Early Explorers

  • Leif Ericsson
    1000

    Leif Ericsson

    He sailed and found new day north america
  • 1488

    Bartolomeu dias

    in 1488 sailed from portugal southward made it to the bottom of africa
  • Christopher Columbus
    1492

    Christopher Columbus

    he sailed and thought he located southeast china but was actually north america
  • 1497

    Vasco da Gama

    sailed all around Africa and all the way to India winning the European race for a sea route to Asia
  • John Cabot
    1497

    John Cabot

    he tried to find a shorter route for trading
  • Amerigo Vespucci
    1499

    Amerigo Vespucci

    he discovered the coast of south america and discovered it was separate continents
  • Pedro Alvares Cabral
    1500

    Pedro Alvares Cabral

    led an expedition to the east indies
  • Vasco Nunez de Balboa
    1501

    Vasco Nunez de Balboa

    he crossed the caribbean coasts from the east of panama along the colombian coast
  • Juan Ponce de Leon
    1513

    Juan Ponce de Leon

    first Spanish landing on the east coast of present day Florida
  • Hernan Cortes
    1519

    Hernan Cortes

    landed on east coast of present day New Mexico
  • Ferdinand Magellan
    1520

    Ferdinand Magellan

    he discovered the most southernmost tip of south america
  • Giovanni de Varrazano
    1524

    Giovanni de Varrazano

    explored the coast of north america
  • Alvar Nunez Cabeza de Vaca
    1528

    Alvar Nunez Cabeza de Vaca

    was part of a Spanish expedition to Florida in 1528
  • Francisco Pizarro
    1531

    Francisco Pizarro

    led an army into Inca capital in Cuzco
  • Jacques Cartier
    1535

    Jacques Cartier

    Sailed up the St.Lawrence River in 1535
  • Francisco Vasquez de Coronado
    1540

    Francisco Vasquez de Coronado

    traveled through northern mexico and present day Arizona and new mexico
  • Hernando de Soto
    1541

    Hernando de Soto

    led an expedition to explore Florida and what is today southeastern United States
  • Juan Cabrillo
    1542

    Juan Cabrillo

    first sited what is now California in 1542
  • Henry Hudson

    Henry Hudson

    He discovered the river that now bears his name and discovered the Hudson bay
  • Louis Joliet and Jacques Marquette

    Louis Joliet and Jacques Marquette

    Traveled the Mississippi river by canoe
  • Robert Cavelier de La Salle

    Robert Cavelier de La Salle

    followed the Mississippi river all the way to gulf of mexico