Early America By cbob 500 Bredan sails to knew lands Period: 500 to Jan 1, 1625 Early Explorers Jan 1, 1000 Leif Erriksson sets sail from Greenland. Jan 1, 1453 The turks capture Constaninople Jan 1, 1453 Marco Polo travels to Asia Jan 1, 1488 Dias sails around Africa Jan 1, 1492 Columus sets sail to the Americas Jan 1, 1497 Da Gama sails for India Jan 1, 1499 Vespucci sails to South America. Jan 1, 1513 Balboa claims the Pacific Ocean Mar 28, 1513 Ponce de Leon lands in Florida Jan 1, 1519 Cortes lands in Mexico Jan 1, 1522 Magellans crew returns to Spain. Jan 1, 1533 Pizarro conquers the Incas