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A Portugal prince named Henry the Navigator urged sea captains to find a sea around the African continent to the Spice Islands
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Christopher Columbus pursuaded the king and queen of Spain Ferdinand and Isabella to support an expedition of exploration. Also in 1492 he led his first expedition. On another voyage Columbus reached South America in 1498
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John Cabot was sent on a voyage to the West by King Henry VII. Cabot landed on the far northern Atlantic coast of North America. And like other explorers he failed to find the Northwest Passage.
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Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama finds a route to the Spice Islands
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Juan Ponce de Leon explored and settled the island of Puerto Rico. Spain took notice and King Ferdinand authorized Ponce de Leon to explore lands north of Cuba. And in 1513 Ponce de Leon set out with ships and crew. His expedition landed on the east coast of Florida a name Ponce de Leon derived from the Spanish word for flowers.
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King Francis I of France sent Italian navigator Giovanni da Verrazano westward. He first reached land at North Carolina's Outer Banks. Verrazano then explored farther up the coast. After returning to France Verrazano submitted a glowing report to the king.