Key Explorers and Related Figures (VOCABULARY Flashcards)

Vocabulary-style flashcards covering key explorers, rulers, and related figures from the notes.

Marco Polo

Explorer (perhaps mythical) who traveled the land route to Asia.

Ptolemy

Greek geographer whose work described Africa, Asia and Europe.

Henry the Navigator

Portuguese prince who sponsored mapmaking, navigation & shipbuilding.

Bartholomeu Dias

Portuguese sailor who reached the southernmost tip of Africa, named it Cape of Torment.

Vasco da Gama

Portuguese captain who sailed to India and back.

Christopher Columbus

King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella sponsored his voyage to Indies, but he found the Caribbean and 'New World' instead.

Amerigo Vespucci

His letters about the new world to a mapmaker led to the name America.

Vasco Núñez de Balboa

Crossed the isthmus of Panama to find a huge ocean on the other side.

Ferdinand Magellan

His expedition made it all the way around the world, although he didn't.

Hernán Cortés

Spaniard who conquered the Aztec empire.

Montezuma II

Leader of the Aztec empire when Cortés arrived.

Quetzalcoatl

Aztec god that Aztecs confused with Cortés.

John Cabot

Claimed Canadian coast for England.

Sebastian Cabot

Explorer's son who explored coastal Canada & South America around the Rio de la Plata.

Hernando de Soto

Frightened Atahualpa with Pizarro then explored America from Florida to Mississippi.

Atahualpa

Leader of the Inca that was defeated and killed by Pizarro.

Francisco Pizarro

Spaniard who conquered the Inca.

Phillip II of Spain

Became extremely wealthy from the wealth of American territory.

Charles I of Spain/V HRE

From Charles I of Spain (and V of the Holy Roman Empire) inherited Spain, New Spain, Milan, Naples and Netherlands, then Portugal.

Henry Hudson

Explorer who claimed Hudson Bay for England and Hudson River for Netherlands.

Jacques Cartier

French explorer who founded Quebec & explored Lake Champlain, New York & Ontario.

Samuel de Champlain

French explorer of St Lawrence and Great Lakes area.