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Christopher Columbus was an Italian explorer and navigator. He was known for his voyages across the Atlantic Ocean to try and reach India, where he inadvertently found the Americas. His major journey paved the way for other European expansion. -
John Cabot was an Italian explorer but he sailed for England. He was known for his voyages to North America in the late 15th century. He was one of the earliest explorers in North America since the Vikings. These english expeditions led to them colonizing the New World quickly. -
Amerigo Vespucci was an Italian explorer whose voyages to the New World helped the Europeans learn that the Americas were two different continents. Before, everyone thought the Americas were connected to Asia. He explored the coast of South America, specifically along Brazil and Argentina. His letters describing these journeys provided important insights into the geography of the New World. -
Vasco da Gama was a Portuguese explorer who was known for pioneering the sea route to India around the southern tip of Africa, the Cape of Good Hope. This voyage established a direct route between Europe and Asia. This opened up trade routes for goods as well. This expedition helped the expansion of the Portuguese Empire. -
Pedro Álvares Cabral was a Portuguese explorer who was known for his discovery of Brazil. On his way to India, Cabral was blown off course, and he landed on the coast of what is now Brazil. In explorer fashion, Cabral claimed it for Portugal. This discovery expanded Portugal's influence in South America and even birthed Portugal's most valuable territory. -
Juan Ponce de León was a Spanish explorer who was known for his search for the Fountain of Youth and his exploration of Florida. Juan became the first known European to set foot on what would become the United States, to where he claimed Florida for Spain. He led European expansion into southeastern United States and he directly led Spain's expansion in the United States. -
Vasco Núñez de Balboa was a Spanish explorer who was known for being the first European to see the Pacific Ocean from the Americas. While exploring Panama, he crossed the Isthmus of Panama and reached the Pacific Ocean. In doing this he also claimed it for Spain because why not. His expedition proved there was another ocean on the other side of the Americas. This paved the way for others to explore further as he did. -
Ferdinand Magellan was a Portuguese explorer who is known for leading the first expedition to circumnavigate the globe, or go around the entire Earth. He did this for Spain. Ferdinand actually didn't even survive the whole thing as he was hit with a poison arrow and died. Magellan was also trying to find a westward route to the spice islands. Magellan also passed through the Strait of Magellan at the southern tip of South America. His expedition showed how large the ocean really is. -
Hernán Cortés was a Spanish conquistador who was known for leading the expedition that resulted in the fall of the Aztec Empire in present-day Mexico.Through a combination of military conquest, alliances with indigenous groups, and strategic diplomacy, Cortés overthrew the powerful Aztec ruler Montezuma II. Cortés' conquest marked the beginning of Spanish dominance in the Americas and showed other European powers they could do it too. -
Francisco Pizarro was a Spanish conquistador who was known for leading the expedition that resulted in the fall of the Inca Empire in modern-day Peru. Francisco captured the Inca emperor Atahualpa and, through military force and strategic alliances, the powerful empire was overthrown. This expedition opened up more opportunities for Spain to spread their influence in South America. -
Jacques Cartier was a French explorer who was known for his voyages to North America where he claimed parts of Canada for France. Jacques sailed up the St. Lawrence River, reaching what is now Montreal, and explored areas that would later become the heart of New France. Jacques led the French attempts at colonization in North America. -
Hernando de Soto was a Spanish explorer who was known for his extensive exploration of the southeastern United States. Hernando led an expedition through what is now Florida, Georgia, the Carolinas, and parts of Alabama, Mississippi, and Arkansas. In this expedition, he was searching for gold, as most explorers do. Hernando led one of the first expeditions into the interior of North America. -
Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo was a Portuguese explorer sailing under the Spanish flag, best known for his exploration of the West Coast of North America. he became the first European to set foot on what is now California, claiming the land for Spain and exploring the coastline. Juan paved the way for other Europeans and mainly Spaniards to explore the Pacific to try and claim territory. -
Francis Drake was an English explorer who was known for being the first Englishman to circumnavigate the globe. This achievement was important because it challenged the Spanish domination in sea expeditions. Francis went to the Pacific Ocean, the Americas, and Europe. He also helped defeat the Spanish armada in 1588 so he was helping everywhere. -
Walter Raleigh was an English explorer and writer who played a key role in the English colonization of the Americas. Walter sponsored an expedition to North America, which led to the establishment of the Roanoke Colony. Roanoke was the first English attempt at permanent settlement in the New World. Although it did not go so well, he was the first to push for actual settlement in the new world. -
Henry Hudson was an English explorer who was known for his attempts to find a northern passage to Asia through the Arctic. Henry sailed along the coast of North America, exploring the river that would later be named the Hudson River. He eventually reached present-day New York, and claimed the area for the Dutch. His expedition established some Dutch influence in North America. -
Abel Tasman was a Dutch explorer who is known for his voyages where he became the first known European to reach the islands of Van Diemen's Land, which is now Tasmania and New Zealand. Abel sailed to the southern parts of the Pacific Ocean, charting parts of Australia and New Zealand. His voyages expanded European knowledge. -
Vitus Bering was a Danish explorer working for the Russian Empire. Vitus was known for his explorations of the northern Pacific Ocean. He became the first European to navigate and chart the strait between Russia and Alaska, which is now known as the Bering Strait. His voyages expanded the European's knowledge of the Arctic and Pacific -
James Cook was an English explorer that was known for his detailed mapping of the Pacific Ocean. He explored Australia, New Zealand, and the Hawaiian Islands during the 18th century. James' expeditions greatly expanded European knowledge of the Pacific region. His time with the indigenous people also helped European expansion in these areas as well. -
William Clark was an American explorer one of the two people that led the Lewis and Clark Expedition. The expedition was tasked with exploring the western part of the United States after the Louisiana Purchase. Lewis and Clark navigated the Missouri River and crossed the Rocky Mountains to reach the Pacific Ocean, mapping vast territories. This journey expanded the knowledge of the west significantly for the Americans.