Leif Eriksson Leif Eriksson was a Viking from Greenland. Vikings were combative, plundering seafarers or pirates. He sailed the northern Atlantic Ocean and settled briefly in North America which he called Vinland. He was the first to step foot in North America. Because Vikings were so aggressive with other Europeans, Leif did not share his discovery with other Europeans so North America remained unknown to most.
Marco Polo Marco Polo explored for Italy. He was a merchant and bought and sold goods. Marco Polo wanted to get valuable goods (spices and riches) from China and bring them back to Europe. He and his father set out on a 24 year journey when he was only a teenager. They traveled from Europe to China along the Silk Road, a network of routes between China and other lands. While traveling the Silk Road and when in China, Marco Polo saw many riches, tea, silk, and spices. He told stories of the great wealth that he had seen in other places and hoped that other Italians would believe him. Marco Polo s adventures sparked interest and encouraged future explorers such as Christopher Columbus to explore.
Prince Henry Prince Henry was from Portugal. Under his leadership, Portugal was the first to seek a water route to China. They wanted to be able to get spices and riches quicker than having to travel the Silk Road. Being right on the Atlantic Ocean made it easier for Portugal to start this adventure. Prince Henry and his men did not reach China by water. However, they did explore the coast of Africa. They brought back gold, created maps of the African coast, and started slave trade. His adventures helped begin the Age of Discovery. When Spain heard about Portugal s discoveries, Spain sent Christopher Columbus and others to explore the unmapped lands in the New World.
Christopher Columbus Christopher Columbus sailed for Spain in 1492. He was looking for a new and faster route to the spices in China. This was after Marco Polo had told so many great stories about what he had seen along his 24 year journey along the Silk Road. Because Portugal controlled the eastern route around Africa, Columbus decided to sail west. He thought the world was so small that he could reach the riches and spices in China by sailing west. Columbus did not reach China and he did not bring back riches from the Far East. Instead, he discovered the West Indies and wealth. After his exploration, the Spanish established many settlements in North and South America.
Henry Hudson Henry Hudson sailed for both England and the Netherlands. Like John Cabot, Henry Hudson wanted to find the Northwest Passage connecting the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. He wanted to find a shorter route to Asia to get spices and other riches. He did not find the Northwest Passage because it did not exist. Instead, Hudson claimed land that is now known as New York for the Dutch (Netherlands) and lands in Canada for England. The Hudson River and the Hudson Bay are named for Henry Hudson. The Dutch claimed the area around the Hudson River and established New Netherlands and New Amsterdam in what is today New York.
John Cabot John Cabot was an Italian who sailed for England. Cabot was looking for a faster route to the Indies (Asia) known as the Northwest Passage. Cabot tried to copy Columbus by sailing west, but hoped to be able to travel in the direction of northwest. The belief that the Northwest Passage linked the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans motivated many explorers to explore. The route was never discovered because such a route never existed. Cabot sailed near the Arctic Circle, but had no success. He claimed land in Newfoundland, Canada, for England.
Ferdinand Magellan Ferdinand Magellan was a Portuguese explorer who sailed for Spain in search of spices and other riches. He named the Pacific Ocean. His expedition was the first to circumnavigate around the world. Along his journey, he claimed more lands for Spain. His crew proved that sailing around the world was possible, but at great cost. Magellan died before his journey ended.
Robert LaSalle Robert La Salle explored for France. He explored the Mississippi River looking for its mouth. H claimed land along the Mississippi River named the area Louisiana for France. As a result, the French explored the St. Lawrence River and the length of the Mississippi River to what is now New Orleans and claimed all of this land as New France.
Hernando de Soto Hernando de Soto sailed for Spain in search of gold. He was a Spanish conquistador. De Soto explored the southeastern part of North America. He claimed the land he explored for Spain. As a result, Spanish explorers claimed Florida and the southwest region of what is today the United States. Spain named all of this land New Spain.