Explorer Cards for stations activity

Christopher Columbus Voyages 1492 - 1504 Christopher Columbus was born in Italy and in his life sailed to all of the known parts of the world. He was captivated by stories he heard about the wealth of Asia, especially the area known as the Indies (China and the islands of Southeast Asia.) Columbus worked for years on a plan to reach Asia by sailing west across the Ocean Sea (which was the Atlantic Ocean). He thought that sailing west was a more direct way to reach Asia. In 1482, Columbus talked with the king of Portugal about his plan, but the king did not support him. In 1485, Columbus spoke with Queen Isabella and King Ferdinand of Spain. At the time, Ferdinand and Isabella were more concerned with life in Spain than in foreign exploration. They were working in Spain to convert all of the people to the Catholic religion. However, in 1492, they finally supported his plan in hopes that they could claim new land for Spain and spread Catholicism there. On August 3, 1492, Columbus and 90 sailors set sail from Spain on three ships: the Niña, the Pinta and the Santa María. On October 12, they arrived on an island that Columbus named San Salvador, which means “Holy Savior.” Columbus believed that he had reached the Indies and called the native people he found there Indians. The islands that Columbus visited are still referred to as the West Indies to this day. Christopher Columbus Voyages 1492 - 1504

In 1497, the king of England paid Italian sailor Giovanni Caboto, to lead an expedition to China. Caboto set a course across the Atlantic that carried him to the north. It is believed that he landed on the coast of Newfoundland, a part of Canada. When Caboto returned to England, he told people that the land he had found was so full of fish that he could lower baskets into the water and they would be filled with fish. He claimed he had found Cathay. Caboto became a great hero, and the English gave him the name John Cabot. Giovanni Caboto Voyage 1497

In 1499, Italian sailor Amerigo Vespucci sailed on a voyage down the coast of South America. He looked for signs that he had reached Asia. He doubted that Columbus had reached the Indies and that Caboto had reached Cathay. Vespucci had studied writings of the astronomer Ptolemy (Tah-luh-me). He learned that Asia was smaller and the earth was larger than people believed they were. He also realized that Caboto and Columbus had found a new continent and they had never reached Asia. In 1507 mapmaker Martin Waldseemuller (Vault-zay-moo-ler), created the first map that included this new continent. He named it after Vespucci, calling it America. Amerigo Vespucci Voyages 1499 - 1502

In 1513, Balboa set out on an expedition to prove Vespucci’s idea that there was an unknown continent. He crossed the Isthmus of Panama. An isthmus is a narrow strip of land that connects two larger areas of land. The Isthmus of Panama connects North America and South America. Balboa’s exploration landed there and moved west until they came to an uncharted ocean. This is now known as the Pacific Ocean. Vasco Nunez de Balboa Voyages 1501 1513

In 1522, Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan headed a Spanish expedition to prove Columbus’ theory that there was a western passage to Asia. Magellan set sail with 5 ships and 250 sailors. They sailed to the west and landed in what is now Brazil. From there, his expedition sailed south around the Eastern coast of South America. They explored many of the rivers in the continent hoping that one would lead out to the ocean, but none did. Magellan and his crew fell on many hard times. They encountered rough seas, storms with huge waves, disease, and hunger. Four ships were lost. They sailed back down to the coast and finally found a narrow water passage way that led to an uncharted ocean which he named the Pacific Ocean. Pacific means “peaceful.” The narrow passage of water he sailed on is now known as the Strait of Magellan. Magellan was killed during a battle with a group of native people on one of the Philippine Islands they he landed. Only one ship and 18 sailors made it around the world and back to Spain. Ferdinand Magellan 1519 - 1522