Explorers from 1492-1576

Christopher Columbus

Oct 12, 1492

The Italian Explorer Christopher Columbus left spain in search of the new world, and he became the first person to set foot in what is now the United States. He went to the New world to prove that the world wasn't flat and to find a trade route and peple to trade with. But he quickly realized that there were no people or tribes there to trade with, so he went back to Asia to start a trade route there instead.

Explorers from 1492-1576

Period: Oct 12, 1492 to Jun 7, 1576

John Cabot

May 10, 1497

John Cabot set out for a voyage to North America. On June 24, 1497, 50 days into the voyage he landed on the east coast of North America. While in North America, Cabot went ashore and claimed the land for the king of England.

Amerigo Vespucci

May 14, 1501

Amerigo Vespucci set out for his third and final voyage this time to Cape Verde. This time he went in service of king Manuel I of Portugal. At first he was not in charge of the exploration, but quickly took the role after he was asked by a Portugal officer. Along the way, they discovered present-day Rio de Janeiro and Rio de la Plata. Vespucci thought that he had found that new world but then realized that he only found South America. It is said that this voyage was his most sucessful.

Vasco da Gama

Jan 1, 1502

The Portuguese Explorer Vasco da Gama went on another journey to India. He was the very first person to sail directly from Europe to India and with very little knowledge of navagation.

Juan Ponce de Leon

Mar 1, 1513

While on a quest for gold, Juan Ponce de León founded the oldest settlement in Puerto Rico and landed on the mainland of North America. He later named that region Florida, meaning; flowery

Juan Ponce de Leon

Sep 8, 1513

Spanish Explorer, Juan Ponce de Leon led a European expedition for gold in 1513, which was on the south east coast.

Hernan Cortes

Jan 1, 1518

Spanish Explorer, Hernan Cortes was a spanish explorer was going to command his own expedition to Mexico. But Diego Velázquez (the leading spanish artist in the court of King Philip IV) called off his expedition. Hernan went on his expedition anyways and had to defeat Montezuma.

Ferdinand Magellan

Period: Sep 20, 1519 to Sep 8, 1522

The Portuguese explorer, Ferdinand Magellan led the first 3 year expedition that sailed around the Earth in search for gold. During his expedition he named the pacific ocean-- which mean that it is a calm, peaceful ocean.

Francisco Vasquez de Coronado

Jan 1, 1540

Francisco Vasquez de Coronado set sail to the golden cities with 300 spanish soldiers and 1,000 indians. After failing to reach the golden cities, he sent his crew off to the colorado plateau where they discovered the Grand Canyon.

Martin Forbisher

Jun 7, 1576

Martin Forbisher set out on a voyage to find a north west passage. But failed and landed in what is now Labrador, Canada. He left Canada and went west instead, he was now in the bay that was named after him; Forbisher Bay.