Explorer
Date
Sailed For
Prince
Henry the
Navigator
Bartolomeu
Dias
Christopher
Columbus
Vasco De
Gama
MOTIVATIONS
Nationality
Details/Information
Economic
Political
Social
Other
1394- Portuguese
1460 Never
sailed
Sent
expeditions
Gold –
Africa
Leading
Sea
Power
Spread
Christianity
Trying to
get around
Italian
trade
monopoly
1487- Portuguese
1488
Portugal
Gold –
Africa
Leading
Sea
Power
Spread
Christianity
Trying to
get around
Italian
trade
monopoly
Spread
Christi
anity
With
Portugal
Spread
Christianity
Trying to
get around
Italian
trade
monopoly
Aug
1492
Italian
Spain
1497- Portuguese
1499
Portugal
Spicestrade
From
Asia
Spicestrade
From
Asia
Wester
ly
Route
to Asia
Gold –
Africa
Spicestrade
From
Asia
Leading
Sea
Power
Younger son of King of Portugal. Wanted to bring Fame
and Glory to Portugal by finding the source of gold in
Africa, finding a sea route to Asia for trade and by
making Portugal a leading sea power. Created a city of
scholars (expert navigators, sailor, sea captains,
astrologers, ship builders and navigators) Sent many
voyages, each reporting back their findings and increasing
knowledge, helping to make improvements to navigational
instruments, maps, ships (Caravel) etc. Spurred
exploration.
Continued the Portuguese voyages to find a water route to India.
Traveled down the West coast of Africa and was caught in a
storm and blown around the tip. Ships damaged and crew wanted
to return home. After turning around realized that they had
rounded the tip of Africa. Called it the Cape of Storms.
Returned to Portugal and King renamed it the Cape of Good
Hope. First European to round the tip of Africa.
Inspired by Marco Polo. Trains in Portugal. Thinks can reach Asia
quicker by traveling West. Portugal won’t finance. Spends 7 yrs
convincing the Spanish. Ferdinand and Isabella finance. Lands in
Bahamas, thinks it is India. 3 Voyages travels thru out Caribbean.
Settles Hispaniola (Haiti and Dominican Reb) Lies about the
amount of gold. Made governor of Santa Domingo only lasts 3
years and gets fired. Goes back to Spain and dies. Spurs
exploration in a westerly direction
Continued the Portuguese voyages to find a water route to India.
Instead of following Dias’s route along the coast stayed more out
to sea until he reached the latitude of the Cape of Good Hope
and turned East. Sailed up the Eastern coast of Africa until he
met a pilot who showed him the route to India. Returned to
Portugal wealthy. Became Portuguese Viceroy of India late in life
1497
Italian
(Giovanni
Caboto)
England
NW
Claim
Passage land for
To Asia England
1540
Spanish
Gold
John Cabot
Coronado
Champlain
Henry
Hudson
Spain
World
Power
1603- French
1616
France
NW
Passage
To Asia
1607- English
1611
NW
Claim
Passage land for
To Asia Dutch
or
England
1st. Dutch
2nd
England
Spread
Christi
anity
Spread
Christi
anity
Competing
with
England
and Spain
Competing
with Spain
and France
but died shortly after. First to reach India traveling around
Africa
Wants to explore, Italy won’t finance. England will send him
looking for a passage to Asia. Spain has searched the Southern
area. Avoids them and goes North. Lands in New Foundland.
Claims for England providing England with basis for land claims
in North America. Second voyage son’s ship damaged and
returns to England with an escort. John Cabot and other 3 ships
never seen again
Looking for Seven Cities of Cibala. Governor of Mexico sends him
on an expedition. Travels to present day New Mexico, meeting
the Pueblos Treats then badly. Then travels through out Arizona,
Texas, Oklahoma, and Kansas. Claimed Southwest NA for Spain
1604 – Founded 2 trade settlements in NA 1608 traveled down
St. Lawrence and established Quebec. Established a trade
warehouse. Formed an Alliance with the Algonians and Hurons,
fighting against the Iroquois. Wounded and abandoned by the
Indians finally made his way back the 500 mile to Quebec and
became Governor of New France. Considered the Father of New
France
Sailed for Grandfather’s and Sebastian Cabot’s trading company.
Thought could reach NW passage by going across North Pole.
Couldn’t make it. Got Dutch East India Co. to finance a more
southerly trip. Had a letter from John Smith about a route
north of Virginia. Landed in New York. And explored the Hudson
River Valley. Returned to England and imprisoned for giving the
Dutch a claimed in the New world (New York). Made another
voyage for England traveling to Hudson Bay, forced to winter
there, Inuits helped. In spring men wanted to return home, he
wanted to keep going. Men mutinied and placed Hudson, his son
and six ill sailors in a row boat towed them out to sea for several
hours and then cut loose. Hudson never seen again. Ship returned
to England. Six sailors remaining not put on trial because of their
knowledge but tried 5 yrs later and found guilty. Gives Dutch
claim to New York and England Hudson Bay
1682
La Salle
French
France
Fur
Trade
Set up
forts
for fur
tradin
g along
the
Miss
Spread
Christi
anity
Compet
ing with
England
and
Spain
Sent by King Louis XIV to set up a system of forts along the
Mississippi River (discovered by Marquette and Joliet) Travels the
entire length of Miss and claims the river and tributaries for
France Claims the lands along the Miss. And names the land at the
mouth Louisiana in honor of the King.