Exploration

Leif Eriksson

Jul 17, 1000

explored northern Atlantic, made voyage to what is now North America, first European to reach the Americas, not given credit for discovery because of no permanent settlements or return voyages

Marco Polo

Jun 4, 1271

Traveled to China, served in Kublai Khan's court, returned to Italy with tales of glory and riches, his writings about his adventures encouraged later exploration

Marco Polo

Oct 10, 1294

traveled to China, served in Kublai Khan's court, returned to Italy with tales of glory and riches, his writings about his adventures encouraged later exploration

Prince Henry, the navigator

Nov 9, 1419

No actual voyages, paid for and sponsored schools for improvements in sailing and boat design, increased technology available to European sailors such as the compass and astrolabe, ideas on improving ship design, and gathering information for the drawing of new, more accurate maps

Bartolomeu Dias

Jan 27, 1488

Explored west coast of Africa, first European to sail around southern tip of Africa, was "blown" around Africa in a storm and wanted to call it Cape of Storms but King John II of Portugal named it Cape of Good Hope

Christopher Columbus

Oct 12, 1492

Ventured west to reach the East (Asia), discovered New World, made four voyages to the Caribbean, established Spanish colonies in the New World, died still thinking he found a route to Asia

John Cabot

Jun 24, 1497

Gave England an early claim in the New World, explored the coastline of eastern Canada and New England

Vasco da Gama

May 20, 1498

First man to reach India by sailing around southern tip of Africa, five ships loaded with spices and other materials, only two of his ships made it back to Portugal, but the value of his cargo paid for the expense of the trip 60 times over

Amerigo Vespucci

Aug 23, 1499

Cartographer who sailed on Spanish ships exploring the northern coast of South America, drew his maps and had them printed in Europe, because of his effort, the lands of the New World received the Latinized version of his name

Pedro Cabral

Apr 22, 1500

Explored Indian Ocean and defended trade routes to India to give Portugal control of trade in India, blown off course by a storm while trying to round Africa, landed in northern South America and gave Portugal a claim in the New World, claimed Brazil for Portugal

Juan Ponce De Leon

Apr 2, 1513

Conquered the island of Puerto Rico for Spain and became its governor, claimed Florida for Spain, looked for the Fountain of Youth

Vasco Nunez de Balboa

Sep 25, 1513

explored the isthmus of Panama, first European to see the Pacific Ocean, later executed for treason by fellow conquistador Pizarro

Hernan Cortes

Mar 2, 1519

became commander of an expedition that was to conquer Mexico and end the great Aztec empire,

Ferdinand Magellan

Sep 20, 1519

Five ships left Spain.

Hernan Cortes

Aug 13, 1521

established Mexico City as its capital, built on the ruins of the former Aztec capital of Tenochtilan

Ferdinand Magellan

Sep 22, 1522

first man to circumnavigate the globe and "prove" that the Earth is round and that all the oceans are connected, five ships left Spain but only one, The Victoria, returned, actually killed by natives in the Philippines, journal of Antonio Pigafetta tells of the expedition

Giovanni da Verrazano

Jun 13, 1524

explored east coast of North America from North Carolina to Labrador, looking for the Northwest Passage, later killed in Brazil while exploring the islands of the Caribbean and northern South America

Francisco Pizarro

Nov 16, 1532

explored Northwestern South America and claimed it for Spain

Francisco Pizarro

Mar 23, 1534

conquered the Inca Empire that controlled the area, ravaged the Inca of their mineral wealth, established Lima as the Spanish capital of northern South America

Jacques Catier

Jul 24, 1534

explored St. Lawrence River and eastern Canada looking for the Northwest Passage, gave France a claim to inland Canada

Franciso Vazquez de Coronado

Sep 22, 1540

explored present-day Southwest U.S. from Texas and the Great Plains to the Sierra Madres, looking for "Eldorado" or "City of Gold" told of in Native American folklore, first European to see the Grand Canyon

Hernando de Soto

May 8, 1541

involved with Pizarro in the conquering of the Inca in South America, explored Southeastern North America, probably traveled through North Carolina and possibly Rutherford County, first European to see the Mississippi River

Francis Drake

Period: Dec 17, 1577 to Sep 26, 1580

privateer, or government-sponsored pirate, hired by Queen Elizabeth I to raid Spanish ships and ports in the Caribbean, became the first Englishman to circumnavigate the globe on his ship The Golden Hind, successfully helped protect England against the Spanish Armada in 1588

Samuel de Champlain

Jul 3, 1608

explored St. Lawrence River and eastern Canada looking for the Northwest Passage, established the first permanent French colony in America, it was the city of Quebec

Henry Hudson

Period: Sep 11, 1609 to Aug 2, 1610

explored northeastern North America looking for a water route from the Atlantic to the Pacific called the Northwest Passage, helped the Dutch claim the area of present-day New York and the English claim Eastern Canada, Hudson River (NY) and Hudson Bay (Canada) named for him

Rene Robert Cavelier Sieur de la Salle

Period: Jul 12, 1673 to Mar 19, 1687

explored the Ohio and Mississippi River Valleys, established a large claim for France in the New World, looking for the Northwest Passage, helped establish the important fur trade industry with the Native Americans of the region

Vitus Bering

Jul 13, 1728

explored northern Pacific and Arctic Oceans, gave Russia a claim in the New World, explored coastline from Alaska to Oregon, proved Asia and North America were separate continents, strait between the two continents is named for him

Roald Amunsen

Dec 14, 1911

first man to successfully sail the Northwest Passage in an icebreaking cruiser, first man to reach the South Pole by land

Richard E. Byrd

May 9, 1926

first to fly an aircraft over the North Pole, first man to fly an aircraft over the South Pole

Yuri Gagarin

Apr 12, 1961

Russian cosmonaut became the first man in orbital space flight on Vostok I in 1961, total time of first human space exploration was 1 hour and forty-eight minutes, never returned to space

Alan Sheapard

May 5, 1961

first American astronaut of the Mercury program to fly in space in 1961, total flight time was 15 minutes and 22 seconds, later was a member of the Apollo 14 mission that landed on the moon in 1974

John Glenn

Feb 20, 1962

first American astronaut of the Mercury program in orbital space flight in 1962, orbited Earth three times in 4 hours and 55 minutes, after a distinguished political career as a Senator from Ohio he was allowed to go back in space aboard the Space Shuttle Discovery and became the oldest human in space at the age of 77

Valentina Tereshkova

Jun 16, 1963

first woman in orbital space flight on Vostok 6 in 1963, orbited the Earth 48 times in 2 days, 22 hours, and 50 minutes

Neil Armstrong

Jul 20, 1969

member of the Apollo 11mission that became the first to successfully land on the surface of the moon, first man to step on the moon's surface and he said, "That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind."

Sally Ride

Jun 18, 1983

first American woman in space, crew member on the Space Shuttle Challenger in 1983

John Glenn

Oct 20, 1998

he was allowed to go back in space aboard the Space Shuttle Discovery and became the oldest human in space at the age of 77