Explorers

By cassielaws
  • Jan 1, 1492

    Christopher Columbus

    Christopher Columbus
    Sailed westward to the Bahamas.
  • Jan 1, 1497

    John Cabot

    John Cabot
    Went on a voyage west through the Americas that would lead north to Asia.
  • Jan 1, 1497

    Vasco da Gama

    Vasco da Gama
    Found a route around Africa and sailed to India.
  • Jan 1, 1497

    Amerigo Vespucci

    Amerigo Vespucci
    He discovered present-day Rio de Janeiro and Rio de la Plata. Believing he had discovered a new continent, he called South America the New World.
  • Jan 1, 1513

    Juan Ponce de León

    Juan Ponce de León
    Settled the island of Puerto Rico.
  • Jan 1, 1513

    Vasco Núñez de Balboa

    Vasco Núñez de Balboa
    He led the first European expedition to the Pacific Ocean.
  • Jan 1, 1514

    Pedro Arias Dávila

    Pedro Arias Dávila
    Sailed for the New World
  • Jan 1, 1518

    Hernán Cortés

    Hernán Cortés
    He first set sail to the New World at the age of 19. Cortés later joined an expedition to Cuba. In 1518, he set off to explore Mexico.
  • Jan 1, 1519

    Ferdinand Magellan

    Ferdinand Magellan
    Portuguese explorer who organised the Spanish expedition to the East Indies.
  • Jan 1, 1520

    Lucas Vázquez de Ayllón

    Lucas Vázquez de Ayllón
    Mainland north of Floria, some of the Atlanic coast
  • Jan 1, 1524

    Giovanni da Verrazzano

    Giovanni da Verrazzano
    Went westward to the North Carolina Outer Banks.
  • Jan 1, 1539

    Hernando de Soto

    Hernando de Soto
    Set out for North America and discovered the MIssissippi River.
  • Jan 1, 1566

    Hernando Boyano

    Led a small group of men to the South Carolina coast. The went ot the Blue RIdge Mountains.
  • Jan 1, 1577

    Francis Drake

    Francis Drake
    Leader of an expedition intended to pass around South America, through the Strait of Magellan, and explore the coast that lay beyond.