Early Explorers timeline.

1000

Leif Erikson sponsered by Scandinavia

Landed on the Northern coast of North America, which is present day Canada.
1488

Barthalemeu Dias sailed for the country of Portugal

Sailed south from Portugal and made it to the tip of Africa before turning around.He named the tip Cape of Good Hope.
1488

Paedro Alverez Cabral sponsered by Prortugal

Responsible for finding the country of Portugal.
Aug 3, 1492

Christoher Columbus sponsered by Spain

Sailed West to find route to Aisa, and instead landed in the Middle Americas.
1497

John Cabot sailed for Italy

Searched along the coast of Canada to find a passage to the Pacific.(He didn't)
1497

Vasco Nunez de Ballboa sponsered by Spain

Discovered the Pacific ocean.
1498

Vasco de Gama sailed for Portugal

Had succesfully compleated a searoute from Portugal to India.
1499

Amarigo Vespucci sponsered by Spain

Sailed West toward Aisia, and landed on South America. People realized this continent was seperate from Aisia, deciding to name it America in his honor.
1513

Jaun Ponce de Leon sponsered by Spain

First Spanish landing in present day Florida.
1519

Hermes Cortez sponsered by Spain

Concoured the Aztec empire.
1520

Ferdinand Magellan sponsered by Spain

Named the Pacific ocean after the Spanish word for calm, he died in the Philipines, ut his crew was first to circummnavigate the world.
1524

Giovanni de Varrazano sailed for France

An italian sailer that was also looking for a Northern Passage.
Sailed everywhere from present day Nova Scotia to the Carolinas.
1528

Alvar Nunez Cabeza de Vaca sponsered by Spain

Part of a short expedition to Florida before getting involved with the natives, sailing south ending up shipwreck, and figuring out some healing ritual that involed a blessed stick whilts saying Latin prayers.
1533

Fransisco Pizzaro sponsered by Spain

Ended up controlling the Inca empire.
1535

Jaques Carter sailed for France

Road upon the St. Lawrence River claiming lands for Rance till he hit modern day Montreal.
1540

Francisco Vasquez de Coronado sponsered by Spain

Looked for the seven cities of gold and found absolutly squat.
1541

Hernando de Soto sponsered by Spain

First to cross the Mississipi river, and was later buried in it's waters.
1542

Juan Cabrillo sponsered by Spain

First to sight California. This lead to California later becomeing the front of the Spanish empire.
1609

Henry Hudson sailed for England

Hudson was also on a journey for The Pacific Passage but all he found was a bay, river, and Albany New York, and named the first two after himself.
1670

Louis Joliet and Jacques Marquette sailed for the Dutch

A fur trader and preist that sailed the entire misssissipi river. Until they realized it lead into the Gulf of Mexico then they headed back upstream.
1682

Robert Cavelier de La Salle sailed for France

Also sailed all the way down the Missisippi River but claimed lands for France on the way including, good old Louisianna named after king Louise.