, South America -
1502
Christopher Columbus- sailed for Spain
His fourth and final voyage to the Americas across the Atlantic Ocean -
1513
Vasco Nunez de Balboa- sailed for Spain
He travels through central America and the first European to see the Pacific Ocean (Largest Ocean on Earth) -
1513
Juan Ponca de León- sailed for Spain
Explored present day Florida, looking for “the foundation of youth” (to live forever) -
1519
Hernándo Cortés- sailed for Spain
A conquistador who explored Mexico. Conquered the Aztec -
Period: 1519 to 1522
Ferdinand Magellan- sailed for Spain
First European to circumnavigate the globe. -
1524
Giovanni de Verrazano- sailed for France
Looked for a northern route to Asia- explored the coast of North America from Nova Scotia to the Carolinas -
Period: 1528 to 1536
Álvar Núñez Cabeza de Vaca- sailed for Spain
Accompanied by Estevancio (a slave) and others, explored the North American Southwest looking for 7 cites of gold. -
1532
Francisco Pizarro- sailed for Spain
A conquistador who explored the Andes Mountains of South America and conquered the Inca Empire. -
1535
Jacques Cartier- sailed for spain
Sailed up St. Lawrence River trying to get to the Pacific. Did not make it but discovered Mont-Royal mountain peak, present day Montreal -
Period: 1539 to 1542
Hernando de Soto- sailed for Spain
Explored Florida and North Carolina discovered Mississippi River -
Period: 1540 to 1542
Francisco Váquez de Coronado- sailed for Spain
cont. in North American southwest, looking for cuties of gold, discovered the Grand Canyon (in AZ) -
1542
Juan Carbrillo- sailed for Spain
He explored up from Mexico and goes into modern day California -
Henry Hudson- sailed for Spain
Looked for a passage through the Americas. Discovered the Hudson River -
Henry Hudson- sailed for England
Found the Hudson Bay, but thought it was the Pacific so he searched for an outlet until his crew rebelled -
Louis Joliet and Jacques Marquette- sailed for France
Traveled up the Mississippi River looking for precious metals and a NW passage. Ended up giving up when they realized the river went south. -
Robert Cavelier de La salle- sailed for France
Sailed down the Mississippi to the Gulf coast and claimed Louisiana for France
