The Explorers of the New World

Amerigo Vespucci

• Italian explorer sailed for both Spain and Portugal

• Explored the West Coast of South America

• Recognized this was a new continent and published a book with his maps

• America is named for him

Vasco Nunez de Balboa

• Attempts to cross America via the isthmus of Panama

• Isthmus a narrow straight of land

• Land expidition of 45 miles across Panama

• One of the most dangerous exploration of the period

• 1st European to see the Pacific Ocean

Trans World Voyages

Ferdinand Magellan • 1519 – Sails for Spain • Magellan is Portuguese• Mission was to find a route to

Asia using the water system discovered by Balboa

• Magellan sails around S. America through the Straits of Magellan (Roughest seas in the world)

• Magellan names the Pacific b/c it was peaceful

• Dies in the ________• His crew returns to Spain in

1522– Only 18 were left– 1st ship to travel around the

world

Magellan 1519-1522

Francis Drake• British explorer and privateer

in the 16th century• Sent to explore for the

Northwest Passge, claim new land for Britain, and raid Spanish cities on South America’s west coast– Hero to the British, despised

by Spanish• Called him “El Dragon”

• Drake was the 1st person to explore the west coast of the Americas

• Golden Hind was his ship• 1st captain to sail around the

world and survive

Drake - 1577

America’s (US) Drake Site

• On the coast of California

• Called “Drake’s Beach”

• Drake spent 5 weeks there repairing his ship

• He landed there because it reminded him of home– Cliffs of Dover

Northwest Passage

• Believed to be sea route to Asia farther North through the Western Hemisphere – Present day Canada

• Sought by the French• 2 Voyages

– Jacques Cartier – Giovanni de Verrazano

• Eventually found by Roald Amundsen (1904)– Only open 6 months a year

Di Verrazano and Cartier

• Sails for the British• Explores the Atlantic

Coast of U.S. (New York to N. Carolina)

• Claims land for Britain

• Jacques Cartier – sails through the St. Lawrence River and claims Canada for France

John Cabot

• Born in Italy (Giovanni Cabatto) 1497

• Moves to England and sails for the British (changes his name)

• Sails to New Foundland and claims it for Britain – All the coastal islands of

Canada will be British

• Disappears on his second voyage