-
1000
Lief Erickson - Viking
1st European to reach N. America -
1487
Bartolomeu 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
1st trip sailed to North america, across the 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
1st to sail around Africa all the way to Asia. -
1497
John Cabot sailed for England
He was an Italian sent to look for a norther sea route to Asia. He most likely landed on present-day Newfoundland, Canada. -
1498
Christopher Columbus - sailed for Spain
His 3rd Voyage to 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 4th Voyage to 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 (the largest ocean on earth). -
1513
Jaun 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 and he conquered the Aztec. -
Period: 1519 to 1522
Ferdinand Magellan sailed for Spain
1st European to circumnavigate the globe. -
1524
Giovanni de Varrazano sailed for France
He was an Italian send to look for a northern route, he explored the coast of North American from present-day Nova Scotia to the Carolinas. -
Period: 1528 to 1536
Alvar Nunez Cabeza de Vaca sailed for Spain
Accompanied by Estevanico (a slave) and others, explored the North America Southwest looking for the 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
He sailed up the St. Lawrence River hoping to find the Pacific ocean, he didn't find it however he found a mountain peak that he named "Mont-Royal". Which means royal mountain, this is in 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
Cont. in North America Southwest, looking for cities of gold, discovered the Grand Canyon. -
1542
Juan Cabrillo sailed for Spain
He explores up from Mexico and goes into modern day California. -
Henry Hudson sailed for the Dutch
Henry sailed north down the Hudson River as far a present-day Albany, deciding that he had not found a way to India he turned back and went home. -
Henry Hudson sailed for England
Henry went back and found the Hudson Bay. Believing he had reached the Pacific, he looked for months for an outlet. His crew became impatient, rebelled, and sent his son, a few crew members, and Henry adrift in a small boat never to be seen again. -
Louis Joliet and Jacques Marquette sailed for France
They traveled the Mississippi by canoe and hoped to find precious metals, and a water route to Asia. Once they realized that the Mississippi led to the Gulf of Mexico and not the Pacific, turned around and went back up-river. -
Robert Cavelier de La Salle sailed for France
He followed the Mississippi all the way to the Gulf of Mexico. He claimed that land for the French, calling it Louisiana after Louis XIV.
