social science

• European explorers during the Age of Exploration and Discovery:

  • Portuguese explorers: Henry the Navigator, Bartholomew Diaz, Vasco de Gama
  • Spanish explorers: Christopher Columbus, Ferdinand Magellan, Hernan Cortes
  • Other explorers: Francisco di Almeida, Alfonso de Albuquerque, Marco Polo
• Portuguese explorers were the first European nation to sponsor voyages of exploration, with Prince Henry the Navigator leading the way by sending ships to explore the West African coast and search for a sea route to the East
• Bartholomew Diaz, a Portuguese captain, was the first European explorer to round the Cape of Good Hope in 1488, opening a sea route to Asia
• Vasco de Gama, a navigator from Portugal, was the first to reach India in Calicut, opening a new water route for trade between Europe and Asia
• Christopher Columbus, sponsored by Queen Isabella of Spain, sailed west in 1492 and reached the Caribbean, believing he had reached Asia
• Ferdinand Magellan, a Portuguese explorer sailing for Spain, led the first circumnavigation of the world from 1519 to 1522, proving the Earth was round
• Hernan Cortes, a Spanish conquistador, landed in Mexico in 1519, becoming known for his conquests in the region
• Other notable explorers include Francisco di Almeida, the first Viceroy of Portuguese India; Alfonso de Albuquerque, a Portuguese general and empire builder; and Marco Polo, a Venetian trader and explorer who spent 17 years in China