| Term | Definition |
|---|
| Bartolomeu Dias | 1487 Portugal, Sailed to tip of Africa called the Cape of Good Hope, Inspired further expeditions to search for route to Asia |
| Vasco da Gama | 1497, Sailed around the Cape of Good Hope to India, Gave Portugal water route to Asia |
| Christopher Columbus | 1492, Sailed across the Atlantic and discovered San Salvador, |
| Amerigo Vespucci | 1501, Sailed across Atlantic looking for a sea route to Asia, Realized lands discovered by Columbus were part of a new continent – America was named after him |
| Vasco de Balboa | 1513, Traveled through the jungles of Panama & reached the Pacific Ocean- Named it South Sea, |
| Ponce de Leon | 1513, Traveled through Florida looking for the Fountain of Youth, Led to Spanish settlement in Florida |
| Ferdinand Magellan | 1519, Sailed W around South America to reach Asia – first to sail around the world –voyage took 3 years,1st expedition to circumnavigate the globe, Proved world was round and much bigger than previously thought |
| Hernando Cortez | 1519, Landed on the coast of Central American & defeated the Aztecs, Claimed Mexico for Spain |
| Francisco Pizarro | 1531, Led an expedition to Peru, Gave Spain huge land claim to coast of South America (Peru) |
| Hernando de Soto | 1539, Traveled through Florida and SE America looking for cities of gold, Claimed Southeast US for Spain |
| Francisco Coronado | 1540, While looking for Cities of Gold traveled through present day Arizona and New Mexico, Claimed Southwest US for Spain |
| Giovanni da Verrazzano | 1524, Looked for NW passage Explored Atlantic coastline of NA from Carolinas to Canada, Discovered NY Harbor |
| Jacques Cartier | 1534, Explored Canada looking for the NW passage, traveled up the St. Lawrence River to Montreal, Discovered St. Lawrence River |
| Father Jacques Marguette & Louis Joliet | 1673, Found the Mississippi River, Expanded fur trade and established a fort in Canada for France |
| Robert La Salle | 1682, First European to travel the length of the Mississippi, Expanded fur trading along Mississippi River for France |
| Samuel de Champlain | 1608, Started a fur trading post in Quebec, Known as Father of New France, discovered lake named for him, explored St. Lawrence River, Established French colonies in the New World |
| John Cabot | 1497, Looked for NW passage , Voyage was basis for future English colonies along coast of NA |
| Sir Francis Drake | 1577, "Seadog" raided Spanish ships, 1st Englishman to sail around the world |
| Henry Hudson | 1609 –Dutch, 1610 England, Looked for NW passage, Discovered Hudson Bay |
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