Early explorers

Prince Henry the Navigator

Mar 22, 1455

Prince Henry the Navigator was not a navigator, he was an explorer that sponsored a great deal of exploration along the west coast of Africa. He explored the West coast of Africa between 1419 and 1460.

Bartolomeu Dias sailed from portugal

1488

Bartolomeu Dias sailed from Portugal Southward, and made it to the bottom of Africa. He also discovered the Southern tip of Africa.

Leif Erickson

1490

Leif Erikson sailed off course on his way back to Greenland, and landed on the North American continent. where he explored a region he called Vinland.

Christopher Columbus sallied for Spain

Aug 13, 1492

Christopher Columbus sailed the ocean in 1442. Then he sailed to Spain. He also made 4 trips across the Atlantic.

Vasco da Gama sailed to Africa

1497

Vasco da Gama sailed to Africa and all the way around Africa and all the way to India He won the European race for a sea route to Asia.

John Cabot traveled by sea

1497

John Cabot traveled by sea from Bristol to Canad. Which he at first was mistaken to think it was Asia. John made a claim to the North American land.

Amerigo Vespucci sailed to the northern part of South America

1499

Amerigo Vespucci sailed to the northern part of South America. He also went and sailed to the Amazon River.

Juan Ponce de Leon explored Florida

1513

Juan Ponce de Leon explored present day Florida in 1513. Trying to find the fountain of youth. Unfortunately, he did not succeed.

Vasco Nunez de Balbo helped establish the first stable settlement

1513

Vasco Nunez de Balbo helped establish the first stable settlement in South America. while leading an expedition in search of gold, He discovered the Pacific Ocean.

Hernando cortez explored Mexico

1519

Hernando cortez explored Mexico in 1519. He also conquered the Aztecs.

Ferdinand Magellan

1519

In search of fame and fortune, Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan set out from Spain in 1519 with a fleet of five ships to discover a western sea route to the Spice Islands.

Francisco Pizarro

1524

Francisco Pizarro was an explorer, who explored south America, and turned the land into Spain. He was best known for conquering the Incas and executing their leader.

Alvar Nunez Cabeza de Vaca explored North America

1528

Alvar Nunez Cabeza de Vaca explored the North American south west looking for the 7 cities of gold. This event was taken place in 1528.

Jacques Cartier

Apr 20, 1534

Jacques Cartier was the first European to explore the St. Lawrence River. Jacques Cartier is credited with giving Canada its name.

Hernando de Soto explored Florida and north Carolina

Apr 6, 1538

Hernando de Soto explored Florida and north Carolina. In the works of doing that, he discovered the Mississippi river.

Francisco Vasquez de Coronado tried finding the lost city of gold

Feb 24, 1540

Francisco Vasquez de Coronado looked for cities of gold. But he was soon to find himself unsuccessful. Instead he ended up discovering the grand canyon.

Juan Cabrillo discovered San Diego California

Sep 28, 1542

Juan Cabrillo discovered San Diego Bay. He was originally searching for the Strait of Anian, a mythical all-water route across North America.

Henry Hudson

1607

Henry Hudson took off for his first voyage west from England in 1607. He was hired to find a shorter route to Asia from Europe through the Arctic Ocean. He discovered Hudson Bay, Hudson River, and the Hudson Strait.

Samuel de Champlain

1608

Samuel de Champlain explored North America in 1603. He was known as the "Father of New France". He also explored what is now northern New York, the Ottawa River, and the eastern Great Lakes.

Rene-Robert De La Salle

Jul 24, 1684

Rene-Robert De La Salle was a French explorer in North America who led an expedition down the Illinois and Mississippi rivers and claimed all. He claimed the region waters by the Mississippi river, and its tributaries for France and named it Louisiana after King Louis the XIV.