-
Period: 177 to
James Cook
explored the South Pacific and gave Great Britain a claim to Australia and New Zealand, first man to cross the Antarctic Circle, discovered the Hawaiian islands and explored the Pacific Northwest looking for the fabled Northwest Passage -
Jul 17, 1000
LeifEriksson
explored northern Atlantic, made voyage to what is now North America, first European to reach the Americas, not given credit for discovery because of no permanent settlements or return voyages -
Period: Jun 4, 1271 to Oct 10, 1294
Marco Polo
traveled to China, served in Kublai Khan's court, returned to Italy with tales of glory and riches, his writings about his adventures encouraged later exploration -
Apr 9, 1419
Prince Henry, the navigator
no actual voyages, paid for and sponsored schools for improvements in sailing and boat design, increased technology available to European sailors such as the compass and astrolabe, ideas on improving ship design, and gathering information for the drawing of new, more accurate maps -
Jan 27, 1488
DiasBartolomeu
explored west coast of Africa, first European to sail around southern tip of Africa, was "blown" around Africa in a storm and wanted to call it Cape of Storms but King John II of Portugal named it Cape of Good Hope -
Oct 12, 1492
Christopher Cloumbus
ventured west to reach the East (Asia), discovered New World, made four voyages to the Caribbean, established Spanish colonies in the New World, died still thinking he found a route to Asia -
Jun 24, 1497
John Cabot
gave England an early claim in the New World, explored the coastline of eastern Canada and New England -
May 20, 1498
Vasco de Gama
first man to reach India by sailing around southern tip of Africa, five ships loaded with spices and other materials, only two of his ships made it back to Portugal, but the value of his cargo paid for the expense of the trip 60 times over -
Aug 23, 1499
Americo Vesspuchi
cartographer who sailed on Spanish ships exploring the northern coast of South America, drew his maps and had them printed in Europe, because of his effort, the lands of the New World received the Latinized version of his name -
Apr 22, 1500
Pedro AlverezCabral
explored Indian Ocean and defended trade routes to India to give Portugal control of trade in India, blown off course by a storm while trying to round Africa, landed in northern South America and gave Portugal a claim in the New World, claimed Brazil for Portugal -
Apr 2, 1513
Juan Ponce de Leon
conquered the island of Puerto Rico for Spain and became its governor, claimed Florida for Spain, looked for the Fountain of Youth -
Sep 25, 1513
VescoNunez de Balboa
explored the isthmus of Panama, first European to see the Pacific Ocean, later executed for treason by fellow conquistador Pizarro -
May 8, 1514
Hernandode Soto
involved with Pizarro in the conquering of the Inca in South America, explored Southeastern North America, probably traveled through North Carolina and possibly Rutherford County, first European to see the Mississippi River -
Period: Mar 2, 1519 to
Herman Cortes
conquistador in the army that helped conquer Cuba and establish Spanish control of the island, later became commander of an expedition that was to conquer Mexico and end the great Aztec empire, established Mexico City as its capital, built on the ruins of the former Aztec capital of Tenochtilan -
Period: Sep 20, 1519 to Sep 24, 1522
FerdinandMagellam
first man to circumnavigate the globe and "prove" that the Earth is round and that all the oceans are connected, five ships left Spain but only one, The Victoria, returned, actually killed by natives in the Philippines, journal of Antonio Pigafetta tells of the expedition -
Period: Mar 1, 1524 to Jun 13, 1524
Giovanni de Verrazano
explored east coast of North America from North Carolina to Labrador, looking for the Northwest Passage, later killed in Brazil while exploring the islands of the Caribbean and northern South America -
Period: Nov 16, 1532 to Mar 23, 1534
Francisco Pizarro
explored Panama with Balboa, explored Northwestern South America and claimed it for Spain, conquered the Inca Empire that controlled the area, ravaged the Inca of their mineral wealth, established Lima as the Spanish capital of northern South America -
Jul 24, 1534
JacquesCartier
explored St. Lawrence River and eastern Canada looking for the Northwest Passage, gave France a claim to inland Canada -
Sep 22, 1540
Francisco Vasquez de Coronado
explored present-day Southwest U.S. from Texas and the Great Plains to the Sierra Madres, looking for "Eldorado" or "City of Gold" told of in Native American folklore, first European to see the Grand Canyon -
Period: Dec 13, 1577 to Sep 26, 1580
Francis Drake
privateer, or government-sponsored pirate, hired by Queen Elizabeth I to raid Spanish ships and ports in the Caribbean, became the first Englishman to circumnavigate the globe on his ship The Golden Hind, successfully helped protect England against the Spanish Armada in 1588 -
Samuel de Champlain
explored St. Lawrence River and eastern Canada looking for the Northwest Passage, established the first permanent French colony in America, it was the city of Quebec -
Period: to
Rene RobertCavalier Sieur de la Salle
explored northeastern North America looking for a water route from the Atlantic to the Pacific called the Northwest Passage, helped the Dutch claim the area of present-day New York and the English claim Eastern Canada, Hudson River (NY) and Hudson Bay (Canada) named for him -
Period: to
Henry Hudson
explored northeastern North America looking for a water route from the Atlantic to the Pacific called the Northwest Passage, helped the Dutch claim the area of present-day New York and the English claim Eastern Canada, Hudson River (NY) and Hudson Bay (Canada) named for him -
Vitius Bering
explored northern Pacific and Arctic Oceans, gave Russia a claim in the New World, explored coastline from Alaska to Oregon, proved Asia and North America were separate continents, strait between the two continents is named for him -
RoaldAmundsen
first man to successfully sail the Northwest Passage in an icebreaking cruiser, first man to reach the South Pole by land -
Robert E. Peary
first man to reach the North Pole -
Richard E. Byrd
first to fly an aircraft over the North Pole, first man to fly an aircraft over the South Pole
