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1000
Leif Eriksson sponsored by N. America
In 1000 Leif Eriksson was blown off course by a storm and landed on coast of N. America. And was the 1st Europeans to reach N. America and got attack by Native Americans. -
1488
Bartolomeu Dias was sponsored by Africa
Bartolomeu Dias in 1488, sailed from Portugal aouthward made it to the bottom of Africa, discovering the southern tip of Afric, the Cape of Good Hope. -
1488
Pedro Alvares Cabral-sponsored by the country of Portugal
He is known of finding the country Brazil in south America and starting a settlement there for Portugal -
1492
Christopher Columbus and the Atlantic Ocean and America
Christopher Columbus sailed for Spain and tried to reach Asia by sailing west across the Atlantic, landed in the Americas but believed he had reached Asia (even when he died in 1506) he made 4 trips across the Atlantic. -
1497
Vasco da Gama was sponsored by country Africa.
Vasco da Gama in 1497, sailed all around Africa and all the way to India. Winning the European race for a sea route to Asia. -
1497
John Cabot sponsored by North America
Italian sailor John Cabot, sailing for the English, searched for a passage to the Pacific Ocean along the coast of Canada and Newfoundland This became the basis of English's claim to North America -
1499
Amerigo Vespucci led a voyage led funded by Spain.
Amerigo Vespucci led a voyage led funded by Spain. On this and a later journey for Portugal, he explored the coast of south america and then he realized south america was a separate continent and not a part of Asia -
1513
Vasco Nunez de Balboa-Sponsered by the country of Spain.
Known for landing in central America and discovering the Pacific Ocean. -
1513
Juan Ponce de Leon was sponsored by Spain
Juan Ponce de Leon made the first Spanish landing on east coast of present-day Florida in 1513. According to legend, Juan Ponce de Leon was not looking only for gold. -
1519
Hernan Cortes was sponsored by Spain.
In 1519 Hernan Cortes landed on the east coast of present-day Mexico. Within two years Cortes conquered the Aztec Empire that had ruled the region. Huge amounts of Aztec gold made Cortes and Spain wealthy. -
1520
Ferdinand Magellan the Portuguese explorer.
He was sailing from Spain and reached the southernmost tip of south america. He sailed through the story whether. -
1524
Giovanni de Varrazano
France hired another Italian, Giovanni de Varrazano, to look for a northern route. Verrazano explored the coast of North America from present-day Nova Scotia down to the Carolinas -
1528
Alvar Nunez Cabeza de Vaca was sponsored by Spain
Alvar Nunez Cabeza de Vaca was part of a Spanish expedition to Florida in 1528. After coming into conflict with Native Americans in Florida, the expedition sailed south toward Mexico in November. -
1531
Francisco Pizarro was sponsored by Spain
Francisco Pizarro led an army into Inca capital in Cuzco, Peru. The Spanish arrested and later executed the Inca ruler. Without their leader, the Inca were not able to fight effectively. -
1535
Jacques Cartier
Frenchman Jacques Cartier sailded down the Saint Lawrence river all the way to present-day Montreal, claiming lands for France -
1540
Francisco Vasquez de Coronado was sponsored in Spain
Francisco Vasquez de Coronado was another conquistador who searched for the Seven Cities of Cibola. His travels took him through northern Mexico and present-day Arizona and New Mexico. -
1541
Hernando de Soto was sponsored by Spain.
Hernando de Soto led an expedition to explore Florida and what is today the southeastern United States. For three years they traveled , following stories of gold. -
1542
Juan Cabrillo was sponsored by Spain
Juan Cabrillo first sighted what is now California in 1542. However, for 200 years the Spainish had left the area alone. -
Henry Hudson
Hudson sailed north on the Hudson River as far as the site of present-day Albany, New York. Deciding that he had not found a passage to India, he turned back. -
Henry Hudson
Hudson sailed north on the Hudson River as far as the site of present-day Albany, New York. Deciding that he had not found a passage to India, he turned back. -
Louis Joliet and Jacques Marquette
Louis Joliet is a fur trader and Jacques Marquette a priest traveled the Mississippi River by canoe. Joliet and Marquette hoped to find precious metals. -
Robert Cavelier de La Salle
Robert Cavelier de La Salle followed the Mississippi all the way to the gulf of Mexico.
