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Jan 1, 1394
Prince Henry the Navigator
He was a Portugeuse prince, soilder, and patron of explorers. He sent people on explorations, but didn't go himself. The Portugeuse made it to the Madreia Islands, passed Cape Bojador, to Cape Blanc, Cap Vert, Gambia River, and Cape Palmes. The exploration was to spread Chrisianity. More info -
Jan 1, 1451
Christopher Columbus
Columbus was an Italian explorer who sailed for Spanish Royals. While meaning to go to India, himself and his crew found the new land of the Americas. They landed first in what is known as the West Indies on October 11th 1492, with the ships the Nina, the Pinta, and the Santa Maria. Traveling again and again, Columbus and his crew brought more people to settle the new land. More info -
Jan 1, 1454
Amerigo Vespucci
He was an Italian explorer who first discovered that the Americas were not part of Asia. He sailed from Spain in 1499 to map the Amazon river. He used mapping techniques to figure out it was a different part of land. The Americas were named after him in 1507. More info -
Jan 1, 1457
Bartolomeu Dias
He was a Porteguese navigator who was the first to travel around the coast of Africa. He left Portugal in 1487 to travel around Africa's Cape of Good Hope to find trading routes from Europe to Asia. He was also one of the first Europeans to see Brazil.
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Jan 1, 1460
Vasco da Gama
Vasco da Gama was a Portuguese explore, like his father. He was the first to go to India through the Indian Ocean. People thought the Ocean was not connected to other oceans. He was sent to make trading route, but the Muslims made it difficult. On his second trip, he commanded order with 20 armed ships. He eventually died in India in 1524 from an illness. More info -
Jan 1, 1460
Juan Ponce de Leon
He was a Spanish explorer who was the first European to step in Florida. His life's journey was to find the fountain of youth and other riches. On March 3rd 1513, himself and 200 other men and three ships went on a search for the fountain of youth. Eventually landing in Florida in April of 1513. He called it "Pascau de Florida" (feast of flowers) because it was founded on Palm Sunday. <a href='http://www.enchantedlearning.com/explorers/page/d/deleon.shtml' >More info</a
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Jan 1, 1475
Vasco Nunez de Balboa
He was the first European to travel to the eastern part of the Pacific ocean. He and his crew crossed the Isthmus of Panama. He first saw it on Darien, Panama in September of 1513. He traveled across to claim land for Spain. He was later framed for treason and beheaded in January of 1519. [More info](<a href='http://www.enchantedlearning.com/explorers/page/b/balboa.shtml') -
Jan 1, 1478
Francisco Pizarro
Traveling along the pacific coast of the Americas, he discovered the Incan empire. He took over the empire for their riches. On August 29th, 1533. Pizarro ended the Incan empire by murdering the last leader. Pizarro was killed in 1541 by some follower's of Corte's captian for his riches.
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Jan 1, 1480
Ferdinand Magellan
He was a Porteguese explorer who led the first expidition 2 travel the world On September 8th, 1519 to September 6th, 1522, Magellen and his crew went around the world. Five ships, the Trinidad, San Antonio, Concepcion, Victoria, and the Santiago left with 270 credw members. When they returned, only the Victoria with 18 crew arrived. Magellan had been killed at the end of the journey in the Phillipines. More info... -
Jan 1, 1485
Hernan Cortes
He was a Spanish conquistador who overthrew the Aztec empire for riches. In doing that, he claimed Mexico for Spain. He took himself and a crew with 11 ships to the Yucatan Penninsula in search of risches. He found the Aztec empire and their riches. So, he decided to overthrow them and take their riches in 1521. More info
