-
Oct 12, 1492
Christopher Columbus reaches the Bahamas
Columbus (Italian by birth, but sailing for Spain) reached the Bahamas and Hispaniola. He claimed the islands for Spain and made three subsequent voyages to the New World. His "discovery" changed the world forever. -
Jan 1, 1500
Pedro Cabral
Cabral is the first European to "officially" discover Brazil, claiming it for Portugal. His claim was the first to unite Europe, Africa, the Americas and Asia.
Please note January 1 is not the exact date.
image: simple.wikipedia.org -
Jan 1, 1513
Juan Ponce de Leon discovers Florida and the Yucatan
Ponce de Leon searched for the Fountain of Youth in Florida as well as explored the American Southeast for Spain. www.es.wikipedia.org -
Jan 1, 1519
Hernan Cortes discovers Tenochtitlan, the Aztec capital.
Cortes discovered the Aztec capital, the site of present-day Mexico City. Within 2 years he conquered the Aztecs, claiming their gold for Spain. image: www.en.wikipedia.org -
Jan 1, 1524
Giovanni Verrazano explores Cape Fear to Maine
Verrazano explored from present-day Cape Fear, NC to Maine for France (even thought he was Italian.) He discovered the mouth of the Hudson River. image: www.commons.wikimedia.org -
Jan 1, 1524
Francisco Pizarro explores Panama to Colombia
Francisco Pizarro From 1524-1525 Pizarro explored from central America to South America and encounters the fierce Incas. He will eventually conquer them, executing the chief Atahualpa and taking Machu Pichu in the Andes. image: www.en.wikipedia.org -
Jan 1, 1535
Cartier explored the St. Lawrence River in Canada
Jacques CartierJacques Cartier explored the Canadian interior via the St. Lawrence River for France. He reached present-day Montreal. -
Henry Hudson explores the eastern coast of the present-day United States
Henry Hudson 1607-1609: Hudson explores the coast of Greenland in 1607 and then in 1609 he sailed up the Hudson River as far as present-day Albany, New York for England. image: www.tl.wikipedia.org
