Menu Close

What explorer discovered South America?

What explorer discovered South America?

Explorer Christopher Columbus sets foot on the American mainland for the first time, at the Paria Peninsula in present-day Venezuela. Thinking it an island, he christened it Isla Santa and claimed it for Spain. Columbus was born in Genoa, Italy, in 1451.

Which explorer sailed in the Caribbean?

On October 12, 1492, Italian explorer Christopher Columbus made landfall in what is now the Bahamas.

Which famous explorer first discovered the islands of the Caribbean?

During four separate trips that started with the one in 1492, Columbus landed on various Caribbean islands that are now the Bahamas as well as the island later called Hispaniola. He also explored the Central and South American coasts.

What Italian born explorer sailed to the Caribbean islands but believed in India?

After sailing across the Atlantic Ocean, Italian explorer Christopher Columbus sights a Bahamian island on October 12, 1492, believing he has reached East Asia.

What places did Leif Erikson discover?

The Groenlendinga saga claims he made three landfalls at Helluland (possibly Labrador), Markland (possibly Newfoundland) and Vinland. The location of Vinland has been debated over the centuries, and has been identified as a variety of spots along the northern Atlantic coast.

What was Amerigo Vespucci searching?

Amerigo Vespucci
Other names Américo Vespucio (Spanish) Americus Vespucius (Latin) Américo Vespúcio (Portuguese) Alberigo Vespucci
Occupation Merchant, explorer, cartographer
Known for Demonstrating to Europeans that the New World was not Asia but a previously unknown fourth continent
Signature

What did Amerigo Vespucci find in South America?

On his third and most successful voyage, he discovered present-day Rio de Janeiro and Rio de la Plata. Believing he had discovered a new continent, he called South America the New World. In 1507, America was named after him.

Who was the first European to discover South America?

Alonso de Ojeda is noted as the discoverer of South America, as commander of the fleet with Juan de la Cosa and Amerigo Vespucci (1493–1510). John Cabot was an Italian navigator who was the first European that sailed along to North American coast since the Norse 500 years prior (1497).

When did Christopher Columbus sail from Spain to the Americas?

Between 1492 and 1503, Columbus completed four round-trip voyages between Spain and the Americas, each voyage being sponsored by the Crown of Castile.

Who was the first European explorer to sail to India?

Famous Portuguese explorer known for being the first European to sail to India (1497–98). Italian navigator Amerigo Vespucci made several trips to the New World. He is known for convincing the Europeans that the New World is not Asia, but an entirely new unknown continent. This new continent was soon named after him, America (1497–1504).

Who was the first European to sail around Africa?

Bartolomeu Dias is known as the first European to sail around the southernmost tip of Africa, finding the eastern sea route to the Indian Ocean (1488). Christopher Columbus.