1. Henry the Navigator (Portugal)
- Sponsored numerous expeditions along the African coast during the 15th century, leading to the discovery of new lands and fostering Portuguese exploration.
2. Christopher Columbus (Spain)
- Known for his voyages to the Americas in 1492, which initiated European colonization of the New World.
3. Vasco da Gama (Portugal)
- Led the first expedition from Europe to reach India by sailing around the Cape of Good Hope in 1498, creating a direct sea route to Asia.
4. John Cabot (England)
- Explored the coast of North America in 1497, claiming the lands for England.
5. Ferdinand Magellan (Spain/Portugal)
- Led the first circumnavigation of the world, starting in 1519. Although Magellan himself died during the voyage, his crew completed the journey, demonstrating the Earth's spherical shape.
6. Álvar Núñez Cabeza de Vaca (Spain)
- Explored the Gulf Coast and Southwest regions of North America in the early 16th century, providing accounts of the Native American tribes he encountered.
7. Jacques Cartier (France)
- Explored the St. Lawrence River in present-day Canada in the mid-16th century, searching for a Northwest Passage to Asia.
8. Samuel de Champlain (France)
- Explored and mapped the St. Lawrence Valley and the Great Lakes region in North America in the late 16th and early 17th centuries, establishing French settlements in the area.
9. Walter Raleigh (England)
- Attempted to establish English colonies in North America in the late 16th century, notably in Roanoke Island.
10. Henry Hudson (England)
- Explored the Hudson River and the Hudson Bay in search of a Northwest Passage, becoming one of the first Europeans to reach the Arctic.