Early Explorers

Let's investigate the early explorers of America.

We will try to figure out where they came from and what motivated their travels to America.

Here is a website that will help with our investigation: Click here

EXPLORER                  COUNTRY       YEAR[in order]         GEOGRAPHIC AREA EXPLORED    

                     
Columbus                       Spain                  1492                             Sailed westward to find route to China, found the New World
John Cabot                   England            1497                             Sailed to the Grand Banks while doing the same thing
Amerigo Vespucci       Italy                    1498                             Sailed South America's coast - later maps called it "America"
Vasco Da Gama          Portugal            1498                             Sailed around the tip of Africa and reached the Indies
Vasco de Balboa          Spain                 1513                            Crossed Panama southward, finding the "South Sea," the Pacific
Ponce de Leon               Spain                1513                             Landed in what is now Florida, claimed North America for Spain
Ferdinand Magellan    Spain                 1519                             First to sail around the world - around South America
Hernando Cortez          Spain                 1519                             Conquered the Aztec Empire of Mexico City
Verrazano                        France              1524                             Explored North America from North Carolina to Newfoundland
Cabeza de Vaca          Spain                 1527                             Explored Gulf Coast America by land for seven years, record it
Francisco Pizarro            Spain                 1531                             Conquered the Inca Empire of Peru, claimed it for Spain
Jacques Cartier             France              1534                             Sailed the St. Lawrence River, claimed it for France
Hernando De Soto        Spain                 1539                             Explored deep into North America, claimed it for Spain
Coronado                        Spain                 1540                             Explored North America's West to Kansas, claimed it for Spain
Tristan De Luna               Spain                 1559                            Short settlement in Mobile where his people explored Alabama
Pedro Menendez           Spain                  1565                            Founded St. Augustine, oldest lasting city in North America
Sir Francis Drake             England             1577                            Treasure ship pirate, chased Spanish ships all over the world
Sir Walter Raleigh          England              1585                            Founded and lost the first English colony in North America
The Pilgrims                      England             1620                            Sailed the Mayflower to Plymouth to attain religious freedom

There were many countries and many motivating factors.