Explorers By colsto Jan 1, 1492 Christopher Columbus- Bahamas, America- Spain Jan 1, 1497 Vasco de Gama- India- Portugal Jan 1, 1497 John Cabot- Newfoundland- England Jan 1, 1497 Amerigo Vespucci- N/A- Spain Jan 1, 1504 Hernan Cortes- South America- Spain Jan 1, 1508 Juan Ponce de Leon- Puerto Rico, Florida- Spain Jan 1, 1513 Vasco Balboa- Pacific Ocean- Spain Jan 1, 1519 Magellan- Circumnavigated the Earth- Portugal Jan 1, 1520 Lucas Vazquez de Ayllon- Atlantic Coast- Spain Jan 1, 1524 Giovanni de Verrazano- Outer Banks- France Jan 1, 1539 Hernando de Soto- Havana, Cuba, Florida- Spain Jan 1, 1565 Pedro Menendez de Aviles- Florida- Spain Jan 1, 1566 Hernando Boyano- North Carolina South Carolina- Spain Jan 1, 1577 Sir Francis Drake- Circumnavigated the Earth- England