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Columbus (Italian by birth, but sailing for Spain) reached the Bahamas and Hispaniola. He claimed the islands for Spain and made three subsequent voyages to the New World. His "discovery" changed the world forever.
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Cabral is the first European to "officially" discover Brazil, claiming it for Portugal. His claim was the first to unite Europe, Africa, the Americas and Asia.
Please note January 1 is not the exact date.
image: simple.wikipedia.org -
Ponce de Leon searched for the Fountain of Youth in Florida as well as explored the American Southeast for Spain. www.es.wikipedia.org
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Cortes discovered the Aztec capital, the site of present-day Mexico City. Within 2 years he conquered the Aztecs, claiming their gold for Spain. image: www.en.wikipedia.org
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Verrazano explored from present-day Cape Fear, NC to Maine for France (even thought he was Italian.) He discovered the mouth of the Hudson River. image: www.commons.wikimedia.org
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Francisco Pizarro From 1524-1525 Pizarro explored from central America to South America and encounters the fierce Incas. He will eventually conquer them, executing the chief Atahualpa and taking Machu Pichu in the Andes. image: www.en.wikipedia.org
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Jacques CartierJacques Cartier explored the Canadian interior via the St. Lawrence River for France. He reached present-day Montreal.
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Henry Hudson 1607-1609: Hudson explores the coast of Greenland in 1607 and then in 1609 he sailed up the Hudson River as far as present-day Albany, New York for England. image: www.tl.wikipedia.org
