1. Christopher Columbus (1451-1506):
- Italian explorer and navigator who sailed under the sponsorship of Spain.
- Cred with landing on the Caribbean islands in the West Indies in 1492, starting the European exploration and colonization of the Americas.
2. John Cabot (c. 1450-1498):
- Italian-born English explorer who made several voyages to North America in the late 15th century.
- Known for discovering Canada's Atlantic coastline and Newfoundland for England.
3. Vasco da Gama (c. 1460-1524):
- Portuguese explorer who found a route around Africa to India in 1498.
- His journey paved the way for Portuguese exploration of the Indian Ocean and the establishment of trade routes with Asia.
4. Amerigo Vespucci (1454-1512):
- Italian explorer and cartographer who made several voyages to the Americas.
- He played a crucial role in recognizing that these newly visited lands constituted a separate and distinct continent, not just an extension of Asia.
- The named "America" is believed to be derived from his Latinized name.
5. Ferdinand Magellan (c. 1480-1521):
- Portuguese explorer who led the first expedition that circumnavigated the world.
- His journey provided evidence that Earth is a spherical globe, and he discovered the strait that now bears his name.
6. Jacques Cartier (1491-1557):
- French explorer who made three voyages to North America, mainly in what is modern-day Canada.
- Known for his exploration of the Gulf of St. Lawrence, St. Lawrence River, and the Iroquois confederation.
7. Samuel de Champlain (1567-1635):
- French explorer known as the "Founding Father of New France."
- He established what became the permanent European settlement in Quebec City and played a vital role in exploring the Great Lakes and the St. Lawrence River.
8. Henry Hudson (c. 1565-1611):
- English explorer and navigator who made several voyages to North America.
- He explore Hudson Bay and the Hudson Riview, which were later named after him.
9. Juan Sebastian Elcano (c. 1476-1526):
- Spanish explorer and navigator who completed the first circumnavigation of the world as part of Ferdinand Magellan's expedition.
- He sailed the Victoria, one of the vessels that returned to Spain in 1522, after Magellan's death.
These are just a few examples of the many explorers and adventurers who contributed to the exploration and discovery of the New World, leading to the establishment of colonies and the eventual settlement and development of the Americas.