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Jan 1, 1394
Prince Henry, soldier and explorer (1394-1460)
Prince Henry of Portugal did not go on any explorations himself, but he sent out expiditions to the West coast of Africa in order to create maps, defeat the Muslims, spread Christianity, and establish trade routes. more information -
Jan 1, 1451
Christopher Columbus (1451-1506)
Columbus was an Italian explorer, however he sailed on behalf of the King and Queen of Spain. He sailed across the Atlantic Ocean in search of India, but landed in America. From the years 1492-1504, Columbus made 4 trips to the Caribbean and South America.
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Jan 1, 1454
Amerigo Vespucci, Italian Explorer (1454-1512)
Amerigo Vespucci was the first Italian to realize that the Americas were seperate from Asia (hence the name America). He sailed for Spain, and made two expeditions to the Americas when he mapped them and realized it was a new world and not Asia. more information -
Jan 1, 1457
Bartolomeu Dias, explorer and navigator, (1457-1500)
Dias was a Portugese explorer and navigator. He led the first European expedition to sail around Africa's cape of good hope (the tip of Africa) This was important because it opened up trading routes between Europe and Asia.
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Jan 1, 1460
Vasco de Gama, Portugese Explorer (1460-1524)
Vasco de Gama was a Portugese explorer that found an ocean route from Portugal to the East. He sailed from Portugal to India and back which was unbelievable to people because it was unknown that anything connected to the Indian Ocean. more information -
Jan 1, 1460
Ponce de Leon, Spanish Explorer, (1460-1521)
Ponce de Leon was the first European to set foot in what is now Florida. He established the oldest establishment in Puerto Rico and found the Gulf Stream which is a current in the Atlantic Ocean. He was in search of the legendary fountain of youth and other riches.
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Jan 1, 1475
Vasco Nunez de Balboa, Spanish Explorer (1475-1519)
Balboa sailed from Spain to Colombia, went from Santo Domingo to San Sebastian and then continued his journey to found the first European colony in South America called Santa Maria de la Antigua del Darien. He was the first European to see the eastern side of the Pacific Ocean and claimed it and the surrounding land for Spain.
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Jan 1, 1478
Fransisco Pizzaro, Spanish Conquistodor (1478-1541)
Fransisco Pizzaro traveled the Pacific Coast of Peru . He "discovered" the Incan empire and quickly conquered it, stealing large amounts of gold and silver in the process. He founded Lima, and was later assassinated.
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Jan 1, 1480
Ferdinand Magellan, Portugese Explorer (1480-1521)
Magellan led the first expedition around the Earth, sailing for Spain. Only 18 of the 270 people and 1 of the 5 ships made it back. Magellan also named the Pacific Ocean. more information -
Jan 1, 1485
Hernan Cortes, Spanish Conquistador, (1485-1547)
Hernan Cortes sailed 11 ships in search of gold, silver, and other treasures. When he came upon the Aztec capital, he killed the emporer and overthrew the Aztec empire. He than claimed all of Mexico for Spain more information
