Explorers/Colonizers Flashcards

For Humanities Social

Christopher Columbus

• Considered “discoverer” of America in 1492

• Italian that sailed for Spain.

Balboa

• Considered “discoverer” of Pacific Ocean

• Sailed & explored for Spain.

Amerigo Vespucci

• Cartographer of American coast line

• America was named after him

• Was Italian but sailed for many different countries

Pedro Cabral

• Sailed for Portugal

• Sailed & explored modern day Brazil

John Cabot

• Sailed for England

• Explored Northeast coast of America/US

Giovanni da Verrazano

• Italian

• Sailed and explored Atlantic coast line from Florida to Newfoundland.

Henry Hudson

• Sailed for England

• Explored upper Northeast US and Canada

Magellan

• First to circumnavigate the Earth

• Did not actually make it around the Earth; he was killed in raids in the Pacific

Hernan Cortez

• Conquered for Spain

• Massacred the Aztecs

Francisco Pizarro

• Conquistador

• Massacred the Incas in Peru for Spain

Jacques Cartier

• Sailed for France

• Claimed land in Northern US and Canada for French (later sold in Louisiana Purchase)

Samuel de Champlain

• Sailed for France

• Established Quebec

Robert la Salle

• Explored for French

• Claimed Mississippi River for French (New Orleans)

Ponce de Leon

• Explored for Spain

• Looked in Florida for the Fountain of Youth

Marquette and Joliet

• Sailed down Mississippi River doing Catholic missionary work for the French