Explorers

Front

An Italian merchant who wrote a book about his travels to the Far East along the Silk Road.

Back

Marco Polo

Front

The conquistador defeated the Aztecs and conquered Mexico for Spain.

Back

Hernan Cortes

Front

This navigator landed on the North American mainland and named the region Florida.

Back

Ponce de Leon

Front

In 1492, this explorer sailed the ocean blue.

His three ships were the NIna, Pinta, and Santa Maria.

Back

Christopher Columbus

Front

French explorer looking for the Northwest Passage. He traveled up the Saint Lawrence River into what is now Quebec, Canada.

Back

Jacques Cartier

Front

This explorer overthrew the Inca leader Atahualpa and conquered Peru.

Back

Francisco Pizarro

Front

This explorer helped Pizzaro conquer the Incas. He also explored the mouth of the Mississippi River.

Back

Hernando de Soto

Front

Although his ship succeeded in circumnavigating the entire world, he did not survive the entire trip.   

Back

Ferdinand Magellan

Front

A major river in New York is named after him.  The territories he charted were split between British and Dutch claims.  His ship was called the Half Moon. 

Back

Henry Hudson

Front

In 1497, this Italian explorer thought he may have landed in China, but it was either Newfoundland or  Cape Breton Island in what is now Canada and claimed it for King Henry VII.

Back

John Cabot