| A | B |
|---|
| Christopher Columbus | Reached Bahamas in 1492 |
| Vasco Nunez de Balboa | Crossed the mountains in Panama and discovered the Pacific |
| Henry the Navigator | Brought astronomers, geographers, and mathematicials to share knowledge with Portugese sailors and shipbuilders |
| Bartolomeu Dias | Sailed around southern tip of Africa |
| Vasco da Gama | Sailed around Africa and across Indian ocean |
| Ferdinand Magellan | discovered strait around southern tip of South America |
| Hernan Cortes | Landed in Mexico and completed conquest of Aztecs |
| Francisco Pizarro | Captured the Inca ruler, Atahualpa and gained control of Inca empire |
| Juan Ponce de Leon | Landed in Florida looking for fountain of youth |
| Hernando de Soto | Led 3-yr expedition through southeastern US; crossed Mississippi |
| Francisco Vasquez de Coronado | Led expedition through northern Mexico, AZ and New Mex. to find "Seven Cities of Cibolo" |
| Giovanni da Verrazano | Explored coast of North America from present-day Nova Scotia to Carolinas |
| Henry Hudson | discoverd and sailed up the Hudson River |
| Jacques Carier | Explored Canada |
