Francisco Pizzaro Spain Travelled to Western South America

Francisco Pizzaro • Spain • Travelled to Western South America • Conquered the Incan Empire for Spain; one of most important achievements for Spain in the Americas

Vasco de Gama • Portugal • Completed original mission of Bartholomew Dias’s trip to find route to India around Africa

Christopher Columbus • Spain • Attempted to find shorter route to India by going West, Landed in Hispaniola/Cuba • Bumped into a new continent: America (which he thought was the Indies)

Pedro Cabral • Portugal • Set out to conquer Brazil • Claimed Brazil for Portugal

Amerigo Vespucci • Italy • Tried to find a star like the North Star for the south (failed) • Lied and said that he had seen America first • America was named after him

Magellan • Spain • Captained first crew to circumnavigate (sail around) the globe • Died before finishing the trip

John Cabot • England • Explored New England Coast Line • Later became a site for first colonies

Jacques Cartier • France • Explored Canada, St. Lawrence River • Claimed Canada for France • Still lots of French Canadians there today

Hernan Cortez • Spain • Explored South America • Conquered Aztec Empire, claimed Mexico for Spain

Prince Henry • Henry the Navigator • Jealous of my beard? • Country of origin: Portugal • Through his administrative direction, he is regarded as the main initiator of what would be known as the Age of Discoveries • Patron of Portuguese exploration (didn’t sail himself) • Funded a school for navigation which led to new technologies like the caravel