1. European Explorers

2. DateExplorerCountry Sailed PurposeAchievements 1000Leif EricsonNorwayExpand empire First European to reach N American mainland 1492Christopher Columbus SpainWestward water route to Asia Made four voyages to West Indies and Caribbean Islands – unknown land. 1497Amerigo Vespucci ItalyExplorationSailed to West Indies and coast of S. America 1497John CabotEnglandWestward water route to Asia Explored the shores of Newfoundland and Nova Scotia 1513Vasco de Balboa SpainExploration and adventure Discovered the Pacific Ocean 1513Ponce de LeonSpainSearched for Fountain of Youth Discovered and named the state of Florida 1520Ferdinand Magellan SpainWestward water route to Asia First to circle the globe

3. 1519Hernando Cortes SpainGain riches and power Conquered Aztecs in Mexico and rename the capital Mexico City 1523Francisco Pizarro SpainGain riches and power Conquered the Incas in Peru 1534Jacques Cartier FranceNorthwest passage to China Traveled the St. Lawrence and discovered Montreal 1539Hernando De Soto SpainGain riches and explore Florida Traveled the American Southeast and discovered the MS River. 1540 Francisco de Coronado SpainSearched of the Seven Cities of Gold/Cibola Explored the American Southwest (from Mexico to Kansas) 1577Sir Frances Drake EnglandCircum the globe and control the Pacific Ocean First English to sail the world and defeated the Spanish Armada-claimed California for England.

4. 1603Samuel de Champlain FranceExplore and find westward route to Asia Explored the St. Lawrence and setup a fur-trading post at Quebec- the first permanent French settlement in North America. 1609Henry HudsonHollandNorthwest Passage to China Explored the Hudson River 1672Father Marquette and Louis Joliet FranceExplorationExplored the MS River 1682Robert Renee LaSalle FranceExploration and trade First to travel the entire length of the MS River