European Explorers

This explorer was a viking from Scandinavia who was known for his red hair.

• Leif Ericsson

• Eric the Red

• Prince Henry

• Hernan Cortes

This explorer was the son of Eric the Red and was most likely one of the first Europeans to land in North America.

• Bartholomeu Dias

• Christopher Columbus

• Ferdinand Magellan

• Leif Ericsson

This explorer was the son of Portugal's king. He helped developed the ship the caravel, and opened a school to teach map making and navigation.

• Juan Ponce de Leon

• Vasco da Gama

• Hernando de Soto

• Prince Henry

This explorer led an expedition of 3 ships to Africa and was the first to successfully sail around the tip of Africa.

• Hernan Cortes

• Bartolomeu Dias

• Hernando de Soto

• Francisco Vasquez de Coronado

This explorer followed Bartolomeu Dias' route and was the first European explorer to reach Asia (India) by boat.

• Leif Ericsson

• Christopher Colombus

• Vasco da Gama

• Juan Ponce de Leon

This explorer sailed from Spain with 3 ships, the Nina, the Pinta, and the Santa Maria looking for a new route to Asia by sailing west from Europe.

• Eric the Red

• Leif Ericsson

• Ferdinand Magellan

• Christopher Columbus

This explorer was a conquistador who led an expedition to Mexico hoping to find the Aztec Empire and all its riches.

• Hernan Cortes

• Ferdinand Magellan

• Vasco da Gama

• Bartolomeu Dias

This explorer traveled along the coast of South America looking for a new route to Asia. He was killed in battle but his crew continued sailing and his ship was the first ship to sail completely around the world.

• Ferdinand Magellan

• Christopher Columbus

• Bartolomeu Dias

• Prince Henry

This explorer wanted to find a kingdom her heard about that was full of gold. He never found this place because it didn't exist, but he did claim the land of present day New Mexico and Florida.

• Vasco da Gama

• Ferdinand Magellan

• Leif Ericsson

• Francisco Vasquez de Coronado

This soldier and explorer was in search of the fountain of youth. He never found the fountain of youth, but did arrive in Hispaniola, Puerto Rico, and Florida.

• Christopher Columbus

• Juan Ponce de Leon

• Prince Henry

• Hernando de Soto