THE EXPLORERS THE GOOD, THE BAD, & THE UGLY

1. THE EXPLORERSTHE GOOD, THE BAD, & THE UGLY

2. JOHN CABOT KINGDOM: England YEAR of VOYAGE: 1497 DESTINATION: England to Canada and Newfoundland

3. JOHN CABOT John Cabot was an Italian explorer whose real name was Giovanni Caboto INTERESTING FACT: John Cabot’s true name was Giovanni Caboto (he adopted a more English-sounding name upon moving to England). Caboto grew up in Genoa, the home city of Columbus, and was roughly the same age as Columbus. The two may have even crossed paths as young sailors.

4. JOHN CABOT King Henry paid for Cabot’s expedition to help England compete for land and wealth INTERESTING FACT: Since England was the furthest major kingdom from the trading cities of Venice and Genoa, the price of spices from the East was astronomical! King Henry VII of England had turned down Columbus, and he decided that he would not make the same mistake when Cabot offered to sail east to China!

5. JOHN CABOT Although he did not find a route to the Far East, he did discover a route to the “northern lands” for England. Cabot brought back news of plentiful supplies of fish, as well as dense forests of towering trees. Fish and timber were important natural resources back in England.

6. JOHN CABOT THE GOOD: John Cabot set out to find a shorter route to Asia by sailing further north than Columbus did. John Cabot actually landed in present day New Foundland (Canada). He believed that he was somewhere near modern-day Japan.

7. JOHN CABOT THE BAD: England would soon begin sending fishing expeditions to the New World. English fishermen introduced diseases to the Native Americans that they encountered. INTERESTING FACT: King Henry VII was thrilled with Cabot’s description of the island he referred to as “new founde land” (Cabot conveniently left the island’s hazardous icebergs and swarms of mosquitoes out of his report). Cabot was given a hefty reward, command of six English ships, and orders to go and set up a trading colony on the island!

8. JOHN CABOT THE UGLY: Cabot ventured across the Atlantic on a second voyage in 1498. He and his son Sebastian were lost at sea when their ship presumably went down in a storm. Cabot’s misfortune became one of many cautionary tales that attested to the dangers of the Age of Exploration. INTERESTING FACT: While Columbus was given three ships and 90 sailors by the Spanish crown, Cabot was given one small ship and 18 crewmen by the King of England. The Matthew was even tinier than Columbus’ smallest ship, the Nina.

9. AMERIGO VESPUCCI INTERESTING FACT: Vespucci first sailed on a Spanish expedition in 1499 as a “gentleman tourist” in search of a star that remained fixed at the South Pole, like the North Star did in the Northern Hemisphere. King Manuel of Portugal financed Vespucci's voyages in 1501 and 1503 to investigate the Portuguese territory east of the Line of Demarcation (now known as Brazil) which had been accidently discovered by Pedro Cabral in 1500. KINGDOMS: Spain and Portugal YEARS of VOYAGE: 1499-1504 DESTINATION: Europe to South American coast

10. AMERIGO VESPUCCI Amerigo Vespucci was an Italian explorer who did not believe that Columbus had reached Asia

11. AMERIGO VESPUCCI THE GOOD: Amerigo Vespucci contributed immensely to European knowledge of the “New World” (a phrase that he actually coined). He took detailed notes on the constellations, the shape of the coastline, and the new tribes of people that he encountered. Most importantly, Vespucci wrote a widely-read letter in which he argued that he had been able to sail too far south for the land that Columbus had discovered to be the Indies or Cathay.

12. AMERIGO VESPUCCI THE LAND OF PARROTS! INTERESTING FACT: In 1500, Pedro Cabral was attempting to follow da Gama’s route to the Cape of Good Hope when his fleet was carried off course by strong winds. Cabral discovered a large land mass bulging out into the Atlantic Ocean which he claimed for Portugal. It was initially named the Land of Parrots, but in 1511 was renamed Brazil. Though Cabral receives credit for discovering Brazil, sources indicate that Vespucci may have explored the northern coast ten months earlier than Cabral did! THE MYSTERIOUS “NEW WORLD”!

13. AMERIGO VESPUCCI THE BAD: In his letters, Vespucci often wildly exaggerated what he saw in the New World. However, his writing was enjoyed all over Europe. After all, the people of Europe loved hearing about the strange and mysterious lands across the ocean! Editors who later printed Vespucci’s famous letters falsified the dates of his voyage to 1497 (which was the year before Columbus reached the coast of South America) in order to make Vespucci appear to be the discoverer of the nameless land massthat would later be christened “America”.

14. AMERIGO VESPUCCI WALDSEEMULLER MAP ~ 1507

15. AMERIGO VESPUCCI THE UGLY: In 1507, a German cartographer named Martin Waldseemuller began work on the first accurate map of the New World based on Vespucci’s journals. Accepting Vespucci’s claim to the discovery, Waldseemuller named the newly found continent “America” in honor of Amerigo.

16. AMERIGO VESPUCCI Vespucci’s voyage changed how the world was seen because he proved that the land he, Cabot and Columbus found was actually a whole new continent. INTERESTING FACT: Vespucci did not seek gold, but he did hope to achieve fame. His exploration of the South American coast added more than 3,300 miles to what cartographers had mapped of the New World! New World = “The Americas”

17. VASCO NUNEZ de BALBOA KINGDOM: Spain YEARS of VOYAGE: 1510-1519 DESTINATION: South America

18. VASCO NUNEZ de BALBOA Vasco Nunez de Balboa was a Spanish explorer who was one of the first Europeans to settle in the new world. INTERESTING FACT: Balboa was married twice, but never met his wives. Both marriages were arranged for political purposes.

19. VASCO NUNEZ de BALBOA THE GOOD: Vasco Nunez de Balboa was the first European to see the Pacific Ocean and establish a permanent settlement for Spain. He first explored present day Columbia. After an unsuccessful journey he decided to become a farmer. Unfortunately, he was not very good at farming and soon fell into deep debt.

20. VASCO NUNEZ de BALBOA THE BAD: In 1510 Balboa was so deep in debt that he stowed away on a ship and fled his creditors. In the new world he helped establish the settlement of Darien and was named acting govern. Then, without his knowledge, King Ferdinand II named Pedro Davila as the new governor. Balboa was named governor of Panama, but still had to answer to Pedro Davila. Tensions ran high between the two men. INTERESTING FACT: Balboa and Davila eventually made a peace deal. Balboa then married Pedro Davila’s daughter, Maria. Unfortunately, things did not stay peaceful for long!

21. VASCO NUNEZ de BALBOA THE UGLY: A few years after marrying Maria, Vasco Nunez de Balboa took another expedition to explore parts of the Isthmus of Panama and the coast of South America. While he was away, his enemy Pedro Davila was being removed from his role as governor. Davila was convinced that Balboa was behind his removal, so he had Balboa return home. Davila then put Balboa on trial and had him convicted of rebellion and treason. Vasco Nunez de Balboa was beheaded in 1519 for crimes he never committed!

22. FERDINAND MAGELLAN KINGDOM: Spain YEAR S of VOYAGE: 1519-1522 DESTINATION: The first circumnavigation of the globe INTERESTING FACT: Magellan was born in Portugal and served as a young page in the royal court. He was had likely been present when Columbus appeared before the Portuguese king during his return voyage to Spain. Magellan grew up and became a dedicated soldier, badly wounded three times while fighting for his kingdom. Despite his loyal service, he fell out of favor with King Manuel of Portugal. He left his homeland and went to Spain, taking his dream of sailing west to the Spice Islands with him.

23. FERDINAND MAGELLAN Ferdinand Magellan was a Portuguese explorer who named the Pacific Ocean and was first to circumnavigate (go all the way around) the world

24. FERDINAND MAGELLAN THE GOOD: In 1519, Ferdinand Magellan attempted to reach the Spice Islands by sailing west, a feat which would cement Spain’s place at the forefront of exploration and navigation. King Charles V of Spain supplied Magellan with five ships and 250 crewmen. In September of 1519, the fleet embarked on an epic voyage that would change the world. MAGELLAN’S DEPARTING FLEET: TRINIDAD, SANTIAGO, SAN ANTONIO, CONCEPCION, and VICTORIA

25. FERDINAND MAGELLAN THE GOOD: The fleet sailed west from Spain and reached the coast of South America. The voyage had already experienced many difficulties and threats of mutiny spread (the Spanish crew and captains were unwilling to put their trust in a foreigner). Magellan acted swiftly: two captains were executed and a third captain was marooned on the coast of Argentina.

26. FERDINAND MAGELLAN INTERESTING FACT: The Strait of Magellan was a veritable maze of rocky islands and inlets that led to nowhere. The passage of 344 miles took Magellan and his ships thirty-eight days to cross! When the ships began their voyage across the Pacific Ocean, the frustrated men had already been at sea for fifteen months! THE GOOD: Not long after quelling the mutiny, Magellan lost two ships: the Santiago sank during a storm and the captain of the San Antonio turned his ship around and sailed back to Spain. Down to three ships, Magellan pressed on. The fleet sailed through the treacherous passage at the tip of South America that would come to bear his name: the Strait of Magellan. INTERESTING FACT: In 1513, Spanish explorer Vasco Nunez de Balboa led an expedition through the jungles of Panama and became the first European to see the Pacific Ocean (he called it the South Sea) on the other side of the continent. Balboa waded into the surf and claimed the ocean and all lands touching it for Spain. Magellan would seek to cross this ocean, though he had no way of knowing just how vast it truly was.

27. FERDINAND MAGELLAN The fleet entered the vast Pacific Ocean believing that the Spice Islands were less than a week away…but Magellan grossly underestimated the distance. After more than three months of sailing, the food and water supplies were completely used up. Many starved to death…but just when hope seemed lost, the ragged fleet reached the island of Guam. With fresh supplies, the fleet sailed on and reached the Philippine Islands. . INTERESTING FACT: Magellan gave the Pacific Ocean its name, calling it the “Sea of the Pacific” (as in to be “pacified”). After crossing the treacherous and stormy Atlantic Ocean, the seemingly peaceful waters of the Pacific were a welcome relief. Unfortunately, Magellan and his crew had no way of knowing that the Pacific Ocean was nearly twice as wide!

28. FERDINAND MAGELLAN After the death of Magellan, his lieutenant Juan Sebastian el Cano took command of the Victoria, promised to find the Spice Islands, and complete the voyage back to Spain…and he did. Three years after the voyage began, the crew of the Victoria returned with a cargo hold filled with spices. The men had endured a journey of more than 43, 380 miles to become the first crew to circumnavigate the world. For the first time, Europeans had a true sense of the world. Now they knew that the world was not covered mostly by land but instead by vast oceans…and those oceans could be crossed! While in the Philippines, Magellan became involved in a tribal war. Although Magellan and his men were badly outnumbered, he believed his superior weapons would bring him victory. Magellan was wrong…and he paid with his life. . INTERESTING FACT: In a futile attempt to prove the power of the Christian God and Spanish weaponry, Magellan foolishly brought only sixty Spanish soldiers to face off against 1,500 native warriors from the island of Mactan. Unfortunately, the Spaniards arrived at low tide and the beach was too far out of range for the cannons on Magellan’s ships to provide an effective artillery barrage. Overwhelmed by a hail of arrows and spears at the outset of the battle, Magellan’s men retreated to their boats as the captain-general was surrounded and beaten to death on the beach.

29. FERDINAND MAGELLAN THE BAD: Juan Sebastian el Cano receives little credit for bravely completing a voyage that would certainly have fallen apart after Magellan’s death. Upon returning to Spain, the king seized the cargo of spices to pay for the cost of the lost ships. The crew received almost no payment for their service.

30. FERDINAND MAGELLAN THE UGLY: Out of the 250 men who had embarked on the voyage, only 18 returned alive. During the crossing of the Pacific Ocean, the crew was reduced to eating rodents, boot leather, and worm-infested flour. Many died from scurvy and starvation. INTERESTING FACT: After being at sea for so long, the water on board Magellan’s ships had become stagnant. The men had to hold their noses as they drank it. The biscuits they ate were filled with maggots and worms. Many of the men survived by eating rats and leather from their belts and shoes!