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| The news that Christopher Columbus had discovered,
what was thought to be, a western route to the East Indies spread through
Europe. Other European countries began to send explorers. Like Columbus,
they were looking for gold, silver, silk and other valuables. They were
also looking for new land to claim for their country. They soon discovered
what Columbus had actually found was North America. |
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| Explorer |
Country of Origin |
Date |
Discovery |
| Lief Ericson and the Vikings |
Norway |
1001 |
Newfoundland |
| Christopher Columbus |
Spain |
1492 |
San Salvador and West Indies |
| John Cabot |
England |
1497 |
Greenland, Labrador and Newfoundland |
| Amerigo Vespucci |
Spain |
1497 to 1502 |
South America and West Indies |
| Vasco de Balboa |
Spain |
1513 |
The Pacific Ocean |
| Ferdinand Magellan |
Spain |
1509 to 1522 |
First to sail around the World |
| Juan Ponce de Leon |
Spain |
1513 |
Florida |
| Hernando Cortez |
Spain |
1519 to 1521 |
Mexico |
| Jacques Cartier |
France |
1535 |
The St. Lawrence River |
| Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo |
Spain |
1542 |
California |
| Sir Francis Drake |
England |
1577 to 1580 |
Explorations around the World |
| Samuel de Champlain |
France |
1603 |
The Great Lakes and Quebec |
| Henry Hudson |
The Netherlands |
1609 |
Hudson Bay |
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| The Native
Americans first welcomed the European explorers. The
natives introduced the Europeans to corn, potatoes and
other vegetables. They also introduced them to tobacco.
The
Europeans introduced the Native Americans to guns and
horses. The Europeans also exposed the natives to new
diseases like the measles and smallpox, which killed many
of the Native Americans. |
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