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1000
Lef Eriksson: sponsored by the country of Scandinavia
He is the first European to land in North America. He ends up landing on what is now present day Canada. -
1448
Bartolomeu Dias: sailed for the country of Portugal
Bartolomeu dias in 1448 ,sailed from Portugal southward made it to the bottom of Africa and discovered the southern tip of Africa. He names it "The Cape of Good Hope." -
1488
Pedro Alvarez Cabral: sponsored by the country of Portugal.
He is known for landing in the country of Brazil in South America. He starts a settlement there for Portugal. -
1492
Christopher Columbus: sailed for Spain
Sailed across the Atlantic Ocean and believed he reached Asia but he actually reached America but refused to believe it -
1492
Ferdinand Magellan: sponsored Columbus voyage
He agreed to support Columbus expedition because he promised to bring Christianity to any lands he found and if he succeeded in finding a route to Asia, Spain would become wealthy from trade. -
1497
John Cabot: sponsored by England
He was sent to look for a Northern sea route to Asia. He probably landed on the present day Newfoundland. -
1497
Vasco De Gama was sponsored by the country Europe
Sailed all the way around Africa and all the way to India winning the European race for the sea route to Asia. -
1499
Amerigo Vespucci: sponsered by Spain.
Explored South America. Figured out that South America is a separate continent from Asia. -
1513
Juan Ponce de Leon: sponsored by Spain
Made first landing on the east coast of present day Florida. He was looking for the legendary fountain of youth. His exploration led to the first Spanish settlement in the United States. -
1513
Vasco Nunez de Balboa: sponsored by the country of Spain.
He is known for landing at present day Panama and is the first European to see the Pacific Ocean. -
1519
Hernan Cortez: sponsored by Spain
He landed on the east coast of present day Mexico and within 2 years conquered the Aztec Empire. Gold from the Aztec made Spain wealthy. -
1524
Giovanni de Varrazono: sponsored by France
He was sent to look for a Northern route. He explored the coast of North America from present day Nova Scotia to the Carolinas. -
1528
Alvar Nunez Cabeza de Vaca: sponsored by Spain
Was part of a Spanish expedition to Florida. After coming in conflict with Native Americans in Florida the expedition sailed south towards Mexico In November. -
1531
Francisco Pizarro: sponsored by Spain
He led an army into the Inca Capital in Cuzco, Peru. The Spanish arrested and executed the Inca Empire. Pizarro controlled most of the vast and wealthy Inca Empire. -
1535
Jacques Cartier: sponsored by France
He sailed up the St. Lawrence River hoping it would lead to the Pacific. He did not make it to the Pacific but he discovered a mountain peak that he named Mont-Royal. -
1540
Francisco Vasquez de Coronado: sponsered by Spain
He searched for the Seven Cities of Cibola. He went through northern Mexico and present day Arizona and New Mexico. His expedition reached a Zuni settlement. -
1541
Hernando de Soto: sponsored by Spain
He led an expedition to explore Florida and the present day southeastern United States. They traveled for 3 years following stories of gold. The crossed the Mississippi river. They traveled as far west as present day Oklahoma and He died of fever and his men buried him in the waters of Mississippi. -
Henry Hudson: sponsored by the Dutch
He was hired to find a passage through the Americas. He found a river that now bears his name. He sailed north on that river as far as present day Albany, New York. -
Henry Hudson: sponsored by the Dutch
The following year he tried again since he didn't find a passage to India . He found a huge bay. He spent months looking for an outlet since he thought he reached the Pacific and his crew became inpatient and sent Hudson and his son and a few sailors on a small boat never to be seen again. -
Louis Joliet and Jacques Marquette: sponsored by France
They traveled the Mississippi river on a canoe. They hoped to find metals and a Northwest passage.They realized that the river flowed south into the Gulf of Mexico instead of west into the Pacific so they headed back upriver. -
Robert Cavelier de La Salle: sponsored by France
He followed the Mississippi river to the Gulf of Mexico and claimed the region for France, calling it Louisiana in honor of Louis XIV.
