-
1000
Leif Eriksson- Viking
1st European to reach North America -
1487
Bartolomeu Dias sailed for Portual
He sailed to the bottom of Africa and discovered the Cape of Good Hope. -
1492
Christopher Columbus- sailed for Spain
1st trip, sailed to N. America across Atlantic Ocean, believed he was in Asia -
1493
Christopher Columbus- sailed for Spain
His 2nd voyage to the Americas across the Atlantic Ocean -
1497
John Cabot- Sailed for England
Looked for a northern sea route to Asia- probably landed on the coast of present-day Newfoundland -
1497
Vasco de Gama sailed for Portugal
Sailed all around Africa and all the way to India,winning the European race for a sea route to Asia. -
1498
Christopher Columbus- sailed for Spain
His 3rd voyage to the Americas across the Atlantic Ocean -
1499
Amerigo Vespucci- Sailed for Spain
Sailed along the coast of S. America. He took such good notes about the coast that mapmakers were convinced this was not Asia and named the new land "America" in his honor. -
1500
Pedro Alvares Carbral- sailed for Portugal
On his way around Africa he went to wide and ended up in Brazil, South America -
1502
Christopher Columbus- sailed for Spain
His 4th and final voyage to the Americas across the Atlantic Ocean -
1513
Vasco Nunez de Balboa- sailed for Spain
He travels through central America- 1st European to see Pacific Ocean(largest ocean on earth) -
1513
Juan Ponce de Leon- Sailed for Spain
Explored present-day Florida in 1513, looking for the "fountain of youth" -
1519
Hernando Cortes- sailed for Spain
Conquistador that explored Mexico and conquered the Aztec -
Period: 1519 to 1522
Ferdinand Magellan- Sailed for Spain
1st European to circumnavigate the globe. -
1524
Giovanni de Verrazano- Sailed for France
Looked for a northern route to Asia- explored the coast of N. America from Nova Scotia to the Carolinas -
Period: 1528 to 1536
Alvar Nunez Cabeza de Vaca- Sailed for Spain
Accompanied by Estevanico (a slave) and others, explored the N. American SW looking for 7 cities of gold. -
1532
Francisco Pizarro- Sailed for Spain
Conquistador who explored the Andes Mountains of S. America and conquered the Inca Empire -
1535
Jacques Cartier- Sailed for France
Sailed up St. Lawrence River trying to get to the Pacific.Did not make it but discovered Mont-Royal mountain peak, present day Montreal -
Period: 1539 to 1542
Hernando de Soto- Sailed for Spain
Explored Florida and North Carolina and discovered the Mississippi River. -
Period: 1540 to 1542
Francisco Vasquez de Coronado- Sailed for Spain
While looking for the cities of gold in the N. American SW , he discovered the Grand Canyon(AZ) -
1542
Juan Cabrillo- Sailed for Spain
He explorers up from Mexico and goes into modern day California -
Henry Hudson- Sailed for the Dutch
Looked for a passage through the Americas. Discovered the Hudson River. -
Henry Hudson- Sailed for England
Found the Hudson Bay, but thought it was the Pacific so he searched for an outlet until his crew rebelled. -
Louis Joliet and Jacques Marquette- Sailed for France
Traveled the Mississippi River looking for precious metals and a NW passage. Ended up giving up when they realized the river went S. -
Robert Cavelier de La Salle- Sailed for France
Sailed down the Mississippi to the Gulf Coast and claimed Louisiana for France
