Class Notes
ExplorerNation/DateLands claimed/contributions Leif EricsonNorway/1000 First European to reach North America Marco PoloItaly/ Traveled to the Far East (China); his book inspired people to travel. Prince HenryPortugal/ Created a school for navigation. Bartholomeu DiasPortugal/ First European to round the Cape of Good Hope; trying to find an all-water route to Asia. Christopher ColumbusSpain/ First European to settle North America. Made four journeys to the Caribbean Islands. Amerigo VespucciItaly/ Sailed to the west Indies and S. America; descriptions made people realize it was a new world; continents named after him.
ExplorerNation/DateLands claimed/contributions John CabotEngland/1497/1498Explored the coasts of Newfoundland, Nova Scotia and Labrador searching for a Northwest passage. Vasco da GamaPortugal/1498First to travel around Africa to reach India. Vasco de BalboaSpain/1513Led expedition across Panama and found the Pacific Ocean. Juan Ponce de LeonSpain/1513Explored Florida looking for the Fountain of Youth. Ferdinand MagellanPortugal/ Commanded the first voyage to sail around the world. Hernando CortesSpain/ Conquered the Aztec empire in Mexico.
ExplorerNation/DateLands claimed/contributions Giovanni de VerrazanoItaly/1523Searched for a Northwest passage Jacques CartierFrance/ Explored the St. Lawrence River; claimed lands for France Hernando de SotoSpain/ Explored the American Southeast; discovered Mississippi River. Sir Francis DrakeEngland/ Sea captain that helped to defeat the Spanish Armada. Samuel de ChamplainFrance/ Explored east coast of North America; claimed lands for France Henry HudsonEngland/ Discovered and claimed northern part of N. America Robert La SalleFrance/1682Claimed Mississippi River for France