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Jan 1, 1450
Prince Henry the Navigator
Prince Henry the Navigator is an explorer from Portugal. He wanted to explore the west coast of Africa. He also wanted to discover a new trade route to the Far East. This new route to the Far East would extend Portugal's power. Prince Henry set up a school for navigators. He also designed a new ship, called a caravel. Prince Henry never personally sailed himself, however he helped other people sail. Prince Henry the Navigator was from Portugal. -
Jan 1, 1487
Bartolomeu Dias
Bartholomeu Dias was from Portugal. He crossed the equator. Bartholomeu proved wrong many of the myths believed by the people of his time, such as there was boiling water past the equator. Also, that there were monsters at the equator line. Mr. Dias named the Cape of Good Hope what it is now because it was a way of sailing to the Far East around Africa. Bartholomeu Dias was an explorer from Portugal. -
Aug 1, 1492
Christopher Columbus
Christopher Columbus was an explorer from Spain. He, unlike many other people of his time, believed that the world was round and not flat. Christopher was granted permission to set sail from the Spanish Royalty. He set sail with 3 ships and about 90 sailors. Mr. Columbus and his crew discovered many Central American islands. Christopher Columbus was an explorer from Spain. -
Jan 1, 1493
Treaty of Tordesillas
The Treaty of Tordesillas was an act between Spain and Portugal. Spain was worried that Portugal was taking their riches and gold. So they inroduced the Papal Line of Demarcation. This divided the land between Spain and Portugal since they were both connected. Even though Spain and Portugal did this, no other countries at this time did. The Treaty of Tordesillas was an act between Spain and Portugal. -
Jan 1, 1497
Vasco da Gama
Vasco da Gama was an explorer from Portugal. He led a convoy-a group of 4 ships- to help spread Christianity. On Mr. da Gama's quest, he stopped at a Muslim Trading Center. The Muslims at this location didn't take it very well because Vasco was Christian, so they forced Vasco da Gama and his crew to leave. Many men died on his voyage due to lack of good food and illness. Vasco da Gama was an explorer from Portugal. -
Jan 1, 1497
Amerigo Vespucci
Amerigo Vespucci was an explorer for both Spain and Portugal. He explored the Atlantic Coast of South America on one of his journeys. Mr. Vespucci was one of the first people to believe that he had reached and uncovered a new world. Amerigo Vespucci was an explorer for both countries of Spain and Portugal. -
Jan 1, 1497
John Cabot
John Cabot was an explorer from England. He went to the Far East by a northwest route. Mr. Cabot also explored the coasts of Newfoundland and Nova Scotia. John established claims for his country of England in the "new world" of America. John Cabot was an explorer from England. -
Jan 1, 1500
Pedro Cabral
Pedro Cabral was a military general and an explorer from Portugal. He was adventurous and was the man, who with a fleet of 13 ships, sailed the Western Atlantic Ocean and found South America. Pedro also declared a section of the land for Portugal which is now Brazil. Pedro Cabral was a military general and explorer from Portugal. -
Jan 1, 1513
Vasco Nunez de Balboa
Vasco Nunez de Balboa was an explorer from Spain. Vasco was the first explorer to see the Eastern shore of the Pacific Ocean. Although Balboa was the first to see the eastern shore of the Pacific Ocean, he did not name it. The name was given to the ocean by Ferdinand Magellan. Vasco Nunez de Balboa was an explorer from Spain. -
Jan 1, 1513
Ponce de Leon
Ponce De Leon was a Spanish explorer. Ponce was the 1st governor of Puerto Rico. He sailed north from Puerto Rico and discovered Florida. He is associated with the fountain of youth which was reputed to be in Florida. Ponce De Leon was a Spanish explorer. -
Jan 1, 1519
Hernan Cortez
Hernan Cortez was an explorer from Spain. Hernan invaded the country of Mexico. He used guns and also the disease of smallpox to help aid him and his army in their defeat of Mexico. After he defeated this Native American empire, he took large amounts of gold back to Spain. Hernan Cortez was an explorer from Spain. -
Jan 1, 1519
Ferdinand Magellan
Ferdinand Magellan was an explorer from Portugal. He sailed through the Great South Sea and named it the Pacific ocean. After that, Ferdinand traveled around the world, which proved many myths wrong. Mr. Magellan also went to the Phillipines and died in a local war. Ferdinand Magellan was an explorer from Portugal. -
Jan 1, 1523
Giovanni Verrazano
Giovanni Verrazano was an Italian explorer. He was hired by the French to be a navigator. His goal was to find the North west passage. He sailed along the Atlantic coast from North Carolina to New York. Giovanni Verrazano was an Italian explorer. -
Jan 1, 1528
Alvar Nunez Cabeza de Vaca
Alvar Nunez Cabeza de Vaca was an explorer from Spain. He discovered and explored present-day Florida. He also discovered the gulf region that extended from Texas to Mexico. One of the values in Mr. de Vaca's personality that helped him explor this area is that he was nice to the Native Americans already in the area. Alvar Nunez Cabeza de Vaca was an explorer from Spain. -
Jan 1, 1532
Francisco Pizarro
Francisco Pizzaro was a Spanish conquistador. He invaded Peru and took silver and gold from the natives. One of Francisco's greatest conquests was the Inca Empire which took him 5 years. After that,he headed to the coast and built Lima or city of kings. Francisco Pizarro was a Spanish conquistador. -
Jan 1, 1534
Jacques Cartier
Jacques Cartier was an explorer from France. He sailed to the Saint Lawrence River which is near present-day Montreal. Jacques actually named Canada what it is today (Canada). Mr. Cartier established claims for French in Canada. Jacques Cartier was an explorer from France. -
Jan 1, 1542
Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo
Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo was an explorer from Spain. He explored the Pacific coast all the way up to Drake's bay near present -day San Francisco, California. Juan navigated all of the coast of California. Mr. Cabrillo also helped to find many cities throughout Mexico. Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo was an explorer from Spain. -
Jan 1, 1577
Sir Francis Drake
Sir Francis Drake was an English explorer. He was the first Englishmen to sail around the world which was a great achievement. He was second in line for the English fleet against the Spanish and was known as a hero to the English, but a pirate to the Spaniards. He was so hated by the Spaniards that they put a large bounty on his head. Sir Francis Drake was an English explorer. -
John Davis
John Davis was an explorer from England. John explored the west coast of Greenland. However, he did not do this on purpose, he originally was in search of the northwest passage to Asia. Mr. Davis explored much of the polar regions in addition to the northwest passage. John Davis was an explorer from England. -
Henry Hudson
Henry Hudson was an English navigator and explorer. He was the one who found, named, and explored the what is now Hudson River. He sailed to what is today Albany, NY. In 1610 he set out on another voyage and was never seen again. Henry Hudson was an English navigator and explorer.
