Explorers of the New World

Front

Searched Florida for the fountain of youth in 1513.

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Juan Ponce de León

Front

Claimed land for Spain in the American Southwest while searching for a rich kingdom of gold, silver, and jewels.

Back

Francisco Vázquez de Coronado

Front

Destroyed Aztec Empire in 1521.

Back

Hernán Cortés

Front

First explorer to circumnavigate the earth in 1519.

Back

Ferdinand Magellan

Front

Sailed American Southeast and discovered the Mississippi River in 1542.

Back

Hernando de Soto

Front

Wanted to sail west to go east. Given credit for discovering North America in 1492.

Back

Christopher Columbus

Front

Sailed around Africa and made it to India in 1499.

Back

Vasco da Gama

Front

Traveled around the tip of Africa in 1488.

Back

Bartolomeu Dias

Front

Found and settled land in present-day Canada in 1001.

Back

Leif Erikson

Front

Started a school of navigation in 1419.

Back

Prince Henry the Navigator