-
Prince Henry Created navigation school in Sagres, Portugal;
Explored the western African coastline. Mapmakers, instrument makers, shipbuilders, scientists, and sea captains gathered there for trade -
Bartholomeu Dias was the to round the Cape of Good Hope.
-
Christopher Columbus and is searching for a quicker route to Asia, Columbus instead discovered Hispaniola. Columbus started the expedition into the New World. He had made 4 voyages to West Indies and Caribbean Islands
-
Amerigo Vespucci Sailed to West Indies and South America
-
Vasco de Gama was the First European to sail to India and around the tip of Africa
-
John Cabot Explored the shores of Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, and Labrador.
-
Vasco de Balboa, a Spanish conquistador Led expedition across Panama and found the Pacific Ocean.
-
Hernan Cortes Conquered the rich Aztec Empire in Mexico.
-
Francisco Pizarro, another Spanish conquistador who traveled through much of the Pacific coast of America along Peru. Conquered Incan Empire (in peru), and stole massive amounts of gold, silver, and other treasures.
-
Giovanni Verrazano, an Italian navigator who explored the northeast coast of North America from Cape Fear, North Carolina to Maine while searching for a Northwest passage to Asia. He had also looked for a Northwest passage.
-
Hernando de Soto, A Spanish explorer who sailed the Atlantic Ocean and was the first European to explore Florida and the southeastern U.S. He had also discovered the Mississippi River
-
Fransisco Coronado was the first European to explore North America's Southwest.
-
Samuel de Champlain mapped much of northeastern North America and started a settlement in Quebec. Discovered Lake Champlain in 1609. Important in establishing and administering the French colonies in the New World.
-
Henry Hudson was originally hired by the Dutch East India Company to find a trade route through the Americas to India. He failed at this but instead discovered the Hudson River, Hudson Bay, and Hudson Strait.
-
Robert de La Salle was sent by Kind Louis XIV to travel to the mouth of the Mississippi River and claimed it for France. At the time he had also explored Lake Michigan, Lake Huron, Lake Erie, and Lake Ontario.