1. English Explorers:
- Northwest Passage: The English primarily focused on finding a northern route to Asia, known as the Northwest Passage. This route would allow them to sail through the Arctic Ocean and reach the Pacific, bypassing the Portuguese-controlled waters around Africa.
- John Cabot: John Cabot, an Italian explorer commissioned by England, made several attempts to find the Northwest Passage. In 1497, he reached North America, believing he had arrived in Asia.
- Martin Frobisher: In the mid-16th century, Martin Frobisher led expeditions in search of the Northwest Passage and claimed lands in modern-day Canada.
2. French Explorers:
- St. Lawrence River: The French concentrated on exploring the St. Lawrence River in North America as a possible gateway to Asia.
- Jacques Cartier: Jacques Cartier made three voyages to Canada between 1534 and 1542. He explored the St. Lawrence River and the Gulf of St. Lawrence, hoping to find a route to Asia.
- Samuel de Champlain: Samuel de Champlain established a permanent French settlement in Quebec in 1608 and continued to explore the interior of North America.
3. Dutch Explorers:
- Cape of Good Hope: Unlike the English and French, the Dutch initially followed the Portuguese route around the Cape of Good Hope at the southern tip of Africa to reach Asia.
- Dutch East India Company (VOC): The Dutch established the VOC in 1602, one of the world's first joint-stock companies, to monopolize trade in Asia.
- Indonesia: The Dutch focused on establishing trading posts and colonies in Southeast Asia, particularly in what is now Indonesia, where they eventually gained control of the lucrative spice trade.
While the European explorers' ultimate goal was to reach Asia, their initial plans and explorations took them to different parts of the Americas due to the challenges and complexities of navigation and geography.