Explorers of the Age of Exploration
Portugal
Bartholomew Dias- (1450-1500) Bartholomew rounded the southern tip of Africa, or the Cape of Good Hope, in 1488. He was the first explorer to do this. Bartholomew's exploration opened up a trade route between Portugal and Asia.
Vasco da Gama- (1469-1525) Vasco da Gama, building on Dias' route, completed the all water trade route between Portugal and India in 1497. Gama crossed the Arabian Sea and reached the port of Calicut, India. Vasco brought back Indian goods which created a huge demand for them. This was a huge blow to the Italian monopoly of trade with Asia.
Amerigo Vespucci- (1454-1512) Amerigo Vespucci explored Brazil which was in the new continent of the New World. In 1507, a German cartographer created a new map using Vespucci's letters about his voyage. The cartographer named the territory known as South America in Vespucci's honor. This was the first time "America" was in print.
Alfonso de Alburquerque- (1453-1515) Alfonso set up a port at Goa, on the western coast of India. This port became a headquarters for Portuguese operations. He also conducted raids of Arabian shippers. Albuquerque sailed into Malacca in 1511. Alfonso also seized control of and destroyed the Arabian spice trade.
Vasco da Gama- (1469-1525) Vasco da Gama, building on Dias' route, completed the all water trade route between Portugal and India in 1497. Gama crossed the Arabian Sea and reached the port of Calicut, India. Vasco brought back Indian goods which created a huge demand for them. This was a huge blow to the Italian monopoly of trade with Asia.
Amerigo Vespucci- (1454-1512) Amerigo Vespucci explored Brazil which was in the new continent of the New World. In 1507, a German cartographer created a new map using Vespucci's letters about his voyage. The cartographer named the territory known as South America in Vespucci's honor. This was the first time "America" was in print.
Alfonso de Alburquerque- (1453-1515) Alfonso set up a port at Goa, on the western coast of India. This port became a headquarters for Portuguese operations. He also conducted raids of Arabian shippers. Albuquerque sailed into Malacca in 1511. Alfonso also seized control of and destroyed the Arabian spice trade.
Spain
Christopher Columbus- Christopher Columbus reached the Bahamas in 1492. He believed he had reached the "Indies" somewhere east of India. Columbus had 4 voyages in total. He reached all of the major islands of the Caribbean and the mainland of Central America. Christopher was determined to find a direct water route to Asia but instead reached the Americas. Columbus ushered in the era of European exploration and domination of the New World.
Vasco Nunez de Balboa- (1475-1517) Vasco discovered the Pacific Ocean after crossing the Isthmus of Panama in 1513. Balboa claimed the Pacific and all of its shores for Spain. Vasco also helped establish the first stable settlement in South America at Darien, on the Isthmus of Panama, in 1513.
Ferdinand Magellan- (1480-1521) Ferdinand was the first explorer to circumnavigate the globe. It took three years to complete the voyage. In 1467, Magellan himself died due to injury from one of their battles. Magellan's ambitious expedition proved the world could be circled by sea and showed that the world was much larger than imagined.
Vasco Nunez de Balboa- (1475-1517) Vasco discovered the Pacific Ocean after crossing the Isthmus of Panama in 1513. Balboa claimed the Pacific and all of its shores for Spain. Vasco also helped establish the first stable settlement in South America at Darien, on the Isthmus of Panama, in 1513.
Ferdinand Magellan- (1480-1521) Ferdinand was the first explorer to circumnavigate the globe. It took three years to complete the voyage. In 1467, Magellan himself died due to injury from one of their battles. Magellan's ambitious expedition proved the world could be circled by sea and showed that the world was much larger than imagined.
England
John Cabot- John made 2 voyages along the northeast coast of North America on behalf of England's King Henry VII. Cabot hoped to find the Northwest Passage. The Northwest Passage is a sea route that connects the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.
France
Jacques Cartier- (1491-1557) Jacques' first voyage was to Canada in search of the Northwest Passage. He sailed up the St. Lawrence River to Quebec City. Cartier established France's claim to North America.