Vasco da Gama – First person to find an all water route to Asia Christopher Columbus– Believed he could find a faster water route to Asia by sailing west. He discovers island in the Caribbean “America”.

SHIPS COULD CARRY MORE, SEA ROUTES WERE SAFER THAN OVER LAND ROUTES, AND SEA ROUTES WERE FASTER. Amerigo Vespucci– First to realize that they hadn’t found Asia but a whole new continent. The Americas are named after him John Cabot – Explored the East coast of the North American continent and claimed land for England while looking for a Northwest Passage.

Ferdinand Magellan – First person credited with sailing around the world. He, however, did not make it all the way around the world he was killed in the Philippines.

A.European Explorers claimed land in North America for the country they were exploring for. B.Spain, England, France, and Holland (the Dutch) all claimed land on the North American continent. C.All of these countries wanted land and hopefully gold from the new world  Why did they expect to find gold in the New World?