Explorers

This explorer started the Age of Exploration.

• Christopher Columbus

• John Cabot

• Henry Hudson

• Juan Ponce de Leon

This explorer traveled further north than Columbus and claimed land for England.

• Henry Hudson

• Jacques Cartier

• John Cabot

• Giovanni da Verrazano

This explorer found the Pacific Ocean and set up colonies in South America.

• Henry de Soto

• Giovanni da Verrazzano

• Juan Ponce de Leon

• Vasco Nunez de Balboa

This explorer found gold in Puerto Rico and claimed Florida for Spain.

• Juan Ponce de Leon

• Christopher Columbus

• Hernando de Soto

• Vasco Nunez de Balboa

This explorer created improved maps and claimed New York Harbor.

• Giovanni da Verrazano

• Samuel de Champlain

• Henry Hudson

• John Cabot

This explorer explored the northern part of the new world, discovered the St. Lawrence River, and parts of Canada.

• Jacques Cartier

• Henry Hudson

• Samuel de Champlain

• Giovanni da Verrazano

This explorer discovered the Mississippi River covered 4,000 miles of land.

• Henry Hudson

• Jacques Cartier

• Christopher Columbus

• Hernando de Soto

This explorer discovered Lake Champlain and established settlements.

• Henry Hudson

• Jacques Cartier

• Juan Ponce de Leon

• Samuel de Champlain

This explorer discovered the Hudson River, set up settlements, and was abandoned by his crew.

• Samuel de Champlain

• Vasco Nunez de Balboa

• John Cabot

• Henry Hudson

This explorer set sail in 1492, landed in the Caribbean, and claimed land for Spain.

• Christopher Columbus

• Vasco Nunez de Balboa

• Juan Ponce de Leon

• Samuel de Champlain