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1000
Lief Eriksson - Viking
1st European to reach North America -
1487
Bartolomeu Dias sailed for Portugal
In 1487 he sailed from Portugal Southward and discovered the southern tip of Africa, the cape of good hope. -
Aug 3, 1492
Christopher Columbus - sailed for Spain
1st trip sailed to North America across the Atlantic and believed that he reached Asia. -
Sep 25, 1493
Christopher Columbus - sailed for Spain
His second voyage to the Americas across the Atlantic Ocean -
1497
Vasco de Gama sailed for Portugal
In 1497, he sailed all around Africa and all the way to India, winning the European race for a sea route to Asia -
May 1, 1497
John Cabot - Sailed for England
Sent to look for a Northern sea route to Asia and probably landed on the coast of present day Newfoundland. -
May 30, 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 the mapmakers were convinced this was not Asia and named the new land "America" in his honor. -
Mar 9, 1500
Pedro Alavres Cabral sailed for Portugal
On his way to Africa he went too wide and ended up in Brazil, South America -
May 11, 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 and is the first European to see the Pacific Ocean -
1513
Juan Ponce de Leon - Sailed for Spain
Explored present-day Florida looking for the "fountain of youth" -
Period: 1519 to 1522
Ferdinand Magellan sailed for Spain
1st European to circumnavigate the globe. -
Feb 19, 1519
Hernan Cortes - Sailed for Spain
A conquistador who explored Mexico and conquered the Aztec. -
Jan 17, 1524
Giovanni de Verrazano - Sailed for France
Sent to look for a northern route. Explored the coast of North America from present day Nova Scotia down to the Carolinas. -
Period: 1528 to 1536
Alvar Nunez Cabeza de Vaca - Sailed for Spain
He was accompanied by Estevanico (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 the st. Lawrence river hoping it would lead to the pacific but it did not. Instead he found a mountain that is present 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
In North America Southwest he searched for the cities of gold, discovered the Grand Canyon (in AZ) -
Jun 27, 1542
Juan Cabrillo - Sailed for Spain
He explores up from Mexico and goes into modern day California. -
Henry Hudson - Sailed for the Netherlands
Sent to look for a route through the Americas and discovered the Hudson river. Sailed as far as Albany, New York, then came back. -
Henry Hudson 2nd voyage - Sailed for England
Found Hudson bay and thought it was the pacific and was abandoned by his crew. -
Louis Joliet and Jacques Marquette - Sailed for France
Searched for precious metals and a Northwest passage. When they realized the Mississippi went to the gulf of Mexico they turned back. -
Robert Cavelier de La Salle - Sailed for France
Traveled the Mississippi down to the gulf of Mexico and claimed the land for France, naming it Louisiana.
