The Explorer Hall of Fame
Featuring the five best explorers...
The explorers are...
- Ferdinand Magellan
- Amerigo Vespucci
- Marco Polo
- Leif Erikson
- Hernando de Soto
Ferdinand Magellan
Born in Sabrosa, Portugal, Magellan became the first person to sail the Pacific Ocean and sail around the world. Charles V of Spain provided him with five ships for the trip, but only one ship, the Victoria, completed the voyage. He had traded in the Phillipines, getting many various things in turn for his fruits and iron. He was considered a traitor to his home country of Portugal, since the king of Spain had helped him get supplies for his trip. He also gave the Pacific Ocean its name.
Amerigo Vespucci
Amerigo Vespucci was born in Florence, Italy. He was an Italian merchant, explorer, and cartographer. At the invitation of King Manuel I of Portugal, he was an observer on many voyages that mainly explored the east coast of South America. Soon later, Vespucci realized that Christopher Columbus did not sail to the eastern side of Asia, but to an unknown continent that would later be called America. Vespucci died of malaria, and a coin was also minted in 2012 in his memory.
Marco Polo
Born in Venice, Italy, Polo was an Italian trader and explorer. He discovered what is now China. He sailed for Italy with his uncle and father, bringing back treasures such as ivory, jade, jewels, porcelain, and silk. He also brought noodles to Italy, which the Italians later called pasta. Polo mistook some of the animals he saw on his trip for mythical creatures.
Hernando de Soto
Hernando de Soto was born in Barcarrota, Spain. He led the first European expedition into the middle of the United States, and is claimed to be the first European to cross the Mississippi river. He sailed for Spain. He made his trip with the first governor of Panama. His family was poor, but noble.
Lief Erikson
Leif Erikson was most likely born in Iceland around 970-980 C.E, and he was supposedly the first European to travel to North America. He was a Viking, and the Vikings called the land they sailed to 'Vinland'. He spent a winter in America and after he returned home, he never went back to North America again.