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Jan 1, 1450
Prince Henry the Navigator
Orginally from, Portagal.Explored the West coast of Africa.He then set of the first European schools. He also gathered together Portuguese, Spanish, Jewish, Arab, and Itialian Mathamatics, Chart makers, Sea Captains, and Astronomers. -
Jan 18, 1458
Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo
Juan was born and raised in Spain. He was a Spanish Conquistador and Explorer. The Cabrillo ship sailed from Navidad with three ships. He was hoping to find a new route connecting the North Pacfic. -
Jan 1, 1473
Bartolomeu Dias
On his trip, the Equator was finally crossed. Dias readied ships for a long, hard voyage. During this voyage, he touched several points of Africa's west coast and east coast. Dias then named the southern tip of Africa, Cape of Storms. But then, The king of Portugal, renamed it the Cape of Good Hope. -
Jan 1, 1476
John Cabot
Orginally from Italy. His family had a spice trade business, he helped. He sailed to the coast of Greenland, then proceeded North. He then found Newfoundland and followed the coast of Nova Scotia. -
Aug 1, 1492
Christopher Columbus
Colmbus believed the world was round, not flat. For years, he tried convincing rulers from differnent nations. Finally, in 1492, Columbus set sail from Spain. He spent several months sailing around the Bahamas, Cuba, and Hispaniola. In Cuba, they found Native Americas smoking ciagrs, which is how we came in contact with tobacco. In January 1493, Columbus headed back to Spain. He was received in great honors. A little while later, he led a fleet of 17 ships on another search for Asia. -
Jan 1, 1493
Ponce de Leon
Leon sailed on Christopher Columbus' 2nd voyage. But he didnt go back with Columbus, he stayed in San Domingo where he was annointed governor. He then conquered Spain. He was eventually kicked out of being governor. He decided to go on a voyage where he sailed to Florida. Leon was the first was to step foot in Florida and to discover the Gulf Stream. -
Jun 7, 1494
Treaty of Toredsillas
Pope Alexander VI, gave Spain a good-start in the quest for domination over newly discovered regions. In 1494, Spain & Portugal met at Tordesillas, Spain and signed a treaty to move line. -
Jan 1, 1497
Amerigo Vespucci
Orginally fomr Spain/Portugal. He exploered the coast of South America, 1497-1504. He believed he reached the "New World" first.Christopher Columbus was followed by Vespucci who was searching for a passage to the Indies. -
Jun 1, 1497
Vasco Da Gama
Led a convoy down the Tagus River from Libson, Portugal. Gama's convoy rounded the Cape Of Good Hope. Their next stop was to Malindi. Then on May 20, 1498, the ships landed at Calicut. -
Apr 22, 1500
Pedro Cabral
Cabral was sent on an expediction to India. He founded "island of the True Cross" which was later renamed Brazil. Cabral stayed in Brazil for a few days then continued on his expediction. He successfully traded goods and in return he got spices. -
Sep 13, 1513
Vasco Nunez de Balboa
Balboa set sail with Rodrigo de Bastidas from Spain to Columbia. They were forced to abonded their ship and become farmers for life. But Balboa escaped and went to San Sebastian. He found a colony in South America and got married to the daughter of a local chief, Careta. Balboa sent sail once again and on the way, he destroyed Indian villages and killed many Indians. On his voyage he also founded the Pacific Ocean. -
Jan 1, 1519
Ferdinand Magellan
Magellan set sail from Spain. He sailed through a stormy straight at the tip of South America. Magellan then sailed on the Great South Sea and renamed it the Pacific. Ferdinand became involved and died in a local war. After a while, the voyage was accomplished. They proved that the world is round, not flat. It also proved that Colmbus didn't land in Asia but in the Americas. -
Apr 21, 1519
Hernan Cortez
Cortez was chosen to start a colony in Mexico. He was told to go on this voyage but Velasquez cancelled it. Cortez went on the voyage with or without Velasquez's permission. He rounded the pennisula of Yucatan and toughed Mexico. He reached Tenochtitian and was honored by Montzuma. Soon after he established headquaters, he learned the Aztecs had plundered Vera Cruz. After a few years, Cortez established peace with the Indiand of Mexico and developed mines and farmland. -
Jan 1, 1524
Giovanni Verrazano
Born near Flourance, Italy. He got commisson to travel to look for the "New World". He explored the coast of North America - Cape Fear, New York Bay, the North Carolina coast, Maine and Nova Scotia. He made two trips to the "New World", including Brazil. -
Jan 1, 1527
Alvar Nunez Cabeza De Vaca
He was born in Spain. He was appointed Treasurer, and sailed to America. He arrived in Florida in the vicinity of Tampa Bay. The land is claimed for Spain. He accounces his idea to split between land and sea expeditions. When he was traveling he was captured by natives and was never saw again. -
Jan 1, 1532
Francisco Pizzaro
Pizzaro went on a voyage through most of the Pacific. After traveling through deserts and snow-caped mountains, he landed in Cajamarca, where where they captured Atahuallpa, the 13th and last emperor of the Incas. Pizzaro "discovered" the Incan empire and conquered it brutally and quickly, stealing immense hoards of gold, silver, and other treasures. -
May 26, 1535
Jacques Cartier
Orginally from, France. Led three expeditions to Canada. The first voyage lasted 137 days and nights. The second journey, he had 3 ships and 110 men. The third voyage to Canada, Sieur de Roberval was following Cartier's lead. -
May 19, 1550
John Davis
He was orginally from England. Achievement: Discovered the Falkland Islands! He also thought of a design of a north-west passage to Walsingham. Later he commanded the Black Dog against the Spanish Armada. Sadly, his death wasnt the best. He was murdered, but no one will forget him! -
Jan 1, 1577
Sir Francis Drake
He is from England. He was the first Englishman to sail around the whole world.He also sailed to the Caribbean with his cousin John Hawkins. Lastly, he was appointed Vice Admiral of the Navy. -
Henry Hudson
Orginally from Canada, his quest was to find a short way to Europe. In August , Henry found a body of water which he thought was the Pacific Ocean. It was actually a large bay, which later on was named, the Hudson Bay.
