Early American Explorers

Marco Polo

Dec 5, 1271

Marco Polo set sail in 1271. They sailed from Venice,Italy to the Middle East. It took Marco and his crew 24 years to get to the Middle East. He went acrros Asia through China on his route. He wanted valuable gifts from Kublai Kabel. Kublai Kabel is a emperor. Maroc Polo was successful beacuse he found a route to China.

Explorers

Period: Dec 5, 1271 to Dec 5, 1519

Bartolomeu Dias

Jan 5, 1488

Bartolomeu Dias set sail January 1488. He set sail because he wanted to find a sea route from Europe to Asia. Dias was a Portuguese explorer. The voyage of exploration lasted sixteen months. Famous as the first European to lead a 1487 voyage around the Cape of Good Hope on the Southern tip of Africa.January 1488 he sailed through a terrible storm around the Cape of Good Hope. He was successful because he sailed around the Southern tip of Africa.

Christopher Columbus

Aug 3, 1492

Columbus sailed in 1492 from Palos,Spain. He was one of the most famous explorers in the Age Of Discovery. He set sail because he wanted to find a route to China. Christopher also sailed for spices. He was not successful because he did'nt find a route to China.

Giovanni Caboto

Jun 24, 1497

Giovanni Caboto set sail June 24, 1497 from England. He set sail to find an easier route to Asia for trade purposes, but landed on thr shores of what now is Canada. His original name was John Cabot, but then he change it to Giovanni Caboto. John is the English version of Giovanni. So he didn't really change his name. Caboto was successful. He is one of the best Italian explorers.

Vasco De Gama

Jul 8, 1497

Vasco De Gama set sail July 8, 1497. He sailed around the Cape of Good Hope to India in the late 1490's. On his voyage to India De Gama commanded four ships. De Gama was successful. Vasco da Gama was a highly successful Portuguese sailor and explorer during the Age of Exploration. He is one of the best explorers to ever live.

Amerigo Vespucci

May 14, 1499

Amerigo Vespucci set sail May 14, 1499. He went exploring to prove Christopher Columbus and Giovanni Caboto wrong. Vespucci doubted that they landed in China and the Indias. Vespucci found an unknown continent. Which is now South America. Vespucci was successful because he proved Columbus and Caboto wrong.

Alvarez Cabral

Mar 9, 1500

Cabral set sail March 9, 1500. Cabral's patron was King Manuel the first of Portugal, who sent him ona expeddition to India.. A patron is a person who gives financial or other support to a person, organization, cause, or activity. Cabral was the first European to see Brazil. He followed the route of Vasco da Gama. He was successful beacuse made it to India and discovered Brazil.

Vasco Núñez de Balboa

Sep 29, 1513

Balboa set sail on September 29,1513. Balboa is from Jerez de los Caballeros, Spain. In 1513, Balboa sailed with Rodrigo de Bastidas from Spain to Colombia, South America. In 1513 Balboa sailed with Rodrigo de Bastidas. Vasco de Balboa crossed the Isthmus of Panama to the Pacific Ocean to become the first European to lead an expedition to reach the Pacific Ocean from the New World. He was the first person to discover the Pacific Ocean. Yes his journey was a success.

Ponce De Leon

Dec 10, 1513

Ponce De Leon set sail in 1513. He helped Cristopher Columbus on his second voyage to conquere Puerto Rico. Ponce De Leon found La Florida and conqured it.

Ferdinand Magellan

Sep 21, 1519

Ferdinand Magellan set sail September 21,1519. He set sail to discover a Western sea route to the Spice Islands. Magellan is a Portuguese explorer. Magellan did not complete the entire voyage, as he was killed during the Battle of Mactan in the Philippines. He was the first expedition to sail around the world. But his crew/voyage made the whole journey, so Magellan was successful.

Hernando Cortez

Dec 10, 1519

He wanted to bring wealth to Spain. He sailed to Mexico and tried to conquere it. He brought 650 soldiers and half of them died. He destroyed every single ship exept one. They found the Aztecs capital. They wanted everything that the Aztects had like gold and riches. Cortez had captured the Aztecs leader. They called the land that they captured Mexico City.

Panfilo de Narvaez

Dec 11, 1528

He lead an spanish expedition to La Florida. . They were trying to capture the Gulf Coast. On their way they met Native Americans in Alabama and the Native Americans took all their food and supplies. About 300 soldiers were alive berfore the battle. Only four explroers survived.

Hernando De Soto

Dec 11, 1539

They landed in Tampa Bay. His main perpose was to capture the South East region. They had 600 soldiers and 40 horses. They were the first expedition to see Mississppi River. They also were tring to get riches and wealth. They captured the whole South East Region, so Spain had the whole South East region.