God, Gold, & Glory
Home
History
Key Figures
Geography
Government & Economics
Culture
Implications of Exploration
Key Figures
Who were the important figures associated with the Age of Exploration?
Explorers
Pedro Alvarez Cabral: First European to find Brazil
Sir Walter Raleigh: Founded the Roanoke Colony in North Carolina for England (unsuccessful)
Francisco Pizarro: Conquered the Inca Empire in Peru to firmly establish Spanish rule of South America
Francis Drake: Effectively ended Spanish control of the Atlantic Ocean to allow further exploration to occur on behalf of England
Vasco da Gama: Found a direct sea route from Europe to Asia and was the first European to sail to India by traveling around Africa
Ferdinand Magellan: First person to circumnavigate the globe
Jacques Cartier: Discovered the mouth of the St. Lawrence River and gave Canada its name
Hernando Cortes: Found and conquered Mexico for Spain
Christopher Columbus: Explored much of the Caribbean (did NOT find North America)
Monarchs
King Francis I of France: Backed French voyages to North America
King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella of Spain: Backed Columbus' and others' voyages to the Caribbean and South America
Queen Elizabeth I of England: Backed Raleigh and Drake in their exploration endeavors
King John II of Portugal: Turned down Columbus for backing, but backed subsequent voyages to South America
Home
History
Key Figures
Geography
Government & Economics
Culture
Implications of Exploration