-
1000
Lief Erickson - Viking
1st European to reach N. America. -
1487
Bartolomeu Dias sailed for Portugal
Sailed to the bottom of Africa and found the Cape of Good Hope. (Bottom of Africa) -
1492
Christopher Columbus sailed for Spain
1st trip sailed to North America, across the Atlantic Ocean, believed he had reached Asia. -
1493
Christopher Columbus sailed for Spain
His 2nd Voyage to the Americas across the Atlantic Ocean. -
1497
Vasco Da Gama sailed for Portugal
1st to sail around Africa all the way to Asia. -
1497
John Cabot sailed for England
This Italian was sent to look for a northern sea route to Asia. -
1498
Christopher Columbus sailed for Spain
His 3rd Voyage to the Americas across the Atlantic Ocean. -
1499
Amerigo Vespucci
Sailed along the coast of S. America. He took such good notes about the coast that mapmakers were convinced this was not Asia and named the new land "America" in his honor. -
1500
Pedro Alavres Cabral sailed for Portugal
On his way around Africa he went too wide and ended up in Brazil, South America. -
1502
Christopher Columbus sailed for Spain
His 4th & final Voyage to the Americas across the Atlantic Ocean. -
1513
Vasco Nunez De Balboa sailed for Spain
He travels through Central America and is the 1st European to see the Pacific Ocean. (Largest ocean on earth) -
1513
Juan Ponce de León - Sailed for Spain
He went looking for the Fountain of Youth in modern day Florida. -
1519
Hernando Cortes sailed for Spain
Went into Central America (modern day Mexico) and conquered the Aztec. -
Period: 1519 to 1522
Ferdinand Magellan sailed for Spain
1st European to circumnavigate the globe. -
1520
Ferdinand Magellan sailed for Spain
He circumnavigated the globe. It took just under 3 years to do. -
1524
Giovanni De Verrazzano sailed for France
This Italian, was hired to look for a northern route(to Asia).He explored the coast of North America from present-day Nova Scotia to the Carolinas. -
1535
Jacques Cartier sailed for France
Sailed up to the St. Lawrence River, hoping it would lead to the Pacific. He did not find it. -
1542
Juan Cabrillo Sailed for Spain
He explorers up from Mexico and goes into modern day California. -
Henry Hudson sailed for Dutch
Sailed for the Dutch to find a passage through the Americas, discovered the river that now bears his name. -
Henry Hudson sailed for England
Sailed to find a passage to India, discovered a hug bay (Hudson Bay). -
Louis Joliet and Jacques Marquette sailed for France
They traveled the Mississippi by canoe, and were hoping to find precious metals and the Northwest Passage. -
Robert Cavelier de La Salle sailed for France
He followed the Mississippi all the way to the Gulf of Mexico.He claimed the Region for France, naming it Louisiana in honor of Louis XIV.
