Christopher Columbus

Christopher Columbus was an Italian explorer and navigator who completed four voyages across the Atlantic Ocean, opening the way for European exploration and colonization of the Americas. He set sail looking for India, and did not know that America existed. When he came, he thought that he was in India and called the Native Americans Indians. It was not until Amerigo Vespucci discovered that America was not India. That is why America is called America! It is named after Amerigo! All of the lines below are the journey's of Christopher Columbus to North America.

Henry Hudson

Henry Hudson was an English sea explorer and navigator during the early 17th century, best known for his explorations of present-day Canada and parts of the northeastern United States. Near New York, Henry Hudson has a river named after him called the Hudson River. Look at the red line below.

Hernando De Soto

Hernando de Soto was a Spanish explorer and conquistador who participated in the conquests of Central America and Peru and discovered the Mississippi River.

John Cabot

John Cabot claimed land in Canada for England. He was an Italian navigator and explorer. His 1497 voyage to the coast of North America under the commission of Henry VII of England is the earliest known European exploration of coastal North America since the Norse visits to Finland in the eleventh century.

Vasco Núñez de Balboa

Vasco Núñez de Balboa was a Spanish explorer, governor, and conquistador. He is best known for having crossed the Isthmus of Panama to the Pacific Ocean in 1513, becoming the first European to lead an expedition to have seen or reached the Pacific from the New World.

Jacques Cartier

Jacques Cartier is best known as the first European to travel inland in North America. Claimed what is now known as Canada for France. Jacques Cartier was a French-Breton explorer. Below, the left is Canada and the on the right is Europe.