Spanish and Portuguese Conquistador

Prince Henry

Jan 1, 1394

Prince Henry the Navigator was a Portuguese prince, soldier, and patron of explorers. Henry sent many sailing expeditions down Africa's west coast, but did not go on them himself. Thanks to Prince Henry's patronage, Portuguese ships sailed to the Madeira Islands, rounded Cape Bojador, sailed to Cape Blanc, sailed around Cap Vert, and went to the Gambia River and Cap Palmas. More info

Christopher Columbus

Jan 1, 1451

Christopher Columbus was an Italian explorer who sailed across the Atlantic Ocean, hoping to find a route to India and made a total of four trips to the Caribbean and South America. The 1st trip they were met by Taino Indians, many of whom were captured by Columbus' men and later sold into slavery. Columbus thought he had made it to Asia, and called this area the Indies, and called its inhabitants Indians. <a
href='http://www.enchantedlearning.com/explorers/page/c/columbus.shtml' >More info</a>

Amerigo Vespucci

Jan 1, 1454

Amerigo Vespucci was an Italian explorer who was the first person to realize that the Americas were separate from the continent of Asia. In his first trip he found the Amazon in South America believing it was part of Asia. He discovered on his second trip that it was not Asia, but a new world. More info

Bartolomeu Dias

Jan 1, 1457

Bartolomeu Dias was a Portuguese navigator and explorer who explored Africa's coast. He led the first European expedition to sail around Africa's Cape of Good Hope. On a later expidition Dias went by South America and named what we now know as Brazil, "Land of the True Cross." More info

Vasco da Gama

Jan 1, 1460

Vasco da Gama was a Portuguese explorer who discovered an
ocean route from Portugal to the East. At the time many people thought that the trip would be impossible because they believed the Indian Ocean was not connected by any other seas. On this voyage, da Gama killed hundreds of Muslims, often brutally, in order to demonstrate his power. More info

Juan Ponce de Leon

Jan 1, 1460

Juan Ponce de Leon was a Spanish explorer and soldier who was the first European to set foot in Florida. He also established the oldest European settlement in Puerto Rico and discovered the Gulf Stream. Ponce de Leon was then given the right to find and take the island of Bimini; he was searching for riches and the fountain of youth (a legendary
spring that gave people eternal life and health). More info

Vasco Nunez de Balboa

Jan 1, 1475

Vasco Nunez de Balboa was a Spanish conquistador and explorer who was the first European to see the eastern part of the Pacific Ocean, crossing the Isthmus of Panama. Later in life, Balboa was charged with treason against Spain (although he was innocent and had been framed by a friend). He was arrested and found guilty and was publicly beheaded. More info

Francisco Pizarro

Jan 1, 1478

Francisco Pizarro was a Spanish conquistador who traveled through the Pacific coast of America along Peru. He "discovered" the Incan empire and conquered it, stealing many treasures. He later landed at San Mteo Bay where he ambushed the incan empire, stole his riches, and strangled him. More info

Ferdinand Magellan

Jan 1, 1480

Ferdinand Magellan was a Portuguese explorer who led the first expedition that sailed around the Earth. Magellan also named the Pacific Ocean, the name means that it is a calm, peaceful ocean. His final voyage took 3 years traveling around the tip of South America. The voyage began with 5 ships and 270 crew members but at the end of the 3 years they returned with only one ship and 18 men. More info

Hernan Cortes

Jan 1, 1485

Hernán Cortés was a Spanish adventurer and conquistador who overthrew the Aztec empire and claimed Mexico for Spain. He set out from Cuba with 11 ships to travel to the Yucatan Peninsula looking for gold, silver, and other treasures. When he returned he was known as a hero and became the governor of a colony in New Spain. He died a few years later, however. More info