Explorers By estone8 Jan 1, 1492 Christopher Columbus- Spain- Bahamas Sailed under Spain on a voyage to the Bahamas Jan 1, 1497 Amerigo Vespucci- Gulf of Mexico- Spain Jan 1, 1497 Vasco de Gama- India- Portugal Jan 1, 1497 John Cabot- North America- England Jan 1, 1513 Juan Ponce de Leon- Florida Keys- Spain Jan 1, 1513 Vasco Balboa- Panama- Spain Jan 1, 1519 Magellan- East Indies- Spain Jan 1, 1520 Lucas Vasquez de Ayllon- Atlantic Coastline- Spain Jan 1, 1524 Giovanni de Verranzo- Outer Banks- France Jan 1, 1538 Hernando de Soto- United States- Spain Sep 4, 1565 Pedro Menendez de Aviles- Florida- Spain Jan 1, 1566 Hernando Boyano- Carolinas- Spain Jan 1, 1577 Sir Francis Drake- World- England