European Explorers

Date

Explorer Country Sailed

Purpose Achievements

1000

Leif Ericson Norway Expand empire

First European to reach N American mainland

1492

Christopher Columbus

Spain Westward water route to Asia

Made four voyages to West Indies and Caribbean Islands – unknown land.

1497

Amerigo Vespucci

Italy Exploration Sailed to West Indies and coast of S. America

1497

John Cabot England

Westward water route to Asia

Explored the shores of Newfoundland and Nova Scotia

1513

Vasco de Balboa

Spain Exploration and adventure

Discovered the Pacific Ocean

1513

Ponce de Leon

Spain Searched for Fountain of Youth

Discovered and named the state of Florida

1520

Ferdinand Magellan

Spain Westward water route to Asia

First to circle the globe

1519 Hernando Cortes

Spain Gain riches and power

Conquered Aztecs in Mexico and rename the capital Mexico City

1523 Francisco Pizarro

Spain Gain riches and power

Conquered the Incas in Peru

1534 Jacques Cartier

France Northwest passage to China

Traveled the St. Lawrence and discovered Montreal

1539 Hernando De Soto

Spain Gain riches and explore Florida

Traveled the American Southeast and discovered the MS River.

1540 Francisco de Coronado

Spain Searched of the Seven Cities of Gold/Cibola

Explored the American Southwest (from Mexico to Kansas)

1577 Sir Frances Drake

England

Circum the globe and control the Pacific Ocean

First English to sail the world and defeated the Spanish Armada-claimed California for England.

1603 Samuel de Champlain

France Explore and find westward route to Asia

Explored the St. Lawrence and setup a fur-trading post at Quebec- the first permanent French settlement in North America.

1609 Henry Hudson Holland Northwest Passage to China

Explored the Hudson River

1672 Father Marquette and Louis Joliet

France Exploration Explored the MS River

1682 Robert Renee LaSalle

France Exploration and trade

First to travel the entire length of the MS River