Early Explorers

  • Leif Erikson
    1000

    Leif Erikson

    A viking who made it to Greenland, Iceland and modern day Canada.
  • Prince Henry "The Navigator"
    1394

    Prince Henry "The Navigator"

    Established a school for sailors and provided financial support that enabled the Portuguese to start exploring the oceans.
  • Bartolomeu Dias
    Aug 1, 1487

    Bartolomeu Dias

    He sailed for Portugal. He left to find a new trade route with India
  • Christopher Columbus
    Aug 3, 1492

    Christopher Columbus

    Sailed over to central America. He sailed for Spain.
  • John Cabot
    May 20, 1497

    John Cabot

    Italian sailor who sailed for England. He sailed along the coast of Canada
  • Vasco Da Gama
    Jul 8, 1497

    Vasco Da Gama

    He traveled around Africa and India. He sailed for Portugal
  • Amerigo Vespucci
    May 10, 1501

    Amerigo Vespucci

    First person to discover Central America. America is named after him. He sailed for Italy.
  • Juan Ponce de Leon
    Mar 1, 1513

    Juan Ponce de Leon

    Former Governor of Porto Rico. He sailed for Spain
  • Vasco Nunez de Balboa
    Sep 1, 1513

    Vasco Nunez de Balboa

    Crossed Central America to discover the Pacific Ocean. He sailed for Spain.
  • Hernan Cortes
    1518

    Hernan Cortes

    He set sail for Mexico for riches. He sailed for Spain
  • Ferdinand Magellen
    Sep 20, 1519

    Ferdinand Magellen

    His crew was the first to circumnavigate the world. He was killed in the Philippines. He sailed for Spain.
  • Alavr Nunez Cabeza de Vaca
    Jun 17, 1527

    Alavr Nunez Cabeza de Vaca

    He sailed for the new world. He sailed for the country of Spain
  • Francisco Pizarro
    Jul 1, 1529

    Francisco Pizarro

    He defeated the Inca. He sailed for Spain
  • Jacques Cartier
    Apr 1, 1534

    Jacques Cartier

    French sailor. Sailed as far Montreal
  • Hernando de Soto
    Apr 1, 1538

    Hernando de Soto

    Played an important role with Pizarro in defeating the Inca. He sailed for Spain
  • Juan Rodríguez Carbrillo
    Jun 15, 1542

    Juan Rodríguez Carbrillo

    Maritime explorer best known for investigations of the West Coast of North America, undertaken on behalf of the Spanish Empire.
  • Francisco Vazquez de Coronado
    Sep 22, 1554

    Francisco Vazquez de Coronado

    He landed in mexico. He sailed for Spain
  • Samuel de Champlain

    Samuel de Champlain

    He sailed to North America. He sailed under France
  • Henry Hudson

    Henry Hudson

    Led a Dutch expedition to present-day New York in 1609
  • Henry Hudson

    Henry Hudson

    Henry Hudson's second voyage
  • Rene-Robert De La Salle

    Rene-Robert De La Salle

    Sailed up the Mississippi. He sailed for France