Sir Francis Drake
England 1540-1596

Reason for Exploration—to break the Spanish rule of the sea

Achievement—navigated around the globe and claimed the West Coast of North America for England

Routes—from England to the Straits of Magellan to the North American continent to the Indonesian Archipelago and back to England

Henry Hudson
England 1575-1611

Reason for Exploration—to search for a passage across the North Pole to Asia and to explore west in search of a passage through North America to the Indies

Achievement—explored the areas of the Hudson Bay, the Hudson River down to the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay

After four voyages, his crew mutinied, and Hudson was left to die on the Hudson Bay and never heard from again

Routes—from England to Ungava Bay to St. James Bay

Sir Humphrey Gilbert
England 1539-1583

Reason for Exploration—to establish an English colony in the lands previously discovered by Columbus

Achievement—unsuccessful at establishing an English colony, but inspired other British explorers, namely his half-brother Sir Walter Raleigh

Routes—from England to North America to St. Johns to Azores

Christopher Columbus
Spain 1451-1506

Reason for Exploration—to sail west to Asia and around the globe

Achievement—made four voyages to the islands in the Caribbean and South America and inspired later explorers to make voyages to new lands

Routes—from Spain to the Canary Islands to San Salvador to Hispaniola

Alvar Nunez Cabeza de Vaca
Spain 1490-1556

Reason for Exploration—to locate Mexico City and find a route from the eastern coast of South America to Peru

Achievement—led the first expedition that crossed the North American mainland (from the Gulf Coast of Florida down to Mexico)

Routes—Aute (Florida's Gulf Coast) to Malhado Island (Texas) to the Native Gathering Place (San Antonio) to Culiacan, Mexico

Hernando Cortes
Spain 1485-1547

Reason for Exploration—to explore and conquer the Aztec Empire

Achievement—conquered Mexico, explored the Pacific Coast of Central America and the Baja peninsula of (present-day) California

Routes—from Cuba to Veracruz, Mexico, Tlaxcala to Techochtitlan