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People in Europe read od Marco Polo's travels to China.
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Henry the Navigator uged sea captains to explore southward along the coast of Africa.
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Columbus led his first expedition westward. He landed in the Bahamas, islands that he belived to be near Asia.
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Vasco de Gama found such a route and sailed all the way to India.
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Christopher Columbus thought Asia could nbe reached by sailing west from Europe. COlumbus persuaded the king and queen of Spain.
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He explored and settled the island of Puerto Rico. Taking noticd back in Spain. The King authorized Ponce de Leon to explore lands north of Cuba.
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Juan set out with ships and crew. His expedition landed on the east coast of Florida,
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In 1524 the king sent Giovanni da Verrazano westward. He first reached land at North Carolinas Outer Banks.
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Hernando de Soto sailed with a military expedition from Havana, Cuba, to the west coast of Florida. They spent the winter of 1539-1540. In the Spring he crossed Geogia and South Carolina and passed through the west of NC.
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Florida fairly secure and greater wealth to the south, Spaniards focused their attention southward after 1560.
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Spain sent troops under Pedro Menedez de Aviles to Florida. Menedez bulit a fort at St Agustine.
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In 1565 Juan Parado & hernando Boyano led a small group of men to the South Carolina coast. From there they pushed north and west on nearly the same route that De Soto had taen 25 years ealier.