Early Explorers

This explorer was the first to reach the Pacific Ocean. He was the first to see it.

• Christopher Columbus

• Vasco Nunez de Balboa

• Amerigo Vespuci

• John Cabot

His crew was the first to successfully sail around the entire world. He died in a battle in the Philippine Islands though.

• John Cabot

• Ferdinand Magellan

• Christopher Columbus

• Amerigo Vespucci

He was a Spanish explorer who claimed land for Spain that is now the state of Florida. He was looking for the Fountain of Youth. He became the first Spanish explorer to set foot on land that became part of the United States.

• Juan Ponce de Leon

• Vasco Nunez de Balboa

• John Cabot

• Ferdinand Magellan

His name was eventually used in naming the continents North and South America. He was the man who finally figured out they were not in Asia. He sailed down the coast of South America.

• John Cabot

• Juan Ponce de Leon

• Amerigo Vespucci

• Christopher Columbus

This man wrote about riches and gold in Asia. He is one of the main reasons so many countries and people wanted to find a route to Asia.

• Christopher Columbus

• Marco Polo

• Amerigo Vespucci

• Juan Ponce de Leon

He was credited with finding America, but really didn't land in America. Wanted to find the East by sailing West. He was in search of finding Asia.

• Ferdinand Magellan

• Christopher Columbus

• Amerigo Vespucci

• Marco Polo

A navigational tool that early explorers used.

• Compass

• Pencil and Paper

• Ipad

• Computer

He was trying to find the Northwest Passage but got stuck in the frozen ice and snow. His crew mutinied against him by sending him out on a boat with 8 other crew members and he was never seen again.

• Christopher Columbus

• Henry Hudson

• Juan Ponce de Leon

• Hernando Cortez

These people were warriors, farmers, and loved telling stories. They discovered Iceland and Greenland.

• Vikings

• Marco Polo

• Ferdinand Magellan

• Henry Hudson

Explorers were trying to find a shortcut to _____________.

• Europe

• Africa

• Asia

• Antarctica