-
1000
Leif Eriksson - Viking
First European to reach North America. -
1487
Bartholomeu Dias Sailed for Portugal
Sailed to the bottom of Africa and found the Cape of Good Hope (Bottom of Africa) -
1492
Christopher Columbus -Sailed for Spain
First trip sailed to North America, across the Atlantic Ocean, believed he had reached Asia. -
1493
Christopher Columbus - Sailed for Spain
His second Voyage to the Americas across the Atlantic Ocean. -
1497
John Cabot - Sailed for England
Traveled to find a sea route that would go northern into Asia. -
1497
Vasco Da Gama Sailed for Portugal
First to sail around Africa all the way to India. -
1498
Christopher Columbus - Sailed for Spain
His third Voyage to the Americas across the Atlantic Ocean. -
1499
Amerigo Vespucci - Sailed for Spain
Sailed along the coast of South 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 too wide and ended up in Brazil, South America. -
1502
Christopher Columbus - Sailed for Spain
His fourth Voyage to the Americas across the Atlantic Ocean. -
1513
Vasco Nunez de Balboa - Sailed for Spain
He travels through Central America and is the first 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
A conquistador who explored Mexico. Conquered the Aztec. -
Period: 1519 to 1522
Ferdinand Magellan - Sailed for Spain
First European to circumnavigate the globe. -
1524
Giovanni da Varrazano - Sailed for France
Explored on the coast of North America from Nova Scotia to the Carolinas. -
Period: 1528 to 1536
Alvar Nunez Cabeza de Vaca - Sailed for Spain
Accompanied by Estevancio (a slave) and others, explored the North American Southwest looking for "7 Cities of Gold." -
1532
Francisco Pizarro - Sailed for Spain
A conquistador who explored the Andes Mountains of South America and conquered the Inca Empire. -
1535
Jacques Cartier - Sailed for France
Sailed up the St. Lawrence River, hoping to find the Pacific Ocean, but instead found a mountain that he named Mont-Royal. -
Period: 1539 to 1542
Hernando de Soto - Sailed for Spain
Explored Florida and North Carolina. Discovered the Mississippi River. -
Period: 1540 to 1542
Francisco Vascquez de Coronado - Sailed for Spain
In North American Southwest, looking for cities of gold, discovered the Grand Canyon (in Arizona.) -
1542
Juan Cabrillo - Sailed for Spain
He explores up from Mexico and goes into modern day California. -
Henry Hudson - Sailed for the Dutch
Discovered a River that he named after himself, and sailed to Albany, New York, but turned back knowing he had not found a way to India. -
Henry Hudson - Sailed for England
Discovered a bay which he named after himself, but thought it was the Pacific Ocean. After looking for a passage for too long, his crew sent him into a boat never to be seen again. -
Louis Joliet and Jacques Marquette - Sailed for France
Traveled by canoe up the Mississippi River hoping to find the Northwest passage and precious stones, but turned back after realizing they had gone the wrong way. Discovered the Mississippi River flowed down to the Gulf of Mexico instead of into the Pacific Ocean. -
Robert Cavelier de La Salle - Sailed for France
Claimed the region of land he explored from the Mississippi River to the Gulf of Mexico for France and named it Louisiana after Louis XIV.
