-
1000
Leif Ericsson - Viking
Leif Erikson was the first European to reach North America. -
1487
Bartolomeu Dias - sailed for Portugal
Bartholomew sailed from Europe to the bottom of Africa to see if there was land down their. -
1492
Christopher Columbus - sailed for Spain
The first out of four trips he takes across the Atlantic ocean and reaches North america but believes it was actually Asia that he reached. -
1493
Christopher Columbus - sailed for Spain
The Second Voyage that Columbus takes across the Atlantic ocean to the Americas. -
1497
Vasco da Gama - sailed for Portugal
Vasco da Gama sailed to the bottom of Africa then over to India. -
1497
John Cabot - sailed for England
John Cabot was an Italian who was sent by England to try and find a northern sea route to Asia. He most likely ended up on the coast of Newfoundland. -
1498
Christopher Columbus - sailed for Spain
The Third Voyage that Columbus takes across the Atlantic ocean to the Americas. -
1499
Amerigo Vespucci - sailed for Spain
He explored the coast of South America and discovered that South America was a separate continent and not apart of Asia. -
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
The Forth Voyage that Columbus takes across the Atlantic ocean to the Americas. -
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 and conquered the Aztec. -
Period: 1520 to 1522
Ferdinand Magellan - sailed for Spain
Ferdinand sailed through stormy waters of the tip of South America and eventually found a calm and peaceful ocean. Since it was so pacifico (peaceful) he decided to name it the Pacific ocean. He eventually passed and his crew returned home. -
1524
Giovanni de Varrazano - sailed for France
Giovanni was an Italian explorer hired by France to look for a northern route. He went from present day Nova Scotia down to the Carolina's while exploring the coast of North America. -
Period: 1528 to 1536
Alvar Nunez Cabeza de Vaca - sailed for Spain
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
Jacques sailed upwards on the St. Lawrence River hoping it would lead him to the pacific ocean. But it didn't lead him there instead it lead him to find a mountain that he chose to name Mont-Royal also known as 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 Coronando - sailed for Spain
Went to North American Southwest, looking for the cities of gold, discovered the Grand Canon (in AZ). -
1542
Juan Cabrillo - sailed for Spain
He explored upwards from Mexico and goes into modern day California. -
Henry Hudson - sailed for Dutch
He was hired to find a passage through the Americas. He sailed down the Hudson River which was named after him and eventually reached present day New York. Since he didn't find the passage to India he turned back. -
Henry Hudson - sailed for England
England sent Hudson to try again and he discovered a large bay that is now named the Hudson bay. But things started to go down hill when he thought he reached the Pacific. So he looked for an outlet but his crew became angry and sent him and others adrift and they were never seen again. -
Louis Joliet and Jacques Marquette - sailed for France
Louis and Jacques traveled on the Mississippi River on a canoe. They wanted to find precious metals and a Northwest Passage. But they soon realized the river went south into the Gulf of Mexico not west into the Pacific so the headed back upriver. -
Robert Cavelier de La salle - sailed for France
Robert followed the Mississippi River all the way to the Gulf of Mexico. He then labeled the region as France's and called it Louisiana after Louis XIV.
