LIST OF EUROPEAN EXPLORERS & ACCOMPLISHMENTS 2025-26

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Columbus (Spain)

Reached the Americas (1492) while seeking westward route to Asia.

Vespucci (Spain/Portugal)

Identified the Americas as a “New World”; America named after him.

Bartolomeu Dias (Portugal)

First European to sail around the Cape of Good Hope (1488).

Vasco da Gama (Portugal)

First to sail directly from Europe to India (1498).

Pedro Cabral (Portugal)

Claimed Brazil for Portugal (1500).

Balboa (Spain)

First European to see the Pacific Ocean from the Americas (1513).

Ponce de León (Spain)

Explored Florida, searching for the “Fountain of Youth.”

Cortés (Spain)

Conquered the Aztec Empire in Mexico (1519-1521).

Magellan (Spain)

Led the first expedition to circumnavigate the globe (1519-1522).

Pizarro (Spain)

Conquered the Incan Empire in Peru (1532-1533).

Verrazzano (France)

Explored Atlantic coast of North America, incl. New York Harbor (1524).

Cartier (France)

Explored St. Lawrence River; claimed Canada for France (1534–42).

Champlain (France)

Founded Quebec (1608), “Father of New France.”

Marquette/Joliet (France)

Explored and mapped the Mississippi River (1673).

Hudson (England/Dutch)

Explored Hudson River and Hudson Bay seeking Northwest Passage.

Cabot (England)

Reached Newfoundland (1497); gave England first claim in North America.

Drake (England)

First Englishman to circumnavigate globe (1577–80); raided Spanish ships.

La Salle (France)

Explored Mississippi River to its mouth; claimed Louisiana for France (1682).