-
1000
Lief Eriksson - Viking
1st European to reach N. America -
1488
Bartolomeu Dias sailed for Portugal
Sailed from Portugal southward made it to bottom of Africa.m Discovering the southern tip of Africa, the Cape of Good Hope. -
1492
Christopher Columbus - sailed for Spain
1st trip sailed to North America, across Atlantic Ocean believed he had reached Asia. -
1493
Christopher Columbus - sailed for Spain
His 2nd voyage to the Americas across the Atlantic Ocean -
1497
Vasco da Gama - Sailed for Portugal
Sailed all around Africa and all the way to India. Winning the European race for a sea route to Asia. -
1497
John Cabot - Sailed for England
Sent to look for a northern sea route to Asia, but probably landed on modern-day Newfoundland. -
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 Alavres Cabral - 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 & final voyage to the Americas across the Atlantic Ocean -
1513
Vasco Nunez de Balboa - sailed for Spain
He travels through Central America and is the 1st European to see the Pacific Ocean (largest ocean on earth) -
1513
Juan Ponce de Leon - Sailed for Spain
Explored present-day Florida, looking for the "fountain of youth". -
1519
Hernando Cortes - Sailed for Spain
Conquistador who explored Mexico. 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
Sent to look for a northern route to Asia. Ended up exploring the coast of N. America from modern-day Nova Scotia until the Carolinas. -
Period: 1528 to 1536
Alvar Nunez Cabeza de Vaca - Sailed for Spain
Accompanied by Estevancio (a slave) and others, explored the N. American Southwest looking for 7 cites 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
Hoped to find path to the Pacific, but found modern-day Montreal. -
Period: 1539 to 1542
Hernando de Soto - Sailed for Spain
Explored Florida and North Carolina discovered Mississippi River. -
Period: 1540 to 1542
Francisco Vasquez de Coronado - Sailed for Spain
Cont. in N. American Southwest, looking for cities of gold, discovered the Grand Canyon (in AZ) -
1542
Juan Cabrillo - Sailed for Spain
He explores up from Mexico and goes into modern day California. -
Henry Hudson - Sailed for Netherlands
Sent to find a passage through America. Discovered Hudson River. -
Henry Hudson - Sailed for England
Sent again to find a passage through America. Discovered Hudson Bay. -
Period: to
Louis Juliet and Jacques Marquette - Sailed for France
Looking for Northwest Passage and hoped to find precious metals. Found Mississippi River. -
Robert Cavalier de La Salle - Sailed for France
Took the Mississippi all the way South and claimed land for France, naming it Louisiana.
