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Jul 17, 1000
Leif Erikson
explored northern Atlantic, made voyage to what is now North America, first European to reach the Americas, not given credit for discovery because of no permanent settlements or return voyages -
Jun 4, 1271
Marco Polo
traveled to China, served in Kublai Khan's court, returned to Italy with tales of glory and riches, his writings about his adventures encouraged later exploration -
Apr 9, 1419
Prince Henry the Navigator
no actual voyages, paid for and sponsored schools for improvements in sailing and boat design, increased technology available to European sailors such as the compass and astrolabe, ideas on improving ship design, and gathering information for the drawing of new, more accurate maps -
Jan 17, 1488
Bandomeu Dias
explored west coast of Africa, first European to sail around southern tip of Africa, was "blown" around Africa in a storm and wanted to call it Cape of Storms but King John II of Portugal named it Cape of Good Hope -
Oct 12, 1492
Christopher Columbus
ventured west to reach the East (Asia), discovered New World, made four voyages to the Caribbean, established Spanish colonies in the New World, died still thinking he found a route to Asia -
Jun 14, 1497
John Cabot
gave England an early claim in the New World, explored the coastline of eastern Canada and New England -
May 20, 1498
Vasco da Game
first man to reach India by sailing around southern tip of Africa, five ships loaded with spices and other materials, only two of his ships made it back to Portugal, but the value of his cargo paid for the expense of the trip 60 times over -
Sep 25, 1513
Vascez Nunes de Balboa
explored the isthmus of Panama, first European to see the Pacific Ocean, later executed for treason by fellow conquistador Pizarro -
Period: Nov 16, 1532 to Mar 23, 1534
Francisco Pizzeria
explored Panama with Balboa, explored Northwestern South America and claimed it for Spain, conquered the Inca Empire that controlled the area, ravaged the Inca of their mineral wealth, established Lima as the Spanish capital of northern South America -
Jul 24, 1534
Jacques Cartier
explored St. Lawrence River and eastern Canada looking for the Northwest Passage, gave France a claim to inland Canada -
May 8, 1541
Hernando De Soto
explored St. Lawrence River and eastern Canada looking for the Northwest Passage, gave France a claim to inland Canada -
May 8, 1541
Hernando De Soto
involved with Pizarro in the conquering of the Inca in South America, explored Southeastern North America, probably traveled through North Carolina and possibly Rutherford County, first European to see the Mississippi River -
Period: Dec 13, 1577 to Sep 26, 1580
Francis Drake
privateer, or government-sponsored pirate, hired by Queen Elizabeth I to raid Spanish ships and ports in the Caribbean, became the first Englishman to circumnavigate the globe on his ship The Golden Hind, successfully helped protect England against the Spanish Armada in 1588 -
Samuel De Champlain
explored St. Lawrence River and eastern Canada looking for the Northwest Passage, established the first permanent French colony in America, it was the city of Quebec -
Period: to
Henry Hudson
explored northeastern North America looking for a water route from the Atlantic to the Pacific called the Northwest Passage, helped the Dutch claim the area of present-day New York and the English claim Eastern Canada, Hudson River (NY) and Hudson Bay (Canada) named for him -
Period: to
James Cook
explored the South Pacific and gave Great Britain a claim to Australia and New Zealand, first man to cross the Antarctic Circle, discovered the Hawaiian islands and explored the Pacific Northwest looking for the fabled Northwest Passage -
Richard .E. Byrd
first to fly an aircraft over the North Pole, first man to fly an aircraft over the South Pole -
Robert .E. Peary
first man to reach the North Pole -
Ronald Amundsen
first man to successfully sail the Northwest Passage in an icebreaking cruiser, first man to reach the South Pole by land -
Neil Armstrong
member of the Apollo 11mission that became the first to successfully land on the surface of the moon, first man to step on the moon's surface and he said, "That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind." -
Sally Ride
first American woman in space, crew member on the Space Shuttle Challenger in 1983
