1. Henry the Navigator From Portugal
Started a school for navigators and explorers
Organized trips to sail around the continent of Africa

2. Bartholomeu Dias Portuguese Explorer
First to round the southern tip of Africa in 1488.
Named it Cape of Storms, later renamed Cape of Good Hope.
Didn’t travel to Asia, returned home.

3. Vasco da gama From Portugal First to establish a sea route to Asia
Lost half his ships and most of his crew

4. Christopher Columbus Italian Sailed across the Atlantic in 1492
Discovered Caribbean Islands (West Indies)
Came home to a hero’s welcome

5. Vasco Balboa Spanish Explorer
Sliced his way through the Panama jungle, to become first European to see Pacific Ocean
Called it the South Sea

6. Ferdinand Magellan Portuguese Explorer
Set out to circumnavigate the world
He was killed in the Philippines by natives
His crew returned to Portugal after his death

7. Hernando Cortez Spanish Explorer
Defeated the Aztec Empire, claiming modern day Mexico for Spain
Established Mexico City

8. Francisco Pizzaro Spanish Explorer
Defeated the Incan Empire in South America
Established the city of Lima, Peru

9. Jacques Cartier French Explorer
Explored the eastern coastline of Canada, claiming it for France
Discovered the St. Lawrence River

10. Juan Ponce de Leon Spanish Explorer
Named governor of several Spanish colonies
While searching for the Fountain of Youth, he discovered Florida and claimed it for Spain

11. Francisco Coronado Spanish Explorer
Searched for seven cities of gold north of Mexico
Became first European to explore the desert southwest
National Monument in Arizona