Spanish and Portuguese explorers

Prince Henry

Jan 1, 1394

Prince Henry was a portuguese royal prince, soldier and patron of explorers. He sent many expeditions to Africa. these expeditions created maps of the West African coast.
more info.

Christopher Columbus

Jan 1, 1451

Christopher Columbus was an Italian explorer that sailed across the Atlantic Ocean to find a route to India. He made four trips to the Caribbean and South America. His first expedition was with three ships and they found current day San Salvador.
more info.

Amerigo Vespucci

Jan 1, 1454

Amerigo Vespucci was the firat to realize that the Americas were seperate from Asia. He sailed to South America and found the mouth of the Amazon. the Americas were named after him.
more info.

Bartolomeu Dias

Jan 1, 1457

Bartolomeu explored Africa's coast. He found the Cape of Good Hope that opened up lucrative trading routes from Europe to Asia. He also sailed neer South America and was one of the first to se Brazil. more info.

Ponce de Leon

Jan 1, 1460

Ponce de Leon was a Spanish explorer and soldier. He was the first European to set foot on current day Florida. He was in search of the fountain of youth and other riches.
more info.

Vasco Da Gama

Jan 1, 1460

Discoverd an ocean route from Portugal to the east. He found that the Indian ocean is connected to ther seas. He was sent to India as a Portuguese viceroy.
more info.

Vasco Nunez de Balboa

Jan 1, 1475

Vasco Nunez de Balboa was a spanish conquistador that was the first european to see the eastern part of the Pacific Ocean. He searched for treasures in South America and tried to farm for a living. H founded the colony Santa Maria de la Antigua del Darien. Later he destroyed indian vilages and claimed the land for Spain. Spain the beheaded him for treason.
more info.

Francisco Pizarro

Jan 1, 1478

Franciszo Pizarro was a Spanish conquistador. He traveled along most of the coast of Peru. Then he killed off the Incan empire
more info.

Ferdinand Magellan

Jan 1, 1480

Ferdinand Magellan led the first expedition that sailed around the earth. He also named the Pacific Ocean. He sailed for Spain after the portuguese king turned him against the Portuguese.
more info.

Hernan Cortes

Jan 1, 1485

Hernan Cortes was a Spanish adventurer and conquistador. He claimed Mexico for Spain after he overthrew the Aztec. He became governor of the colony of New Spain.
more info.