Explorers and Conquistadors

  • Henry the Navigator
    Jan 1, 1400

    Henry the Navigator

    Sailed for Portugal. He sent expeditions west to islands in the Alantic and South to explore the western coast of Africa. His ultimate goal was to find a water route around Africa to India. He died before that goal could be accomplished. He was the prince of Portugal.
  • Bartholomeu Dias
    Mar 27, 1488

    Bartholomeu Dias

    Sailed for Portugal. The first Eruopean to attempt to sail around the southern tip of Africa. He would have sailed futher but violent storms forced him to turn back. 1487-1488
  • Christopher Columbus
    Mar 27, 1492

    Christopher Columbus

    Sailed for the Spanish. Spanish rulers, King Ferinand and Queen Isabella, agreed to pay his voyage. He believed that he could sail west around the world from Spain to reach China When he reached "The Americas" he thought it was the Asian Islands. He returned to Spain in March 1493.
  • Mar 27, 1497

    Vasco da Gama

    Sailed for Portugal.He left Portugal and set out for India. The journey took 10 months but Gama and his crew eventually reached the city of Calicut in India. 1497-1499
  • John Cabot
    Mar 28, 1497

    John Cabot

    Sailed for England. Sailed to the Alantic coast that is now Canada. He thought he had found Asia and returned to Egland.
  • Pedro Cabral
    Mar 27, 1500

    Pedro Cabral

    He sailed for Portugal. He sailed far to the west to avoid the windless Gulf of Guinea. His men sighted and claimed the land that became known as Brazil. 1500-1501
  • Amerigo Vespucci
    Mar 27, 1502

    Amerigo Vespucci

    Sailed for Portugal. Sailed along the coast of South Americaa and concluded that is was not Asia but new land. 1501-1502
  • Vasco Nunez de Balboa
    Mar 27, 1513

    Vasco Nunez de Balboa

    Sailed for the Spanish. Led an expedition across the Isthmus of Panama. After more than 3 weeks of difficult travel, Balboa became the first European to see the Pacific Ocean.
  • Hernan Cortes
    Mar 28, 1518

    Hernan Cortes

    Sailed for Spanish. Led an expedition ro Mexico that ended with the conquest of the Aztec Empire. 1518-1519
  • Ferdinand Magellan
    Mar 28, 1519

    Ferdinand Magellan

    Sailed for Spain. After months as sea he reached the Philippines, where he was killed in a fight against native people. 1519-1521
  • Giovanni da Verazzano
    Mar 28, 1524

    Giovanni da Verazzano

    Sailed for Italy. Originally discovered the Hudson River.
  • Francisco Pizarro
    Mar 28, 1530

    Francisco Pizarro

    He sailed for the Eglish. Led an expedition to Peru. He had hearad of the fabulous wealth of Peru's Inca Empire and hoped to win some of that wealth for himself. 1530-1533
  • Jacques Cartier
    Mar 28, 1534

    Jacques Cartier

    Sailed for the French. He sailed past the island of Newfoundland into the St. Lawarnce River. He claimed all the land along the river as the province of New France, that came to be Canada. 1534-1536
  • Sir Francis Drake
    Mar 28, 1577

    Sir Francis Drake

    Sailed for the english. Sailed a round trip of South America and explored it's west coast. After he stopped at what is now California, he sailed north to see a route around North America back to the Alantic. 1577-1580
  • Henry Hudson

    Henry Hudson

    Sailed for England. Set out to the north hoping to find the Northeast Passagearound Europe. Finding nothing but ice he returned to England. He also dicovered the Hudson River.
  • Samuel de Chaplain

    Samuel de Chaplain

    sailed for French. He founded the city of Quebec. He also explored the Mississippi river. 1603-1609
  • Rene Robert Lasulle

    Rene Robert Lasulle

    Sailed for the French. Canoed down the entire Mississippi Rover to the Gulf of Mexico. He claimed the enormous Mississippi region ans it's tributaries for France. He named the area Louisiana. 1678-1682