Explorers Chart

1. Explorers Chart Unit 3

2. Juan Ponce De Leon • Explored For – Spain • Explored – N. America • Why – Searching for the Fountain of Youth • Date – 1513 • What – Present Day Florida • Description – Set sail from Puerto Rico and sailed around Florida became the 1st Spanish to set foot in the United States.

3. Hernando Cortez • From – Spain • Explored – The Aztec Empire in what is now Mexico • Why – Sent by the Spanish government to look for gold. • When – 1519 – 1538 • Accomplished conquering the Aztec Empire • Description – Sailed from Spain to Mexico.

4. Franciso Pizarro • Country – Spain • Explored the West Coast of S. America near the Andes Mts. • Why – Searching for an empire that was richer and more powerful than the Aztecs. • When – 1531 – 1535 • Accomplished conquering the Inca Empire. • Description – Sailed from Panama and landed in S. America on the west coast.

5. Ferdinand Magellan • Portuguese • Explored around Brazil & S. America. Passed through the Straight of Magellan, across the pacific Ocean, Philippines, and back to Spain. • Why – Wanted to reach Asia west around the Americas • When – 1519 – 1522 • Accomplished – One of his ships was the 1st to sail around the world. He died on his voyage. • Description – From Spain westward to Asia

6. Samuel de Champlain • French • Explored the forest of eastern Canada • Why – Sent to map the places where beavers were found. • When – 1603 • Discovered the 1st settlement in Quebec • Description – Sailed from France to Canada

7. Hernando De Soto • Spain • Explored the Southeastern part of the United States • Why – Searching for gold • When – 1539 – 1542 • He became the first European to see the Mississippi River. • Route – Left Spain and traveled to Florida then Georgia then South Carolina then North Carolina the Tennessee and ended in Alabama.

8. Jacques Cartier • France • Explored the Gulf of St, Lawrence • Why – Searching for a water route to Asia, the Northwest Passage. • When – 1534 • He achieved sailing up the St. Lawrence River and began a fur trade with Huron. • Sailed from Spain to the Northern part of North America.

9. Francisco Coronado • Spain • Explored Southwestern North America. • Why – was searching for Seven Cities of Gold. • When – 1540 – 1542 • He led an expedition from Mexico City to Southwestern United States. • From Mexico to Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma, and Kansas.

10. Christopher Columbus • Italian born Spanish explorer • Explored the Island of Guanahani • Why – Searching for a way to reach Asia by sailing West instead of going around Africa. • When – 1492 • He discovered a new land which is now known as the Americas. • He walked thousands of miles through mountains and deserts to go from Italy to China.

11. Marco Polo • Italy • Explored Asia • Why – Went with his father and uncle who were traders and had heard stories of the riches of the land. • When – 1271 • He wrote a book about his travel to Asia that helped Europeans.

12. Amerigo Vespucci • Italy • Explored present day America. • Why – He wanted to prove that Christopher Columbus did not reach Asia. • When – 1499-1501 • He determined that the land was a new continent. America was named after him. • Sailed down the coast of South America.

13. Vasco de Gama • Portugal • Explored around the southern tip of South Africa. • Why – He was looking for a sea route to Asia. • When – Between 1497-1499 • Found a sea route to Asia . Was able to reach India and bring a ship full of spices back to Portugal. • Left Europe and went around the southern tip of Africa then to Asia. Sailed around the Cape of Good hope to India.

14. Balboa • Spain • Explored the west coast near the Isthmus of Panama. • Why – Looking for a route to Asia • When – 1513 • 1st European to see the Pacific ocean, reach the western coast of Americas, & proved the Americas were separate from Asia. • Left Spain and went through the Isthmus of panama which connects North and South America.