Early Explorers
A Spanish explorer who led a group of settlers to set up one of the first European colonies in America.
Who is Vasco Nunex de Balboa?
This later explorer was sent by Britain to search for the Northwest Passage. Many bodies of water are named for this man.
Who is Henry Hudson?
The first of these was developed as a navigation tool in China and Europe in the 12th century.
What is a compass?
This Spanish conquistador defeated the Aztecs and conquered Mexico.
Who is Hernan Cortes?
Created by the Chinese, this substance, along with steel, allowed the Europeans to overcome just about any resistance they came across.
What is gunpowder?
This Italian sailor was sent by Henry VII to explore the new world.
Who is John Cabot?
This French explorer was sent to find the Northwest Passage and his voyage took him up the St. Lawrence River.
Who was Jacques Cartier.
This tool was added to ships to help catch the wind coming from every direction.
What is a lateen sail?
This conquistador took 600 men and traveled from Cuba to Florida.
Who is Hernando de Soto?
Early explorers took this creatively named path that took explorers to markets in China, India and the Middle East.
What is the silk road?
This explorer thought he found China but actually found the New World. Our country is also named for him.
Who is Amerigo Vespucci?
This Italian Explorer was actually working for France to find a sea route to Asia.
Who was Giovanni de Verrazzano?
This technology was the first tool that allowed sailors to measure longitude.
What is a chronometer?
This conquistador conquered the Incas.
Who is Francisco Pizarro?
This early Italian explorer created records of his travels that were hand printed and used by many Europeans to explore China, India and the Middle East.
Who is Marco Polo?
This sailor and explorer was sent by King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella of Spain to discover the New World in 1492.
Who is Christopher Columbus?
This King sponsored Jacques Cartier on multiple voyages to North America.
Who is King Frances I?
This tool was used for 100s of years to help sailors know their latitude and the angle of the sun or well-known stars.
What is the astrolabe?
This Spanish explorer was the first European to discover California.
Who is Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo?
This was the most effective and brutal weapon the conquistadors used against those they conquered.
What is disease? (Smallpox, malaria, measles, yellow fever, chicken pox)
This early explorer decided to circumnavigate the globe. He almost succeeded but died in the Philippines. The remainder of his team finished the trip.
Who is Ferdinand Magellan?
This company sent Henry Hudson on his 3rd trip.
What is the Dutch East India company?
This tool measured latitude more reliably than its predecessor and was first produced in 1759.
What is the sextant?
Throughout Europe this era is what brought change to the Catholic church.
What is the Protestant Reformation?
The blight on this food plant was responsible for about a million deaths in Ireland from 1845-1849.
What are potatoes?