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1000
Leif Erikson
- Born in Iceland
- King Olaf Tryggvason funded Expeditions
- He explored due to following in his fathers footsteps and because he was spreading christianity
- He explored Vinland, which was in Germany
- He was deemed the first discoverer of North America
- Leif Erikson day is celebrated on October 9th
- Born in Iceland
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Period: 1000 to
Timespan
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1405
Zheng He
- Born in China
- China financed his expeditions
- Motivation was internal politics (Trying to overthrow the throne), Promoting the glory of the Ming Dynasty
- He sailed through Southeast Asia, (Champa, Siam, Malacca, and the Island of Java), India (Calicut, Malabar Coast of India, and Cylon), Arabian Sea, and the Red Sea
- Accomplishments - promoted the glory of the Ming Dynasty
- He traveled with over 300 fleets, larger than the Santa Maria
- Born in China
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1492
Christopher Columbus
- Born in Italy
- Financed by Queen Isabella
- Wanted to find a route to India, China, Japan, and the Spice Islands
- The Caribbean
- He found the Bahamas and part of America
- He started the Columbian Exchange
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1497
De Gama
- Born in Portugal
- Financed by King Manuel I
- To find routes for trade through India
- India
- Found a route to the East
- Crater on the moon named Vasco Da Gama
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1497
John Cabot
- Born in Italy
- Financed by King Henry 7th
- He wanted to find a route to the Indies
- He explored North America, but was believed to have landed in Newfoundland
- Discovered Newfoundland
- He was a citizen of Venice
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1497
Amerigo Vespucci
- Born in Italy
- Financed by Spain
- Motivation was to better map the Americas and to create the first detailed map of the western hemisphere
- Explored the amazon river, Trinidad, Americas, and the Orinoco river
- Created a more detailed map of the western hemisphere, Discovered the Amazon river to its entirety, and found many new places, as well as America being named after him
- Interesting fact: Mapped the constellation Crux as well as Alpha and beta Centauri
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1511
Hernan Cortez
- Born in Spain
- Financed by Spain
- Gold
- Cuba and Mexico
- Claimed Mexico for Spain
- He had a child with his interpreter
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1513
Francisco Pizzaro
- Born in Spain
- Financed by Diego de Almagro
- Wealth and power
- Peru
- Discovered the Incan Empire
- Conquered Incas with army less than 200
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1513
Juan Ponce de Leon
- Born in Spain
- Financed by King Ferdinand
- For gold and Fountain of Youth
- Puerto Rico
- Gave Florida its name
- First European to set foot in Florida
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1513
Vasco Nunez de Balboa
- Born in Spain
- Financed by spain
- Wealth and gold
- Panama
- Sighted the Pacific ocean and discovered Central America
- Settled on the Island of Hispaniola
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1519
Ferdinand Magellan
- Born in Portugal
- Financed by Spain
- Wanted to find a route to the East Indies
- The Americas
- Completed first circumnavigation of the earth
- His knee was wounded in battle and caused him to walk with a limp
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1520
Panfilo de Narvaez
- Born in Spain
- Financed by spain
- To colonize in florida
- Between Florida and Mexico
- Helped Conquer Cuba
- He spent 2 years as a prisoner
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1524
Giovanni De Verrazzano
- Born in Italy
- Financed by King Frances I of France
- For wealth and power
- East coast of Present day USA
- First person to explore the entire Atlantic coast
- Verrazzano-narrows bridge in New York was named after him
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1527
De Vaca
- Born in Spain
- Financed by Spain
- He wanted treasures
- Area of Modern-Day Texas
- Discovered Texas and found a route to Mexico
- Surname is “Cowhead”
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1534
Jaquez Cartier
- Born in France
- Financed by France
- Land for France
- Canada
- Describes the St.Lawrence Shores and rivers for people to make a map of
- Claimed Canada for France
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1539
Hernando De Soto
- Born in Spain
- Financed by Spain
- Wanted Fame
- Nicaragua, Yucatan Peninsula
- Aided in the Conquest of the Inca
- His parents wanted him to be a lawyer
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1554
Francisco Vasquez De Coronado
- Born in Spain
- Financed by Spain
- Find the City of Gold
- Northern Mexico, Cibola
- Discovered the Grand Canyon and many more important landmark
- He had 8 kids
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1562
Jean Ribault
- Born in France
- Financed by France
- He was chosen to explore
- Florida
- Claims Florida for France
- Carried 3 ships with 150 French Protestants
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Henry Hudson
- Born in England
- Financed by the Dutch
- Search for land for the King
- Northern part of North America
- Found the Hudson bay, Hudson river, and Hudson straight
- Hudson River named after him
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Jaquez Marquette
- Born in France
- Financed by France
- Spread Christianity
- Michigan
- Established the first European settlement in Michigan
- He was a french Missionary
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Robert Cavalier de la salle
- Born in France
- Financed by France
- Find land for the King
- Great lakes area, Mississippi River, and Gulf of Mexico
- Claimed the Mississippi River and its tributaries for France
- Used to be a fur trader before exploring