European Exploration

Colombus

Sep 3, 1492

Colombus led his first expedition westward. He landed in the Bahamas, islands that he believed to be near Asia

King Henry VII

Sep 3, 1497

King Henry VII sent Cabot on a voyage to the west. The English thoyght that there might be a water route through the Americas that would lead nofrth and west Asia.

Colombus

Sep 3, 1498

Colombus reached South America. Later, a mapmaker renamed the continent America.

Juan Ponce de Leon

Sep 3, 1508

Juan Ponce de Leon was a spanish official in the New World. In 1508-1509, he explored and settled the island of Puerto Rico.

Juan Ponce de Leon

Sep 3, 1513

Juan Ponce de Leon set out with hips and crew. His expedition landed on the east coast of Florida, a name Ponce de Leon to explore lands north of Cuba.

Lucas Vazquez de Ayllon

Sep 4, 1520

He had seen some of the Alantic coastline of this region on an expedition in 1520. Allyon intended to plant a strong colony for Spain along that coast.

Giovanni da Verrazano

Jul 8, 1524

Giovanni da Verrazano wrote a report of his voyage and explorations to King Francis I of France. Verrazano's vivid report detailed the excitement and danger of such a journey, including this story about the experiences of a young sailor.

King Francis I

Sep 3, 1524

King Francis I of France sent Italian navigator Giovanni da Verrazano westward. Verrazano first reached North Carolina's Outer Banks.

Lucas Vazquez de Allyon

Sep 4, 1526

He led a group over 500 men, women, and children to a river he called "Jordan" (for the Jordan River in ancient Plastine). Historians today believe that it was actually North Carolina's Cape Fear River.

Hernando de Soto

Sep 4, 1539

He sailed with a military expedition from Havana, Cuba, to the west coast of Florida.