1. The Explorers

2. Christopher Columbus
Born in Genoa, Italy in 1451; first job was a helper with his father’s cheese stand
Worked as a business agent after 1473 & sailed much of the Mediterranean
Married Filipa Perestrelo in 1479, but she either died or CC left her in 1485
Very interested in the Bible & Christianity; came to see his voyages in apocalyptic terms
Columbus was mostly wrong in his ideas: believed Japan was 2300 miles from Europe (actually 12,200)
Knowledge of the trade winds was CC’s big advantage

3. In 1485, CC proposes western voyage to King John II of Portugal, but is rejected; eastern route to Asia soon discovered
Italians reject CC in 1488, as does Henry VII of England; Ferdinand & Isabella of Spain agree to finance in 1492
CC will be made Viceroy of all lands he discovers; very generous terms bc monarchs doubt he’ll return
Landed in Bahamas on first voyage; became governor of Hispaniola in 1490s
Arrested for atrocities in 1499, dies in 1506

5. Prince Henry the Navigator
3rd child of the King of Portugal, born in 1394
Fascinated by Africa after capturing a Muslim port in Morocco
Hopes to find source of the African gold trade, starts exploring west coast in 1420s
Helps develop the caravel, a lighter ship that could sail further & faster
Henry was NOT a sailor, but financed many expeditions
Died in 1460

7. Vasco da Gama Born in Portugal in 1460 or 1469
Sailed to India, arriving on May 20, 1498; first European to reach India by sea
Helped shape the extensive Portuguese Empire, which would cover large parts of 4 different continents

8. Ferdinand Magellan
Born in northern Portugal in 1480, but served the King of Spain Charles I
Searching for a westward route to the Indies, discovered the Pacific Ocean & completed first circumnavigation of the world
Land in the Philippines in 1521, killed at the Battle of Mactan by a poisoned arrow shot by followers of Lapu-Lapu

9. Francisco Pizarro Born in Spain in 1471 or 1476
Mostly illiterate, he was a distant cousin of Hernan Cortes
Sailed to the New World in 1519 and made several expeditions into South America
Obsessed with finding riches, esp in Peru
Battle of Cajamarca: Pizarro & his force of 168 men defeats last Incan emperor Atahualpa who commands a force of 80,000
Assassinated by political enemies in 1541