-
1000
Leif Eriksson: sponsored by the country of scandinavia
was the first European to land on the coast of North America. specifically in what is now present day Canada. -
1488
Bartolomeu Dias: sailed for the country of portugal
sailed southern down the coast of Africa making it to the southern tip of Africa. he called this southern tip the " Cape Of Good Hope " -
1488
Vasco De Gama: sponsored by the country of Portugal
sailed all around Africa and all the way to India -
1488
Pedro Alvarez Cabral: sponsored by the country of Portugal
He is known for finding the country of Brazil in South America. He starts a settlement there in the name of Portugal. -
1492
Christopher Columbus: sponsored by the country of Spain
Tried to reach Asia by sailed west across the Atlantic landed in the Americas but believed he had reached Asia. -
1497
John Cabot: sponsored by the country of England
England sent him to look for a northern sea route to Asia. he probably landed on the coast of present-day Newfoundland -
1499
Amerigo Vespucci: sponsored by the country of Spain
he explored the coast of South America, he realized South America was a separate continent and not apart of Asia. -
1513
Vasco Nunez De Bolboa: sponsored by the country of Spain
He is known for sailing to the country of Panama and discovering the Pacific Ocean. -
1513
Juan Ponce De Leon: sponsored by the country of
He was the first Spanish landing on the eat coast of present-day Florida in 1513. -
1519
Hernan Cortes: sponsored by the country of Spain
He landed on the east coast of present-day Mexico, with in 2 years he conquered the Aztec Empire and had ruled the region. -
1520
Ferdinand Magellan: sponsored by the country of Spain
he reached the southern tip of South America -
1524
Giovanni De Varrazano: sponsored by the country of France
he explored the coast of North America from present-day Nova Scotia down to the Carolinas. -
1528
Alvar Nunez Cabeze De Vaca: sponsored by the country of Spain
He came in conflict with the Native Americans in Florida and then him and the Spanish expedition sailed towards Mexico. -
1531
Francisco Pizarro: sponsored by the country of Spain
Francisco led an army into the Inca Capital in Cuzco Pizarro then soon controlled most of the vast and wealthy Inca empire after the Spanish arrested and later executed the Inca ruler. -
1535
Jacques Cartier: sponsored by the country of France
he sailed up St.Lawence River, hoping it would lead to the Pacific. he did not make it there but instead he discovered a mountain peak that he named mont-royal. -
1540
Francisco Vazquez De Coronado: sponsored by the country of Spain
his travels took him through northern Mexico and present-day Arizona and New Mexico. until his expedition reached a zuni and was convinced there was no gold. -
1541
Hernado De Soto: sponsored by the country of Spain
He crossed the Mississippi River in 1541 -
1542
Juan Cabrillo: sponsored by the country of Spain
first sighted of what is now California in 1542 -
Henry Hudson: sponsored by the country of London
he discovered the river that now holds his name. he sailed north on the Hudson river as far as present say Albany, New York. he had not found out the passage to India, he then turned back. -
Louis Joliet and Jacques Marquette: sponsored by the country of France
she traveled the Mississippi river by canoe with another explorer hoping to find precious metals and also the were looking for a Northwest passage. they realized the Mississippi river flowed south into the Gulf Of Mexico rather than west into the Pacific they then headed back up river. -
Robert Cavelier de La Salle: sponsored by the country of France
he followed the Mississippi all the way to the Gulf of Mexico he claimed the region for France. calling it Louisiana in honor of louis XIV.
