Explorers Flashcards
1
Q
John Cabot
A
John Cabot
(1450-1498)
Italian
- First European to visit North America since the time of the Vikings
- John Cabot was the first European since the Norse Viking Leif Ericson to travel to North America. It is believed that he initially landed on Newfoundland in 1497.
2
Q
Bartolomeu Dias
A
Bartolomeu Dias
(1451-1500)
Portuguese
- First European to sail around the southern tip of Africa
- Bortolomeu Dias commanded the ship Sao Cristovao down the West coast of Africa and around the Cape of Good Hope. His discovery of this passage past the southern tip of Africa meant that Europeans would be able to trade with India directly without having to go through expensive middlemen in the Middle East.
3
Q
Christopher Columbus
A
Christopher Columbus
(1451-1506)
Italian
- Made first trips that started the Spanish colonization of the Americas
- Christopher Columbus made four total trips across the Atlantic Ocean which greatly helped to start and increase Spanish colonization in the “New World.” Columbus’ voyages led directly to an influx in European exploration throughout the world.
4
Q
Amerigo Vespucci
A
Amerigo Vespucci
(1454-1512)
Italian
- Found that the New World was not Asia, but actually a fourth continent
- Amerigo Vespucci was an Italian explorer who first discovered that the West Indies and Brazil were not part of Asia as initally thought, but rather a whole new continent. The new continent was named America, which is believed to be derived from his first name.
5
Q
Vasco da Gama
A
Vasco da Gama
(1460-1524)
Portuguese
- First European to reach India by sea
- Vasco da Gama commanded the very first ships that sailed nonstop from Europe to India. This voyage also made him the first European to get to India by sea. His finding of this route led to great increases in trade and boosted the Portuguese economy.
6
Q
Francisco Pizarro
A
Francisco Pizarro
(1471-1541)
Spanish
- Conquered the Inca Empire
- Francisco Pizarro led expeditions to take over the Incan Empire. He was motivated by stories of riches in the region and after three attempts he successfully conquered the area.
7
Q
Juan Ponce de Leon
A
Juan Ponce de Leon
(1474-1521)
Spanish
- Explored and named Florida
- Juan Ponce de Leon was a famous conquistador and explorer. In his life he was the first Governor of Puerto Rico, he successfully explored and named Florida, and is closely tied to the notion of the Fountain of Youth being in Florida.
8
Q
Ferdinand Magellan
A
Ferdinand Magellan
(1480-1521)
Portuguese
- First circumnavigation of the Earth
- Ferdinand Magellan’s crew was the first to successfully circumnavigate the world. The expedition lasted from 1519 to 1522. Magellan himself did not survive the journey as he was killed in a battle in the Philippines.
9
Q
Hernan Cortes
A
Hernan Cortes
(1485-1547)
Spanish
- Spanish conquest of the Aztec Empire
- Hernan Cortes was an explorer and conquistador during the time when Spanish colonization of the Americas had just begun. The expedition that he led was essentially the main cause of the fall of the Aztec Empire. The result was that a large chunk of what is now Mexico fell under the power of the King of Castile.
10
Q
Jacques Cartier
A
Jacques Cartier
(1491-1557)
French
- Claimed what is now Canada for France. Mapped the Saint Lawrence River and gulf
- Jacques Cartier is known for being the first European to take note of and map out the Saint Lawrence River shores and gulf. Most notably, he claimed what is present day Canada for France.
11
Q
Hernando de Soto
A
Hernando de Soto
(1496-1542)
Spanish
- Led first European expedition far into what is now the United States
- Explorer and conquistador Hernando de Soto led the first deep European expedition into present day United States. He is known for being the first European to cross the Mississippi River and his group spent a lot of time looking for gold and silver, as well as a passage to China.
12
Q
Francis Drake
A
Francis Drake
(1540-1596)
English
- Second circumnavigation of the Earth
- Sir Francis Drake of England led the second successful circumnavigation of the globe. He was known as a hero in England, but considered a pirate by the Spanish. In fact, Spanish King Philip II put the up equivalent of a $6.5 million dollar bounty for Drake’s life.
13
Q
Henry Hudson
A
Henry Hudson
(1565-1611)
English
- Searched for Northwest passage to China
- Henry Hudson twice attmpted to find a Northwest Passage to China by taking routes north of the Arctic Circle. During his trips he ended up exploring the area of what is now present day New York City. The Hudson River is named after him.
14
Q
Samuel de Champlain
A
Samuel de Champlain
(1574-1635)
French
- Founder of Quebec City and New France
- Known as the “Father of New France,” Samuel de Champlain is famous for helping to create settlements in present day Canada. He also made the first detailed map of the coastal regions of the area.
15
Q
John Smith
A
John Smith
(1580-1631)
English
- Helped establish Jamestown, Virginia. Mapped Chesapeake Bay and New England
- John Smith is famous for being an Admiral of New England. He established the initial permanent English settlement of Jamestown in North America and notably mapped New England and the Chesapeake Bay region. He is also known for his story of being saved by Pocahontas
