Explorers and Conquerors

1. Vasco da Gama

1.1. Born in Sines, Portugal, 1469

1.2. First to sail from Europe to India

1.3. The expedition rounded the Cape of Good

1.4. Subsequently made two voyages to India

1.5. Secured a trading post and Calicut

1.6. Second voyage included fights with Muslims

2. John Cabot

2.1. Italian-born explorer

2.2. 1497: Sailed west from Bristol

2.3. Claimed land in Canada for England

2.4. June 24: Made landfall in North America

2.5. May 1498: Set out on second expedition

2.6. Sighted land and called it "Newfoundland"

3. Ferdinand Magellan

3.1. Born in Portugal in 1480

3.2. Set out to Spain in 1519

3.3. He traveled with a fleet of five ships

3.4. Only one ship returned after three years

3.5. Led the first circumnavigation of the world

3.6. Goal: Find a westward route to the Spice Islands

4. Hernán Cortés

4.1. Spanish conquistador and explorer

4.2. Set sail to the New World at age 19

4.3. 1518: Set off to explore Mexico

4.4. Conquered Mexico for Spain

4.5. Overthrew ruler Montezuma II in the Aztec capital

4.6. Conquered Aztec city, Tenochtitlán, in 1521