One of the first nations to become interested in exploration was Portugal. This interest was largely due to Prince Henry, often called Henry the Navigator, who had five aims for Portugal:
- to win new lands and people in Africa
- to encircle and outflank the Muslims
- to acquire a share of the African slave trade
- to gain trade with the Orient
- to Christianize the conquered people.
Spain was another country that also became interested in the search for new trade routes.
Influenced by earlier geographers, Columbus thought the world was much smaller than its actual size and that he could reach India quickly and easily by sailing westward. With three small ships, Columbus set sail from Spain in 1492. He crossed the Atlantic and came upon a small island on the Caribbean Sea in October and named it San Salvador.
Like Columbus who was a Portuguese, Ferdinand Magellan also got the support of the Spanish king. In 1519, he set out from Spain to reach India by sailing westward. With fice ships, he crossed the Atlantic to South America and sailed along the eastern coast until he reached the southernmost tip. After passing through a strait which was named after him, he came into a great ocean with waters so placid and peaceful that he named it the Pacific Ocean which was earlier called the South Sea by Balboa. Magellan continued sailing until he reached the Philippines in 1521 and claimed the country for Spain.
He took part in several Portuguese explorations across the Atlantic between 1497 and 1503.Convinced that the land he saw was not part of Asia, he described it as a New World. A German geoprapher who read Vespucci's writings named the new land America after Vespucci's first name which is Americus in Latin.
Crossed the isthmus of Panama and came upon a great ocean in 1513, which he called the South Sea. He established the first Spanish settlement in the American mainland.
In search of a "fountain of youth," discovered Florida in 1513.
Explored the southeastern part of the United States between 1539 and 1542.
Traveled through the northern part of the United States and discovered the Grand Canyon in 1540.
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| Prince Henry | Christopher Columbus |
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| Ferdinand Magellan | Amerigo Vespucci |
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| Vasco Nunez de Balboa | Juan Ponce de Leon |
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| Hernando de Soto | Francisco de Coronado |