-
1000
Leif Erickson- Viking
1st European to reach N.America -
1095
First Crusade- Europe
They encountered Middle Eastern, Chinese, and Indian goods and traders. -
1488
Bartholomew Dias- Portugal
Went to the Cape of Good Hope on the tip of Africa -
1492
First Exploration for Christopher Columbus- Spain
Sailed across the Atlantic to North America but thought he was in Asia. -
1493
Second Exploration for Christopher Columbus- Spain
His second voyage across the Atlantic to North America. -
1497
Vasco da Gama- Portugal
First to sail around Africa to Asia -
1497
John Cabot- England
Hired by England to look for a northern sea route to Asia. He landed on the coast of present-day Newfounland. -
1498
Third Exploration for Christopher Columbus- Spain
His third voyage across the Atlantic to North America. -
1499
Amerigo Vespucci- Spain
Sailed along the coast or South America. He figured out that it wasn't Asia.Named the new land America. -
1500
Pedro Alvarez Cabral- Portugal
Sails for Portugal trying to go far around Africa to get to Asia, but landed in Spain. -
1502
Forth Exploration for Christopher Columbus- Spain
His forth voyage across the Atlantic to North America. -
1513
Vasco Nunez de Balboa- Spain
He travel through Central America and was the first European to see the Pacific Ocean, the largest ocean on Earth, -
1513
Juan Ponce De Leon- Spain
He went to present day Florida looking for the fountain of youth. -
1519
Hernado Cortes- Spain
Explored Mexico and conquered the Aztec. -
Period: 1519 to 1522
Ferdinand Magellan- Spain
1st European to circumnavigate the globe. -
1524
Giovanni de Varrazano- France
Hired by France to look for a northern route to Asia. He explored the coast of North America from present-day Nova Scotia to the Carolinas -
Period: 1528 to 1536
Alvar Nunez Cabeza de Vaca- Spain
He was looking for the 7 cities of gold. Their ship wrecks and they get captured by Texan Natives. de Vaca's slave, Estevanico, escapes and help the others escape as well. -
1532
Francisco Pizarro- Spain
Explored the Andes mountain and conquered the Inca. -
1535
Jacques Cartier- France
Sailed up the St. Lawrence River, hoping it would lead to the Pacific. He instead discovered a mountain that he named Mont-Royal. -
Period: 1539 to 1542
Hernando de Soto- Spain
Traveled through Florida and South Caroline to discover the Mississippi river. -
Period: 1540 to 1542
Francisco Vasquez de Coronado- Spain
Looks for gold cities, finds Grand Canyon. -
1542
Juan Cabrillo- Spain
Explores Mexico and California. -
Henry Hudson- Netherlands
Hired to find a passage through the Americas. Discovered a river and named Hudson. After that he sails North on his ship. the Half Moon, to present-day Albany, New York. -
Henry Hudson- England
Sent to find a northern passage to Asia. He found a bay and named it after him. He thought he has reached the Pacific Ocean and spent months looking for an outlet. His crew got mad and abandoned him, his son, and a few sailors. They were never seen again. -
Louis Joliet and Jacques Marquette- Fance
Traveled the Mississippi river by canoe hoping to to find precious metals and a Northwest Passage. -
Robert Cavelier de La Salle- France
Followed the Mississippi river all the way to the Gulf of Mexico. He founded Louisiana in honor of Louis XIV.
