Age of Exploration

1. Christopher Columbus

1.1. Italian Explorer and Navigator

1.2. Discovered the New World in 1492

1.3. Sailed across the Atlantic hoping to find new routes in India

1.4. He estimated the earth to be a sphere

1.5. Believed he could travel to Asia by the Atlantic Ocean

1.6. Credited for opening up the Americas to European colonization

2. Hernando Cortes

2.1. Spanish Conquistador who overthrew Aztec Empire

2.2. First set sail for New World at 19

2.3. King Charles I appointed him governor of New Spain in 1522

2.4. Set sail for Mexico with 500 men and 11 ships

2.5. Took Aztec ruler Montezuma hostage and his soldiers raided the city

3. Ferdinand Magellan

3.1. In his 20's, he was sailing in large groups of ships and was engaged in combat

3.2. In 1519 he set out to find a better route to the Spice Islands

3.3. Joined Portuguese fleet in late 20's sailing to East Africa

3.4. By 1509, he found himself at the Battle of Diu, in which the Portuguese destroyed Egyptian ships in the Arabian Sea

3.5. It is possible that Magellan sailed as far as the Moluccas, or, "the Spice Islands"

3.6. The Spice Islands were the source of many valuable spices including nutmeg and clove

4. John Cabot

4.1. A Venetian explorer and navigator known for his 1497 voyage to North America

4.2. Agreed with Columbus that sailing west from Europe was the shortest way to Asia

4.3. In early May of 1497, Cabot left Bristol, England, on the Matthew with 18 men

4.4. On this Voyage he was searching for new lands for England

4.5. 50 days into the voyage he landed on the East Coast of North America

4.6. Cabot was soon rewarded with £20 and respect from King Henry VII for his discoveries

5. Sir Francis Drake

5.1. Chose in 1577 to be leader of an expedition that would pass South America

5.2. Involved in piracy and illegal slave trading before appointed the expedition

5.3. Completed the journey and was knighted by Queen Elizabeth I after his return

5.4. Died in 1596 after an unsuccessful raiding mission

5.5. In the 1560's he was the commander of his own ship, the Judith