Explorers and Conquistadors

Henry the Navigator

Jan 1, 1400

Sailed for Portugal. He sent expeditions west to islands in the Alantic and South to explore the western coast of Africa. His ultimate goal was to find a water route around Africa to India. He died before that goal could be accomplished. He was the prince of Portugal.

Bartholomeu Dias

Mar 27, 1488

Sailed for Portugal. The first Eruopean to attempt to sail around the southern tip of Africa. He would have sailed futher but violent storms forced him to turn back. 1487-1488

Christopher Columbus

Mar 27, 1492

Sailed for the Spanish. Spanish rulers, King Ferinand and Queen Isabella, agreed to pay his voyage. He believed that he could sail west around the world from Spain to reach China When he reached "The Americas" he thought it was the Asian Islands. He returned to Spain in March 1493.

Vasco da Gama

Mar 27, 1497

Sailed for Portugal.He left Portugal and set out for India. The journey took 10 months but Gama and his crew eventually reached the city of Calicut in India. 1497-1499

John Cabot

Mar 28, 1497

Sailed for England. Sailed to the Alantic coast that is now Canada. He thought he had found Asia and returned to Egland.

Pedro Cabral

Mar 27, 1500

He sailed for Portugal. He sailed far to the west to avoid the windless Gulf of Guinea. His men sighted and claimed the land that became known as Brazil. 1500-1501

Amerigo Vespucci

Mar 27, 1502

Sailed for Portugal. Sailed along the coast of South Americaa and concluded that is was not Asia but new land. 1501-1502

Vasco Nunez de Balboa

Mar 27, 1513

Sailed for the Spanish. Led an expedition across the Isthmus of Panama. After more than 3 weeks of difficult travel, Balboa became the first European to see the Pacific Ocean.

Hernan Cortes

Mar 28, 1518

Sailed for Spanish. Led an expedition ro Mexico that ended with the conquest of the Aztec Empire. 1518-1519

Ferdinand Magellan

Mar 28, 1519

Sailed for Spain. After months as sea he reached the Philippines, where he was killed in a fight against native people. 1519-1521

Giovanni da Verazzano

Mar 28, 1524

Sailed for Italy. Originally discovered the Hudson River.

Francisco Pizarro

Mar 28, 1530

He sailed for the Eglish. Led an expedition to Peru. He had hearad of the fabulous wealth of Peru's Inca Empire and hoped to win some of that wealth for himself. 1530-1533

Jacques Cartier

Mar 28, 1534

Sailed for the French. He sailed past the island of Newfoundland into the St. Lawarnce River. He claimed all the land along the river as the province of New France, that came to be Canada. 1534-1536

Sir Francis Drake

Mar 28, 1577

Sailed for the english. Sailed a round trip of South America and explored it's west coast. After he stopped at what is now California, he sailed north to see a route around North America back to the Alantic. 1577-1580

Henry Hudson

Mar 28, 1607

Sailed for England. Set out to the north hoping to find the Northeast Passagearound Europe. Finding nothing but ice he returned to England. He also dicovered the Hudson River.

Samuel de Chaplain

Mar 28, 1608

sailed for French. He founded the city of Quebec. He also explored the Mississippi river. 1603-1609

Rene Robert Lasulle

Mar 28, 1682

Sailed for the French. Canoed down the entire Mississippi Rover to the Gulf of Mexico. He claimed the enormous Mississippi region ans it's tributaries for France. He named the area Louisiana. 1678-1682