-
Jan 27, 1418
Prince Henry
Prince Henry establishes a school of oceanic navigation for sailors. -
Jan 27, 1453
Turkish Empire
The Turkish Empire cuts off land routes from Europe and Asia and forces traders to search for sea routes. -
Jan 27, 1487
Bartholomeu Dias
Discovers the southern tip of Africa. -
Jan 27, 1492
Christopher Columbus
Lands on the islands of the Bahamas. -
Jan 27, 1497
John Cabot
Discovers Newfoundland while searching for a north-western passage. -
Jan 27, 1502
Amerigo Vespucci
Returns from explorations of South America and has the New World named after him. -
Jan 27, 1513
Vasco Nunez de Balboa
Discovers the Pacific Ocean and claims all of the Eastern shores for Spain. -
Jan 27, 1513
Juan Ponce De Leon
Arrived in Florida and claimed the land for Spain. -
Jan 27, 1519
Ferdinand Magellan
Sailed around the world. -
Jan 27, 1521
Hernandez Cortez
Defeats the Aztec Empire. -
Jan 27, 1533
Francisco Pizarro
Defeats the Inca Empire. -
Jan 27, 1534
Jacques Cartier
Sails down the St. Lawrence River and discovers the Great Lakes. -
Jan 27, 1540
Francisco Coronado
Discovered the Grand Canyon. -
Jan 27, 1541
Hernando de Soto
Him and his men became the first to cross the Mississippi River. -
Jan 27, 1577
Sir Francis Drake
Becomes first Englishman to sail around the world. -
Sir Walter Raleigh
Helped establish a colony near Roanoke Island (now present-day North Carolina) and named it Virginia after Queen Elizabeth the “virgin queen.” -
Jacques Marquette and Louis Jolliet
Explored the Mississippi River. -
Rene-Robert de La Salle
Reached the Gulf of Mexico and named the region Louisiana after King Louis XIV.
