Amerigo Vespucci
A mapmaker and explorer who said that America was a new continent, so America was named after him.
Bartholomew Dias (1488)
Rounded the Cape of Good Hope
Christopher Columbus
He mistakenly discovered the Americas in 1492 while searching for a faster route to India.
Elizabeth I
(1533-1603) Queen of England and Ireland between 1558 and 1603. She was an absolute monarch and is considered to be one of the most successful rulers of all time.
Ferdinand Magellan
Portuguese navigator who led the Spanish expedition of 1519-1522 that was the first to sail around the world.
Francisco Coronado
discovered the Grand Canyon
Francisco Pizarro
Spanish explorer who conquered the Incas in what is now Peru and founded the city of Lima (1475-1541).
Henry the Navigator
This Portuguese prince who lead an extensive effort to promote seafaring expertise in the 14th century. Sent many expedition to the coast of West Africa in the 15th century, leading Portugal to discover a route around Africa, ultimately to India.
Hernado Cortes
Spanish explorer who conquered the Aztecs
Herndando de Soto
went on gold seeking mission. Florida. Discovered mississippi river and arkansas river. Mistreated indians with iron collars and fierce dogs. Died of fever and wounds.
Jacques Cartier
French explorer who explored the St. Lawrence river and laid claim to the region for France (1491-1557)
Leif Ericson
Viking who was the first European to visit America
Martin Luther
95 Thesis, posted in 1517, led to religious reform in Germany, denied papal power and absolutist rule. Claimed there were only 2 sacraments: baptism and communion.
Philip II
(1527-1598) King of Spain from 1556 to 1598. Absolute monarch who helped lead the Counter Reformation by persecuting Protestants in his holdings. Also sent the Spanish Armada against England.
Ponce de Leon
Explored Florida looking for the Fountain of Youth
Pope Alexander VI
This was the pope that granted power to Ferdinand and Isabella to appoint bishops to the Spanish territories and also settled the argument between Spain and Portugal over South America
Samuel de Champlain
French explorer in Nova Scotia who established a settlement on the site of modern Quebec (1567-1635)
Vasco da Gama
Portuguese explorer. In 1497-1498 he led the first naval expedition from Europe to sail to India, opening an important commercial sea route.
Vasco de Balboa
discovered the Pacific Ocean