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Henry the Navigator | Biography, Facts, Achievements, & Importance

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Henry the Navigator, Portuguese prince noted for his patronage of voyages of discovery among the Madeira Islands and along the western coast of Africa. He sponsored expeditions in the early stages of European exploration and inaugurated the Portuguese slave trade.

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One night as Prince Henry of Portugal lay in bed it was revealed to him that he would render a great service to our Lord by the discovery of the said Ethiopias...in these lands so much gold and rich merchandise would be found as would maintain the King and the people...of Portugal.
Duarte Pachece Pereira, Portuguese Explorer, 1506

Judging by his name, you might think that Henry the Navigator was a great explorer with extraordinary navigating skills. Truth is, Prince Henry of Portugal never set sail on voyages of discovery. A nobleman of English, French, and Spanish ancestry, Prince Henry gained his reputation by sponsoring many voyages of discovery along the western coast of Africa.

Prince Henry had several reasons for dispatching his expeditions. He hoped to find rumored Christian allies, add to geographic knowledge, and perhaps find a sea route to the Orient. But he also hoped to find gold. For centuries gold objects from sub-Saharan Africa had made their way to Europe. Some Portuguese even believed that the objects came from a "River of Gold." If only this gold supply could be found, Henry's costly expeditions could begin to pay for themselves and perhaps even strengthen Portugal's economy.

In 1441, two of Henry's captains, Antam Gonclaves and Nuno Tristao, set out, separately, to Cape Bianco on the western coast of Africa. To the south of the Cape they came across a market run by black Muslims dressed in white robes and turbans. There they received a small amount of gold dust. The Portuguese crew also seized twelve black Africans to take back to Portugal, not as slaves, but as exhibits to show Prince Henry. (These would not be Portugal's first African slaves.)

The new captives included a local chief who spoke Arabic. The chief negotiated his own release, the terms of which were that if he and a boy from his family were taken back to their homeland and released, they would provide other black slaves in exchange.

In 1442, Antam Goncalves sailed back to Cape Bianco, then returned with more gold dust and ten black Africans. The following year, Portuguese explorers returned from Africa with nearly thirty slaves.

Within ten years, thousands of slaves had been transported by sea to Portugal and the Portuguese Islands.

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Africans in America/Part 1/Prince Henry the Navigator

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One night as Prince Henry of Portugal lay in bed it was revealed to him that he would render a great service to our Lord by the discovery of the said Ethiopias...in these lands so much gold and rich merchandise would be found as would maintain the King and the people...of Portugal.

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Henry the Navigator (1394 - 1460) was the third son of John I of Portugal, the founder of the Aviz dynasty; and of Philippa of Lancaster, the daughter of John of Gaunt. Henry encouraged his father to conquer Ceuta (1414), the Muslim port, on the North African coast across the Straits of Gibraltar from the Iberian Peninsula. This had profound consequences on Henry's own worldview: Henry became aware of the profit possibilities in the Saharan trade routes that terminated there. Furthermore he became fascinated with Africa in general, with the legend of Prester John, and with expanding Portuguese trade. Ceuta became Portugal's first overseas possession. It was followed by many more.

Contrary to outdated studies that claim that Henry gathered around him at his Vila do Infante on the Sagres Peninsula a school of navigators and map-makers, in fact he did none of this. He did employ some cartographers to help him chart the coast of Mauretania in the wake of voyages he sent there, but for the rest there was no center of navigational science or any supposed "observatory," as Russell makes very clear. He did, however, promote trade and maritime exploration to such a degree that Portugal became, alongside Spain, one of the most powerful European states.

As soon as Christopher Columbus opened up the way to the Americas (1492), Portugal was ready to benefit from the new opportunities. In 1493 the Pope literally divided the world between the two maritime powers, on condition that they Christianized the possessions they claimed overseas. As Grand Master of the Military Order of Christ, religion was very important to Henry and one of his goals was to learn as much as he could about the strength and extent of the Muslim empire, so that it could be defeated. On the other hand, he also enabled a certain amount of cross-cultural and cross-religious exchange by himself learning from the Muslims the importance of trade.

Although Portugal would not live up to this ideal and exploited its colonies for its own gain, Henry's aim was to enable exchange of riches between different people. He is credited by some as having joined East and West. A royal prince who never exercised power, he left a more indelible mark on the world than many who ascended its thrones, or stalked its corridors of power.

Henry was born in 1394, the third son of King John I of Portugal. His mother, the queen, was Philippa of Lancaster, sister to King Henry IV of England. Henry was 21 when he, his father and brothers attacked the Muslim port of Ceuta in northern Morocco. This attack was successful and inspired Henry to explore down the coast of Africa, most of which was unknown to Europeans. Henry claimed he was curious about what lay to the south of Morocco, and wanted to discover the southern limits of the Muslim area so that he might ally with others to defeat the infidels, but in fact his principal motivation without doubt was slave raiding along the coast of Africa.

In 1419, his father appointed him the governor of the province of Algarve. Henry never married and sired no children, although nothing would have prevented him from doing so. He openly disdained the company of women, but we know that he had strong affective bonds with several men and kept a court filled with very young men and boys who were said to have been brought up in his "câmara," that can be translated as his bedchamber. It was from among these that he selected the captains of the voyages that he later sent down the coast of Africa. In fact it is highly probable that he was homosexual, although he claimed merely to be "chaste," most likely to deflect suspicion about his sexuality.

Resources and income

On May 25, 1420, Henry gained appointment as the governor of the very rich Order of Christ, the Portuguese successor to the Knights Templar, which had been wound-up, with headquarters at Tomar. Henry would hold this position for the remainder of his life, and the order was an important source of funds for Henry's ambitious plans of self-aggrandizement, especially his persistent attempts to conquer the Canary Islands.

Henry also had other resources. When John I died in 1433, Henry's eldest brother Duart (Edward) became king, and granted Henry a "royal fifth" of all profits from trading within the areas he discovered as well as the sole right to authorize expeditions beyond Cape Bojador. He also held various valuable monopolies on resources in the Algarve. When Duarte died five years later, Henry supported his brother Pedro for the regency during Alphonse V's minority, and in return received a confirmation of this levy. Henry also promoted the colonization of the Azores during Pedro's regency (1439-1448).

Vila do Infante, patron of Portuguese exploration

From his Vila do Infante, or Town of the Prince, on the Sagres Peninsula, Henry sponsored voyages down the coast of Mauretania that were primarily slaving expeditions, bringing back to the nearby town of Lagos, from whence they set out, numerous African slaves for Henry own use and for sale by him. Henry justified this on the grounds that he was converting these captives to Christianity. As Sir Peter Russell remarks in his biography, "In Henryspeak, conversion and enslavement were interchangeable terms."

As a result Henry can be regarded as the founding father of the Afro-Atlantic slave trade. The old view that Henry's court rapidly grew into the technological base for exploration, with a naval arsenal and an observatory, etc., has long ago been debunked. There was no observatory, or "school" of navigation or anything of the sort, although Henry did employ cartographers and Jehuda Cresques, a noted cartographer, received an invitation to come to Sagres and probably make maps for Henry, a position he accepted.

The nearby port of Lagos provided a convenient harbor from which these expeditions left. The voyages were made in very small ships, mostly the caravel, a light and maneuverable vessel that used the lateen sail of the Arabs. Most of the voyages sent out by Henry consisted of one or two ships that navigated by following the coast, stopping at night to tie up along some shore.

Early results of Henry's explorers

Until Henry's coastal explorations, Cape Bojador remained the most southerly point known to Europeans on the unpromising desert coast of Africa, although the Periplus of the Carthaginian Hanno the Navigator described a journey further south about 2,000 years earlier.

As a first fruit of this work João Gonçalves Zarco and Tristão Vaz Teixeira rediscovered the Madeira Islands in 1420, and at Henry's instigation Portuguese settlers colonized the islands. In 1427 one of Henry's navigators discovered the Azores-probably Gonçalo Velho. The Portuguese colonized these islands in 1430. Gil Eanes, the commander of one of Henry's expeditions, became the first European known to pass Cape Bojador in 1434.

Henry also continued his involvement in events closer to home. He functioned as a primary organizer of the Portuguese expedition to Tangier in 1437. This proved a disastrous failure: the Moroccans captured Henry's younger brother Fernando, the Saint Prince, and held him captive to guarantee that the Portuguese would fulfill the terms of the peace agreement that had been made. Henry refused to fulfill these terms, thus condemning Fernando to remain in miserable captivity until his death eleven years later. Henry's reputation suffered as a result, and for most of his last 23 years he concentrated on his exploration activities or on Portuguese court politics.

Using the new ship type, the expeditions then pushed onwards. Nuno Tristão and Antão Gonçalves reached Cape Blanco in 1441. The Portuguese sighted the Bay of Arguin in 1443 and built an important fort there about 1448. Dinis Dias soon came across the Senegal River and rounded the peninsula of Cap-Vert in 1444. By this stage the explorers had passed the southern boundary of the desert, and from then on Henry had one of his wishes fulfilled: the Portuguese had circumvented the Muslim land-based trade routes across the western Sahara, and slaves and gold began arriving in Portugal.

By 1452 the influx of gold permitted the minting of Portugal's first gold cruzado coins. From 1444 to 1446, as many as forty vessels sailed from Lagos on Henry's behalf and the first private mercantile expeditions began. At some time in the 1450s, mariners discovered the Cape Verde Islands (António Noli claimed the credit). By 1460, the Portuguese had explored the coast of Africa as far as present-day nation Sierra Leone.

References

Beazley, C. R. Prince Henry the Navigator. New York: B. Franklin, 1968.

Braudel, Fernand. The Perspective of the World. New York: HarperCollins, reprint 1968. ISBN 0060912960

Martins, J. P. Oliveira. The Golden Age of Prince Henry the Navigator. New York: Chapman and Hall, 1914.

Russell, Peter. Prince Henry 'the Navigator': a Life New Haven, CT: Yale University Press, 2000. ISBN 0300082339

Johnson, Harold B. Dois Estudos Polémicos. Tucson: Fenestra Books, 2004. ISBN 1587363453. pp. 11-43.

Argues on the basis of Freudian analysis of the texts, etc., that Henry was very probably a homosexual.

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Henry the Navigator (1394 - 1460) was the third son of John I of Portugal, the founder of the Aviz dynasty; and of Philippa of Lancaster, the daughter of John of Gaunt. Henry encouraged his father to conquer Ceuta (1414), the Muslim port, on the North African coast across the Straits of Gibraltar from the Iberian Peninsula.

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Who was Henry the Navigator? Everything You Need to Know

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The Portugal navigator is credited for founding the first navigation school and is considered one of the pioneers in discovery of new lands. To know more about his childhood, profile, timeline and career read on.

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Prince Henry the Navigator seldom left his home in Portugal, but he helped make it possible for the first Europeans to explore Africa. In Henry's time, the ocean was very dangerous, and Africa was a mysterious place that seemed to contain endless miles of sand. Today we know this sand as the Sahara Desert. Although it isn't endless, the Sahara is the largest desert in the world, and its expanse isolated many sophisticated cultures south of the deserts from the rest of the world.

Henry wanted to find a water route to India. The passage to India over land was long, slow, and dangerous. A ship could carry more goods to and from India than the largest caravans, but Europeans could only guess that sailors could circumnavigate, or go around, Africa.

Prince Henry helped unlock the secrets of Africa. Henry set up a school for sailors to learn the secrets of the ocean. He paid for many sailing expeditions out of the Portuguese treasury. Henry also employed cartographers who created the most sophisticated maps of their time. The maps made it possible for sailors to learn from previous expeditions.

Henry was a visionary. A visionary is someone who can imagine something that hasn't yet happened. Henry owned a globe when many people thought the world was flat. Though the region had not been explored by Europeans, Henry believed that Africa was not infinite and that if his sailors could circumnavigate the continent; he would find a water route to India.

When Henry died in 1460, his sailors had only reached as far as the Canary Islands in West Africa. Twenty-eight years later, Bartholomeu Dias proved that it was possible to circumnavigate Africa when he reached the southern tip of the continent, now known as the "Cape of Good Hope." In 1499, Vasco da Gama was the first sailor to travel from Portugal to India. Just a few years earlier, Queen Isabella of Spain hired a sailor from Genoa to reach India by sailing west. It wasn't until years later that anyone understood that the "Indians" he encountered weren't from India after all.

Prince Henry the Navigator Resources

Download this lesson as Microsoft Word file or as an Adobe Acrobat file.

Mr. Donn has an excellent website that includes a section on African History.

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Prince Henry the Navigator - The Exploration of Africa - mrdowling.com

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Prince Henry the Navigator seldom left his home in Portugal, but he helped make it possible for the first Europeans to explore Africa. In Henry's time, the ocean was very dangerous, and Africa was a mysterious place that seemed to contain endless miles of sand. Today we know this sand as the Sahara Desert.

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Infante Dom Henrique ( March 4, 1394 - November 13, 1460) was a prince of Portugal, often regarded as the most important figure in the early days of European colonial expansion.

Born in 1394, Henry the Navigator was the third son of John I of Portugal, the founder of the Aviz[?] dynasty. His mother was Philippa of Lancaster, the daughter of John of Gaunt. In 1414 he is reported to have convinced his father to mount a campaign of conquest against the Muslim port of Ceuta, on the North African coast across the Straits of Gibraltar from Portugal. The city was conquered in August of 1415, and while there Henry saw the fruits of the Saharan trade routes, for Ceuta was a terminus for that trade. The trade dried up after Ceuta fell into Portuguese hands, however, and Henry became fascinated with tapping into that wealth, as well as with Africa in general, and the legend of Prester John.

With that in mind, legend says that in 1416 he established a village, Vilo do Infante ("Prince's Town"), at Sagres[?] in far south-western Portugal (though some sources say it may have existed already). It rapidly grew into a high-tech (for the 15th century) base for exploration, with a naval arsenal, an observatory, and a school for the study of geography and navigation added over time. Jehuda Cresques, a noted cartographer, was invited to come to Sagres and compile geographic knowledge for Henry, a position he accepted. The nearby port of Lagos[?] provided a convenient harbor, and became a centre for ship-building.

The first fruit of this work was the rediscovery of the Madeira Islands by João Gonçalves Zarco[?] and Tristão Vaz Teixeira[?], and at Henry's instigation they were colonized by the Portuguese.

On May 25, 1420, Henry was appointed the governor of the Order of Christ[?], the Portuguese successor to the Knights Templar. This was a position Henry would hold for the remainder of his life, and as time passed he became more and more devoted to Christianity. For the purposes of his interest in exploration, however, the appointment was important as a source of funds through the 1440s.

In 1427, one of Henry's navigators discovered the Azores, possibly Gonçalo Velho[?] but this is not certain. They too were soon colonized.

Up until Henry, Cape Bojador[?] was the most southerly European-known point on the coast of Africa. Gil Eanes[?], the commander of one of Henry's expeditions, was the first known European to pass it, in 1434. When John I died, Henry's eldest brother Duarte[?] became king, and granted Henry a "royal fifth" of all profits from trading within the areas discovered as well as the sole right to authorize expeditions beyond Cape Bojador. When Duarte died five years later, Henry supported his brother Pedro for the regency during Alphonso V of Portugal's minority, and in return received a confirmation of this tax. Henry also arranged for the colonization of the Azores during the regency, and the caravel[?] was used for the first time.

Using the new ship, the expeditions then pushed onwards. Cape Blanco[?] was reached in 1441 by Nuno Tristão[?] and Antao Gonçalves[?]. The Bay of Arguim[?] was seen in 1443; an important fort built was built there in about 1448. Dinas Dias[?] soon came across the Senegal River and rounded Cape Verde in 1444. By then the southern boundary of the desert had been passed and from then on, Henry had one of his wishes fulfilled: the Muslim land trade routes across the western Sahara Desert were circumvented, and slaves and gold began pouring into Portugal. By 1452, the influx of gold was great enough that the first gold cruzados ("crusades") were minted. From 1444 to 1446 as many as forty vessels sailed from Lagos for Henry, and private mercantile expeditions were launched for the first time. By 1460 the coast of Africa had been explored as far as the present-day Sierra Leone, and at some time in the 1450s the Cape Verde Islands were discovered ( Antonio da Noli[?] claimed the credit).

Meanwhile, Henry was also involved in events closer to home. He was a primary organizer of the Portuguese expedition to Tangier[?] in 1437. A disastrous failure, Henry's younger brother Fernão was captured, and died while still in captivity eleven years later. Henry's military reputation suffered as a result, and most of his last twenty-three years were concentrated on his exploration activities, or in Portuguese court politics.

Henry's impact on history is great, having arguably sparked the European interest in colonial exploration that would so transform the world for the next four centuries. The school at Sagres was responsible for several advances in the art of navigation, and the discoveries made possible by Henry provided the groundwork for the development of Portugal's colonial empire. Within thirty years of his death, the Cape of Good Hope was rounded, and Vasco da Gama reached India a decade later. Brazil was discovered within another decade still. Christopher Columbus also spent some time in and around the school at Sagres[?], and while there is no record of his being formally associated with it, he did spend the late 1470s sailing around the Portuguese possessions of Madeira and on the African coast.

All Wikipedia text is available under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License

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Infante Dom Henrique ( March 4, 1394 - November 13, 1460) was a prince of Portugal, often regarded as the most important figure in the early days of European colonial expansion. Born in 1394, Henry the Navigator was the third son of John I of Portugal, the founder of the Aviz[?]

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Prince Henry the Navigator: Royal Patron of Explorers
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Prince Henry (Henrique) the Navigator (1394-1460) was a Portuguese royal prince, soldier, and patron of explorers. Henry sent many sailing expeditions down Africa's west coast, but did not go on them himself. Thanks to Prince Henry's patronage, Portuguese ships sailed to the Madeira Islands (Joao Goncalves Zarco, 1420), rounded Cape Bojador (Eannes, 1434), sailed to Cape Blanc (Nuno Tristao, 1441), sailed around Cap Vert (1455), and went as far as the Gambia River (Cadamosto, 1456) and Cape Palmas (Gomes, 1459-1460). These expeditions were sent to create much-needed maps of the West African coast, to defeat the Muslims, to spread Christianity, and to establish trade routes. Prince Henry helped begin the Great Age of Discovery that lasted from the 1400's to the early 1500's.
Early Life: Prince Henry was the third son of King John I (João I) of Portugal and his English wife, Philippa of Lancaster. When he was 21, Prince Henry (with his father and brothers) attacked the Moslem port of Ceutha in north Morocco (in Africa, across the Mediterranean Sea). This successful attack in 1415 inspired Prince Henry to explore Africa, most of which was unknown to Europeans. Prince Henry was determined to see Portuguese sailors sail down the west coast of Africa to find the limits of the Muslim world (in order to defeat the Muslims), and to find the legendary Christian empire of the priest-king Prester John (who did not, in fact, exist). In 1419, his father appointed Prince Henry the governor of the province of Algarve (on Portugal's southern coast).

School of Navigation: About 1418, Prince Henry started the first school for oceanic navigation along with an astronomical observatory at Sagres, Portugal. In this school, people were trained in nagivation, map-making, and science, in order to sail down the west of Africa.

Exploring West Africa: At this time, no Europeans had sailed past the treacherous Cape Bojador and returned alive. Cape Bojador is on the coast of Africa just below latitude 27° North (off the western Sahara Desert) and had frequent, violent storms and strong currents. The Europeans called the ocean beyond that point the "Sea of Darkness." Most sailors refused to go there. Prince Henry sent 14 expeditions there over 12 years, trying to go farther than Cape Bojador. Prince Henry convinced Gil Eannes to try, and Eannes succeeded in 1434.

Gil Eannes: Gil Eannes was a Portuguese explorer who was the first European to sail beyond the dreaded Cape Bojador and return. Eannes worked in Prince Henry's household. On Eannes' first trip down the coast of Africa in 1433, he only sailed as far as the Canary Islands. In 1434, Eannes rounded Cape Bojador, and then landed on the coastal desert. He found no people there, only a few hardy plants, including "Saint Mary's roses," which he brought back to Portugal as proof of his accomplishment.

Eannes made another journey in 1435, again rounding Cape Bojador and sailing south; he sailed with Alfonso Goncalves Baldaya. About 50 leagues past the cape, they entered a large bay and saw a caravan of men and camels. Eannes named the river Rio de Ouro (meaning river of gold). Baldaya sailed farther south and collected thousands of seal skins; this was the first commercial cargo brought to Europe from that part of Africa.

Goncalves and Tristao: In 1441, Prince Henry became involved in the slave trade, when Antao Gonçalves returned from Rio de Ouro with captives. Nuno Tristao reached Cabo Blanco that same year.

Alvise da Cadamosto: Many years later, in 1455, Prince Henry sent the Venetian (from Venice, Italy) navigator Alvise da Cadamosto (1432?-1511?) on two expeditions. On the first, in 1455, Cadamosto reached the mouth of the Gambia River (in west Africa). On the second, in 1456, Cadamosto sailed up the Gambia river to the Geba River. He tried trading with the Africans but was unsuccessful. Cadamosto claimed to have discovered the Cape Verde Islands, but it is uncertain if he was the first one there.

Diogo Gomes: In 1458, Prince Henry sent Diogo Gomes (1440-1482) on an expedition that sailed as far as Cape Palmas. Prince Henry died in 1460, the year that this expedition returned.

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Prince Henry the Navigator - EnchantedLearning.com

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Advertisement. EnchantedLearning.com is a user-supported site. As a bonus, site members have access to a banner-ad-free version of the site, with print-friendly pages. Click here to learn more. (Already a member? Click here.) Prince Henry the Navigator: Royal Patron of Explorers go to printable version Prince Henry (Henrique) the Navigator (1394-1460) was a Portuguese royal prince, soldier, and patron of explorers.

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This is a full biography of Portuguese explorer Prince Henry.

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The Age of Discovery or Age of Exploration was a period from the early 15th century that continued into the early 17th century, during which European ships traveled around the world to search for new trading routes and partners.

They were in search of trading goods such as gold, silver, and spices. In the process, Europeans met people and mapped lands previously unknown to them. Among the most famous explorers of the period were Christopher Columbus, Vasco da Gama, Pedro Álvares Cabral, John Cabot, Juan Ponce de León, Juan Sebastian Elcano, Bartholomeu Dias, Ferdinand Magellan, Willem Barentsz, Abel Tasman, Jean Alfonse, Jacques Cartier, Samuel de Champlain, Willem Blaeu, and Captain James Cook.

Portuguese Empire

Henry the Navigator started by paying Portuguese sailors to explore the west coast of Africa. In 1419, João Gonçalves Zarco discovered the Madeira Islands. Later in the 15th century, Vasco da Gama reached the southwestern tip of Africa and established the city of Cape Town, a Portuguese colony. This opened the way to the Indian Ocean. In the next two centuries, the Portuguese created a great trading empire on the coasts of Africa, the Arabian Peninsula, and India. The Portuguese Empire eventually weakened after the Dutch East India Company rose as the major power in Indian Ocean trade.

Spanish Empire

In a hurry to compete with Portugal for a colonial empire, Spain sent Christopher Columbus in the opposite direction of the Portuguese. Instead of going south along the west coast of Africa, Columbus sailed across the Atlantic Ocean. When his ships landed, he believed that he had come to Asia. Later, some Spanish sailors found out that this land was a different continent than Asia. It is now called the Americas.

In the 16th century, Spanish conquistadores gained the whole of what later became Latin America, except some British and French colonies in northeastern South America, and Brazil, which belonged to Portugal. The Spanish concentrated on conquest, unlike the Portuguese who focused on trading. They eventually developed a vast colonial empire, in contrast to the Portuguese who ruled a few islands and coastal cities along the Indian Ocean. When Spain and Portugal were united under King Philip II of Spain, their combined empire was the largest on earth.

In 1522, the fleet of Ferdinand Magellan returned to Spain. The survivors were the first ever to sail around the world.

Britain, France, and the Netherlands

In the 17th century, political and religious wars with Britain, France, and the Netherlands weakened the Iberian Peninsula. These three nations emerged as the main winners of the wars and became major powers like Spain and Portugal. In the next two centuries, the world became a battlefield of the three nations. Britain and France held land in North America, India, and other distant places. The Dutch colonized smaller parts of the Americas, took the former Portuguese trading centers around the Indian Ocean, and conquered Indonesia. These three new great powers also had influence all around the world.

Eventually, the result was a series of wars that were fought both in Europe and overseas, with Britain emerging victorious. The British took the former land of French Canada and India in the 18th century. They seized power in the Indian Ocean and defeated the Dutch navy. By 1763, the British Empire had become the second global empire after Spain. However, in 1776, thirteen colonies of British America declared independence. With help from the French, Dutch, and Spanish, they defeated Britain in the American Revolution.

Exploration of the Southern Pacific Ocean

In 1778, Captain James Cook of Britain sailed across the South Pacific Ocean looking for a mysterious continent in the Southern Hemisphere. He landed on two large islands. Then he sailed west and found a bigger piece of land. The first, was modern New Zealand; the second was Australia. Captain Cook claimed these lands for Britain. He then explored the Pacific world for another year and died in a fight with the Hawaiians.

Effects of the Age of Discovery

Many slaves brought from Africa were brought to the Americas, which was claimed to be found by Christopher Columbus himself. In conclusion, the Portuguese were weakened after the Dutch rose in the Indian Ocean trade route. Spain gained almost all of Latin America and a massive amount of silver.

When Christopher Columbus tried to find a new trade route to Asia, he thought that he could travel around the world. Instead, he had found a New World. Vikings had briefly visited Vinland around 1000 A.D.

Interesting facts about the Age of Discovery

Niccolò de' Conti traveled for 25 years, from 1414 to 1439, and suggested that it is possible to reach Asia by sailing around Africa.

The Ottoman Empire helped to bring about the Age of Discovery. When they conquered Constantinople, they forced Europeans to search for other trade routes to Asia.

Poland's forests were cleared to build the ships necessary to sail to the East Indies.

It is speculated that Columbus's ship captain, Rodrigo de Triana, was the first to spot the New World.

Sailor's meals were made from food that would not spoil and prepared months in advance.

Abel Tasman, the European often credited with discovering New Zealand, missed Australia the first time he sailed in the area.

Although Ireland is known for its potatoes, Sir Walter Raleigh is credited with bringing them to Ireland after they were discovered in Peru by the Spanish.

The Pilgrims at Plymouth Colony were greeted in English by a Native Wampanoag.

European explorers brought diseases to the New World that the natives had never experienced.

Related pages

Images for kids

The Portuguese invention of the caravel, which was maneuverable and able to undertake ocean voyages, was essential to European maritime exploration. The present image shows the " Caravela Vera Cruz", navigating the Tagus river, Lisboa.

The Nao Victoria was the Spanish ship that managed to carry out the first circumnavigation in history. The present image shows a replica of Victoria, built in 1992, visiting Nagoya, Japan, for Expo 2005.

"Mao Kun map", believed to be based on Zheng He's travels, showing sailing directions between ports of SE Asia and as far as Malindi, in Wu Bei Zhi (1628)

Americae Sive Quartae Orbis Partis Nova Et Exactissima Descriptio by Diego Gutiérrez, the largest map of the Americas until the 17th century, and the first map to use the name "California". British Library, London.

Replica of Flor de la Mar carrack housing the Maritime Museum of Malacca in Malaysia.

View from Ternate to Tidore islands in Maluku, where Portuguese eastward and Spanish westward explorations ultimately met and clashed between 1522 and 1529

In 1570 (May 20) Gilles Coppens de Diest at Antwerp published 53 maps created by Abraham Ortelius under the title Theatrum Orbis Terrarum, considered the "first modern atlas". Three Latin editions of this (besides a Dutch, a French and a German edition) appeared before the end of 1572; the atlas continued to be in demand till about 1612. This is the world map from this atlas.

Portuguese Nanbanjin arriving at Japan much to the surprise of locals, detail from a Nanban panel of the Kanō school, 1593-1600

Jesuit scholars collaborated extensively with Chinese astronomers, introducing Copernican principles. Top: Matteo Ricci, Adam Schaal and Ferdinand Verbiest (1623-1688); Bottom: Paul Siu (Xu Guangqi), Colao or Prime Minister of State, and his granddaughter Candide Hiu

In Spanish: Era de los Descubrimientos para niños

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Kids learn about the Age of Exploration and Discovery of the European Renaissance including Henry the Navigator, Columbus, Portugal, and Spain.

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The Age of Exploration, which lasted roughly between 1450 and 1600, is a term given to the period of European exploration in Africa, Asia, and the Americas. Driven by a desire for inexpensive spices, gold, and other sources of wealth, Europeans sailed around the world and sparked a global exchange of goods that changed the world forever.

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Kids learn about the biography and life of Spanish Conquistadors. Conquerers and explorers of the New World.

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Kids.Net.Au - Encyclopedia > Cartography

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Kids.Net.Au - Encyclopedia > Cartography

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Cartography is making maps. It is part of geography. How people make maps is always changing. In the past, maps were drawn by hand, but today most printed maps are made using computers. Someone who makes maps is called a cartographer.

Making a map can be as simple as drawing a direction on a napkin, or as complicated as showing a census of a whole country. Anyone can make a map, but there are people who spend their lives learning how to make complicated maps.

For many centuries maps were usually carefully drawn onto paper or parchment. Nowadays they are made on a computer which makes them look neater with accurate images.

Maps are of two main types:

General maps with a variety of features.

Thematic maps with particular themes for specific audiences.

General maps are produced in a series. Governments produce them in larger-scale and smaller-scale maps of great detail.

Thematic maps are now very common. They are necessary to show spatial, cultural and social data.

The earliest known map is a matter of some debate, both because the term "map" is always well-defined and because some artifacts that might be maps might actually be something else. A wall painting that might depict the ancient Anatolian city of Çatalhöyük (previously known as Catal Huyuk or Çatal Hüyük) has been dated to the late 7th millennium BCE. Among the prehistoric alpine rock carvings of Mount Bego (F) and Valcamonica (I), dated to the 4th millennium BCE, geometric patterns consisting of dotted rectangles and lines are widely interpreted in archaeological literature as a depiction of cultivated plots. Other known maps of the ancient world include the Minoan "House of the Admiral" wall painting from c. 1600 BCE, showing a seaside community in an oblique perspective and an engraved map of the holy Babylonian city of Nippur, from the Kassite period (14th - 12th centuries BCE). The oldest surviving world maps are from 9th century BCE Babylonia. One shows Babylon on the Euphrates, surrounded by a circular landmass showing Assyria, Urartu and several cities, in turn surrounded by a "bitter river" ( Oceanus), with seven islands arranged around it. Another depicts Babylon as being further north from the center of the world.

The ancient Greeks and Romans created maps, beginning at latest with Anaximander in the 6th century BC. In the 2nd century AD, Ptolemy produced his treatise on cartography, Geographia. This contained Ptolemy's world map - the world then known to Western society (Ecumene). As early as the 8th century, Arab scholars were translating the works of the Greek geographers into Arabic.

In ancient China, geographical literature spans back to the 5th century BC. The oldest extant Chinese maps come from the State of Qin, dated back to the 4th century BC, during the Warring States period. In the book of the Xin Yi Xiang Fa Yao, published in 1092 by the Chinese scientist Su Song, a star map on the equidistant cylindrical projection. Although this method of charting seems to have existed in China even prior to this publication and scientist, the greatest significance of the star maps by Su Song is that they represent the oldest existent star maps in printed form.

Early forms of cartography of India included the locations of the Pole star and other constellations of use. These charts may have been in use by the beginning of the Common Era for purposes of navigation.

Mappa mundi are the Medieval European maps of the world. Approximately 1,100 mappae mundi are known to have survived from the Middle Ages. Of these, some 900 are found illustrating manuscripts and the remainder exist as stand-alone documents.

The Arab geographer Muhammad al-Idrisi produced his medieval atlas Tabula Rogeriana in 1154. He incorporated the knowledge of Africa, the Indian Ocean and the Far East, gathered by Arab merchants and explorers with the information inherited from the classical geographers to create the most accurate map of the world up until his time. It remained the most accurate world map for the next three centuries.

In the Age of Exploration, from the 15th century to the 17th century, European cartographers both copied earlier maps (some of which had been passed down for centuries) and drew their own based on explorers' observations and new surveying techniques. The invention of the magnetic compass, telescope and sextant enabled increasing accuracy. In 1492, Martin Behaim, a German cartographer, made the oldest extant globe of the Earth.

Johannes Werner refined and promoted the Werner projection. In 1507, Martin Waldseemüller produced a globular world map and a large 12-panel world wall map ( Universalis Cosmographia) bearing the first use of the name "America". Portuguese cartographer Diego Ribero was the author of the first known planisphere with a graduated Equator (1527). Italian cartographer Battista Agnese produced at least 71 manuscript atlases of sea charts.

Due to the sheer physical difficulties inherent in cartography, map-makers frequently lifted material from earlier works without giving credit to the original cartographer. For example, one of the most famous early maps of North America is unofficially known as the "Beaver Map", published in 1715 by Herman Moll. This map is an exact reproduction of a 1698 work by Nicolas de Fer. De Fer in turn had copied images that were first printed in books by Louis Hennepin, published in 1697, and François Du Creux, in 1664. By the 18th century, map-makers started to give credit to the original engraver by printing the phrase "After [the original cartographer]" on the work.

Technological changes

In cartography, technology has continually changed in order to meet the demands of new generations of mapmakers and map users. The first maps were manually constructed with brushes and parchment; therefore, varied in quality and were limited in distribution. The advent of magnetic devices, such as the compass and much later, magnetic storage devices, allowed for the creation of far more accurate maps and the ability to store and manipulate them digitally.

Advances in mechanical devices such as the printing press, quadrant and vernier, allowed for the mass production of maps and the ability to make accurate reproductions from more accurate data. Optical technology, such as the telescope, sextant and other devices that use telescopes, allowed for accurate surveying of land and the ability of mapmakers and navigators to find their latitude by measuring angles to the North Star at night or the sun at noon.

Advances in photochemical technology, such as the lithographic and photochemical processes, have allowed for the creation of maps that have fine details, do not distort in shape and resist moisture and wear. This also eliminated the need for engraving, which further shortened the time it takes to make and reproduce maps.

In the 20th century, Aerial photography, satellite imagery, and remote sensing provided efficient, precise methods for mapping physical features, such as coastlines, roads, buildings, watersheds, and topography. Advancements in electronic technology ushered in another revolution in cartography. Ready availability of computers and peripherals such as monitors, plotters, printers, scanners (remote and document) and analytic stereo plotters, along with computer programs for visualization, image processing, spatial analysis, and database management, democratized and greatly expanded the making of maps. The ability to superimpose spatially located variables onto existing maps created new uses for maps and new industries to explore and exploit these potentials. See also digital raster graphic.

These days most commercial-quality maps are made using software that falls into one of three main types: CAD, GIS and specialized illustration software. Spatial information can be stored in a database, from which it can be extracted on demand. These tools lead to increasingly dynamic, interactive maps that can be manipulated digitally.

With the field rugged computers, GPS and laser rangefinders, it is possible to perform mapping directly in the terrain.

General vs. thematic cartography

In understanding basic maps, the field of cartography can be divided into two general categories: general cartography and thematic cartography. General cartography involves those maps that are constructed for a general audience and thus contain a variety of features. General maps exhibit many reference and location systems and often are produced in a series. For example, the 1:24,000 scale topographic maps of the United States Geological Survey (USGS) are a standard as compared to the 1:50,000 scale Canadian maps. The government of the UK produces the classic 1:50,000 (replacing the older 1 inch to 1 mile) " Ordnance Survey" maps of the entire UK and with a range of correlated larger- and smaller-scale maps of great detail. Many private mapping companies have also produce thematic map series.

Thematic cartography involves maps of specific geographic themes, oriented toward specific audiences. A couple of examples might be a dot map showing corn production in Indiana or a shaded area map of Ohio counties, divided into numerical choropleth classes. As the volume of geographic data has exploded over the last century, thematic cartography has become increasingly useful and necessary to interpret spatial, cultural and social data.

An orienteering map combines both general and thematic cartography, designed for a very specific user community. The most prominent thematic element is shading, that indicates degrees of difficulty of travel due to vegetation. The vegetation itself is not identified, merely classified by the difficulty ("fight") that it presents.

Topographic vs. topological

A topographic map is primarily concerned with the topographic description of a place, including (especially in the 20th and 21st centuries) the use of contour lines showing elevation. Terrain or relief can be shown in a variety of ways (see Cartographic relief depiction).

A topological map is a very general type of map, the kind one might sketch on a napkin. It often disregards scale and detail in the interest of clarity of communicating specific route or relational information. Beck's London Underground map is an iconic example. Though the most widely used map of "The Tube," it preserves little of reality: it varies scale constantly and abruptly, it straightens curved tracks, and it contorts directions. The only topography on it is the River Thames, letting the reader know whether a station is north or south of the river. That and the topology of station order and interchanges between train lines are all that is left of the geographic space. Yet those are all a typical passenger wishes to know, so the map fulfils its purpose.

Map purpose and selection of information

Arthur H. Robinson, an American cartographer influential in thematic cartography, stated that a map not properly designed "will be a cartographic failure." He also claimed, when considering all aspects of cartography, that "map design is perhaps the most complex." Robinson codified the mapmaker's understanding that a map must be designed foremost with consideration to the audience and its needs.

From the very beginning of mapmaking, maps "have been made for some particular purpose or set of purposes". The intent of the map should be illustrated in a manner in which the percipient acknowledges its purpose in a timely fashion. The term percipient refers to the person receiving information and was coined by Robinson. The principle of figure-ground refers to this notion of engaging the user by presenting a clear presentation, leaving no confusion concerning the purpose of the map. This will enhance the user's experience and keep his attention. If the user is unable to identify what is being demonstrated in a reasonable fashion, the map may be regarded as useless.

Making a meaningful map is the ultimate goal. Alan MacEachren explains that a well designed map "is convincing because it implies authenticity" (1994, pp. 9). An interesting map will no doubt engage a reader. Information richness or a map that is multivariate shows relationships within the map. Showing several variables allows comparison, which adds to the meaningfulness of the map. This also generates hypothesis and stimulates ideas and perhaps further research. In order to convey the message of the map, the creator must design it in a manner which will aid the reader in the overall understanding of its purpose. The title of a map may provide the "needed link" necessary for communicating that message, but the overall design of the map fosters the manner in which the reader interprets it (Monmonier, 1993, pp. 93).

In the 21st century it is possible to find a map of virtually anything from the inner workings of the human body to the virtual worlds of cyberspace. Therefore, there are now a huge variety of different styles and types of map - for example, one area which has evolved a specific and recognisable variation are those used by public transport organisations to guide passengers, namely urban rail and metro maps, many of which are loosely based on 45 degree angles as originally perfected by Harry Beck and George Dow.

Map symbology

Cartographic symbology encodes information on the map in ways intended to convey information to the map reader efficiently, taking into consideration the limited space on the map, models of human understanding through visual means, and the likely cultural background and education of the map reader. Symbology may be implicit, using universal elements of design, or may be more specific to cartography or even to the map.

A map may have any of many kinds of symbolization. Some examples are:

A legend, or key, explains the map's pictorial language.

A title indicates the region and perhaps the theme that the map portrays.

A neatline frames the entire map image.

A compass rose or north arrow provides orientation.

An overview map gives global context for the primary map.

A bar scale translates between map measurements and real distances.

A map projection provides a way to represent the curved surface on the plane of the map.

The map may declare its sources, accuracy, publication date and authorship, and so forth. The map image itself portrays the region.

Map coloring is another form of symbology, one whose importance can reach beyond aesthetic. In complex thematic maps, for example, the color scheme's structure can critically affect the reader's ability to understand the map's information. Modern computer displays and print technologies can reproduce much of the gamut that humans can perceive, allowing for intricate exploitation of human visual discrimination in order to convey detailed information.

Quantitative symbols give a visual indication of the magnitude of the phenomenon that the symbol represents. Two major classes of symbols are used to portray quantity. Proportional symbols change size according to phenomenon's magnitude, making them appropriate for representing statistics. Choropleth maps portray data collection areas, such as counties or census tracts, with color. Using color this way, the darkness and intensity (or value) of the color is evaluated by the eye as a measure of intensity or concentration.

Map key or legend

The map key, or legend, describes how to interpret the map's symbols and may give details of publication and authorship.

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Cartography is making maps. It is part of geography. How people make maps is always changing. In the past, maps were drawn by hand, but today most printed maps are made using computers. Someone who makes maps is called a cartographer.

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In the Age of Exploration it was important not only to get there but also to return safely. Early discoveries in Asia and America were not as historically significant as Columbus's voyage because in most case the voyagers never returned to their homeland to tell their compatriots about what they saw and experienced.

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Introduction
A compass is a navigational tool with a magnetic needle that points towards the magnetic north pole. People have used this device for hundreds of years. Explorers in the past were able to sail and navigate around the globe because of this small, but handy tool.

History
A compass is useful navigational tool that relies on magnetism to work. While there are different types of compasses, early explorer's relied on magnetic compasses in navigation. The earth's surface is covered by an invisible magnetic field. The north and south poles are aligned with the earth's axis. Therefore, magnetic objects, like the needle of a compass, will align itself along the north-south axis.1 Magnetic compasses evolved from using lodestones. Lodestone is a type of magnetic mineral called magnetite. At sea there were two ways of using a lodestone: The first was to hang it from a string, and allow it to turn and point north. The second was to float it on a piece of wood in a bowl of water, where it would drift towards the north. Using the bowl of water method was better for sailors, because holding a string steady on a moving ship could prove difficult at times. Many historians have traced these early compass-like devices to ancient China before 1040.2 As trade between Asia and Europe increased, European travelers most likely brought back using this concept back with them.3

Around the late 1200s to early 1300s, sailors started using a dry compass. This new advancement used a pivoting needle attached to a compass card in a wooden box. The direction points of the compass card looked like a rose. So navigators often refer to this type of compass as a "compass rose."4 Over the next hundred years, navigators and sailors, such as Christopher Columbus, relied on the compass to help them sail to new parts of the globe.

How It Works
The compass rose would be placed inside of a box. On the compass rose would be the general direction markings - North, South, East, and West. However, more details rose patterns may include those directions, plus more specific directions - such as North-East or South-West. The name for this type of pattern is fleur de lis - French for "lily flower." So how does it work?

The compass is a pretty simple device to use. Allow the magnetic needle to point North. Based on this knowledge, the navigator can then create his desired course.

1. Don Geary, Using a Map and Compass (Pennsylvania: Stackpole Books, 1995), 5.

2. Dana Meachen Rau, Become an Explorer: Make and Use a Compass (Chicago: Norwood House Press, 2011), 8.

3. Rau, Become an Explorer, 8.

4. Rau, Become an Explorer, 8 - 9.

Bibliography

Geary, Don. Using a Map and Compass. Pennsylvania: Stackpole Books, 1995.

Rau, Dana Meachen. Become an Explorer: Make and Use a Compass. Chicago: Norwood House Press, 2011.

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Introduction A compass is a navigational tool with a magnetic needle that points towards the magnetic north pole. People have used this device for hundreds of years. Explorers in the past were able to sail and navigate around the globe because of this small, but handy tool.

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What navigational tools made exploration possible?

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Navigational tools assisted the European explorers in finding their way across the ocean. Navigational tools are used to be able to travel around without getting lost. There are lots of navigational...

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Guns Germs & Steel: Variables. Steel | PBS

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Humans' ability to transform mineral ores into useful materials has shaped the course of human history. Those civilizations that have been armed with a greater range of metal technologies have always defeated their rivals.

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Christopher Columbus believed the world was round. Everyone around him said the world was flat. Christopher was determined to prove his theory, and this timeline shows how he did it.

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Kids.Net.Au - Encyclopedia > Christopher Columbus

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Kids.Net.Au - Encyclopedia > Christopher Columbus

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Fast facts about the exploration of America and the life of Christopher Columbus. Short Biography of Christopher Columbus. Facts, history and information about Christopher Columbus

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A to Z Kids Stuff | Christopher Columbus

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Christopher Columbus facts, resources, and activities for children.

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Christopher Columbus was an Italian explorer who lead an expedition in search of a new trade route to India under the Catholic Monarch of Spain in 1492. He sailed across the Atlantic and landed on the Americas, but he assumed he had reached the Indies.
See the fact file below for more information on Christopher Columbus or alternatively, you can download our 22-page Christopher Columbus worksheet pack to utilise within the classroom or home environment.
Key Facts & Information

EARLY LIFE AND PERSONAL INTERESTS

Christopher Columbus was an Italian explorer born in Genoa in 1451. His exact date of birth is unknown. Born during the Renaissance period when people were making new discoveries every day, he wanted to learn more about what the future would hold.

He lived in Lisbon where he developed his interests in ships and navigation. As a teenager, he worked under a trader and sailed in several commercial voyages in the Mediterranean and Aegean Sea.

While living in Lisbon, Portugal, Columbus married Felipa Perestrello, with whom he had a son. His wife died soon after and he decided to move to Spain. In 1488, out of wedlock, he had another son with Beatriz Enriquez de Arana, named Fernando.

During his early years in navigation, Columbus participated in a number of voyages to Africa, giving him a lot of knowledge and experience about sailing in the Atlantic.

People living in Europe wanted to set up a new trade route with China. It was a time when trading with Asia was difficult and expensive due to the monopoly by Italian merchants and Turkish control over the route.

Columbus thought the best way to do this was to sail west from Spain until he reached China. He believed that sailing across the Atlantic would reach Asia, thus discovering a new trade route.

In 1492, prior to his first voyage, Columbus negotiated with King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella of Spain, entitling him to 10% of the profits of all the riches he would discover:
"that of all and every kind of merchandise, whether pearls, precious stones, gold, silver, spices, and other objects and merchandise whatsoever, of whatever kind, name and sort, which may be bought, bartered, discovered, acquired and obtained within the limits of the said Admiralty, Your Highnesses grant from now henceforth to the said Don Cristóbal [Christopher Columbus] ... the tenth part of the whole, after deducting all the expenses which may be incurred therein."

In 1492, Christopher Columbus set sail for China with 90 men and a fleet of 3 wooden sailing boats called the Niña, the Pinta, and the Santa Maria. Rather than using the stars, on this voyage Columbus had a compass and a traverse board to track where the fleet was going.

On October 12, 1492, Columbus' fleet came across a small island that he named San Salvador. This island is now part of the Bahamas.

He then sailed on and discovered Cuba and an island called Hispaniola.

Despite being near America, Columbus believed his fleet was in the Indies and so named the Native American people he came across 'Indians'. The natives traded goods like glass, cotton, spears, and parrots with Columbus' crew. The Europeans took note of the adornments they wore - gold!

Columbus thought that modern-day Bahamas was China, and what is now Haiti and Dominican Republic he thought was Japan. All his assumptions were based on Marco Polo's early accounts regarding the grandeur of Asia.

On Christmas Day in 1492, Columbus' ship, the Santa Maria, was shipwrecked on a reef. Columbus and his sailors built a new settlement using salvaged parts from the ship and called it Villa de la Navidad, or 'Christmas Town'.

The Niña and the Pinta sailed back to Spain, leaving 40 men behind in the new settlement, arriving in 1493. Columbus had brought some captive Native Americans with him.

Christopher Columbus was named 'Admiral of the Seven Seas' due to his triumphs. On his second voyage, Columbus took 17 ships back to the Bahamas to collect the men he had left behind. He found that the settlement had been destroyed and all his men had been killed. He went against the Spanish Queen's wishes and requested that the Native Americans acted as slaves and rebuilt the settlement for him.

On his third voyage, he discovered South America and explored the Orinoco River in Venezuela.

After the third voyage, the Queen of Spain heard about how Columbus had made the Native Americans his slaves and had him arrested, but Columbus managed to convince the King that one more voyage to the New World would bring him many riches. On his fourth voyage, Christopher Columbus discovered more of Central America, although he was still hoping that his ship would reach China.

LATER LIFE, DEATH, AND CONTROVERSY

On the fourth voyage, Columbus' ship was wrecked and he and his crew were stranded in Cuba. Because Columbus had insisted the Native Americans pay tribute to him every three months with food, supplies and treasures or face violent and cruel punishment, they had become resentful, staged revolts, and then refused to help him when he was shipwrecked. He was eventually rescued and taken back to Spain in 1504 and died in 1506, aged around 54, after falling ill.

Throughout Columbus' life and voyages, he failed to reach Asia and was unsuccessful in discovering a new trade route. On the other hand, he was still credited for opening the Americas to European exploration.

Named after him, the Columbian Exchange set the stage for large scale transfer of people, animals, and plant species, culture, and diseases to and from the rest of the world.

Columbus' relation with the Taino people, or Arawaks, natives of Hispaniola, is considered the center of controversy against the explorer. The extinction of the Tainos is blamed on how Columbus treated them plus the diseases brought from the west during the Age of Exploration.

According to Bartolome de Las Casas in A Short Account of the Destruction of the Indies published in 1542, Columbus ordered the enslavement of the natives, some were grilled, dismembered, and sold as dog food, while others were strung up and burned alive, and women were held as sex slaves.

Despite the contentions of Queen Isabella, Columbus' colonization of the Arawaks set the stage for slave trade, which lasted for centuries.

In 1937, U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt declared the second Monday in October a federal holiday to commemorate his 'discovery' of the Americas as persuaded by Christian American Italians in the U.S.

On the other side of the coin, critics saw Columbus as the main person who wrecked the Arawak population and initiated slavery in the Americas. Many argued that he was not the first European to set foot in today's America since the Vikings were ahead of him.

In addition, he explored the Caribbean and not modern-day United States. Moreover, some states and cities in the U.S. created a counter celebration named as Indigenous Peoples' Day which honors the contributions of Native Americans instead of Columbus Day.

Christopher Columbus Worksheets

This is a fantastic bundle which includes everything you need to know about Christopher Columbus across 22 in-depth pages. These are ready-to-use Christopher Columbus worksheets that are perfect for teaching students about Christopher Columbus who was an Italian explorer who lead an expedition in search of a new trade route to India under the Catholic Monarch of Spain in 1492. He sailed across the Atlantic and landed on the Americas, but he assumed he had reached the Indies.

Complete List Of Included Worksheets

Christopher Columbus Facts

The Explorer

Behind European Voyages

Mapping the Voyage

Wrecking Ship

Yes, It's TRUE!

Columbus Maze

The Catholic Monarchs

Picture Analysis

Columbus Day

Hero or Villain?

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Christopher Columbus Worksheets, Facts & Information For Kids

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Christopher Columbus facts & worksheets. Includes lesson plans & study material. Available in PDF & Google Slides format. Great for school & home use.

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Christopher Columbus (1451-1506) was a Genoese trader, explorer, and navigator. He was born in Genoa, Italy, in the year 1451. "Christopher Columbus" is the English version of Columbus's name. His name in Italian was Cristoforo Colombo.

In 1492, Columbus sailed from Spain to find a faster route from Asia to Europe. He landed instead on an island of the Bahamas. He is credited with the discovery of the New World because Europeans began colonizing America shortly after his voyage. While Leif Erikson was the first European to land on the soils of America, it was not well documented and did not lead to the later contact between Europe and the New World.

Columbus died on May 20, 1506, in Valladolid, Spain.

Discovery of America

Columbus was not the first European person to have discovered America. At the time of his voyage, Europeans did not know that the Americas existed. However, Leif Erikson had landed in what is now Canada around AD 1000. Native Americans had lived there for thousands of years before he arrived. However, Native Americans did not record or add to the European record of history, so Columbus discovered America according to European history.

Voyage in 1492

However, Columbus did not have enough money to pay for this voyage on his own. He went to the rulers of Spain, Ferdinand II and Isabella I of Castile, to ask for help. He promised to bring back gold and spices for them, and they promised their help. After they defeated the Emirate of Granada, Ferdinand and Isabella paid for Columbus's voyage.

In August 1492, Columbus and his sailors left Spain in three ships: the Santa María (the Holy Mary), the (the Painted), and the Santa Clara ( nicknamed the : the Little Girl).

The three ships were very small. Historians think that the largest ship, the Santa María, was only about 60 ft (18 m) long, and about 16 to 19 feet (4.8 to 5.8 m) wide. Columbus's other ships were even smaller. Historians think they were about 50-60 ft (15-18 m) long.

On October 12, 1492, after sailing for about four months, Columbus landed on a small island in the Bahamas. The natives called it Guanahani; Columbus renamed it San Salvador Island ("Holy Savior"). He met Lucayan, Taíno, and Arawak Native Americans who lived on the island. They were friendly and peaceful toward Columbus and his crew. Because Columbus did not know where he was, and thought he had reached Asia, the "Indies," he called them "Indians." He claimed their land as Spain's.

Columbus then sailed to what is now Cuba, then to Hispaniola. On Hispaniola, Columbus built a fort. This was one of the first European military bases in the Western Hemisphere. He called it Navidad (Spanish for " Christmas"). He left thirty-nine crew members there and ordered them to find and store gold.

Treatment of native people

On the day he landed in the Bahamas, Columbus wrote about the Arawaks and Taíno. He thought they would make good servants. He planned to take six of them with him when he left. He noticed that some of the Arawaks had gold earrings. He took some of them as prisoners and ordered them to lead him to the gold. However, they could not.

Second voyage

Then he went back to the Navidad fort and found the fort burned down. Eleven of the 39 soldiers Columbus left at the fort were buried there. The rest had disappeared. Historians think this happened because of disease and fights with the Arawak people.

Treatment of native people

The soldiers that Columbus left at Navidad while he was exploring Jamaica and Cuba stopped working. They began stealing from the Arawaks. This made the Arawaks decide to fight back against the Spaniards. However, Spain had many weapons that the Arawaks had never seen, including steel swords, pikes, crossbows, dogs, and horses. It was easy for Spain to win fights against the Arawaks.

Columbus also took revenge against the Arawaks for killing his soldiers at Navidad. He made every native older than 14 give him a certain amount of gold every three months. If they could not pay the gold, people would be made into slaves.

There was not much gold on the parts of the island Columbus took over. Many Arawaks tried to run away from Columbus and his men. However, Columbus's soldiers used dogs to hunt them down.

Start of the transatlantic slave trade

In February 1495, Columbus started the transatlantic slave trade. He and his soldiers captured about 1,500 Taíno. 400 were let go, 600 were kept on the island as slaves to the soldiers, and 500 were sailed back to Spain. Of those 500, about 200 died during the trip, and half of the rest were very sick when they arrived. This was the first time people had ever been shipped across the Atlantic Ocean to be sold as slaves.

Third voyage

In 1498, Columbus set out to find a continent that King John II of Portugal believed was to the southwest of the Cape Verde islands. Columbus sent three ships straight to the West Indies (the Caribbean). He led another three ships: first to two Portuguese islands, then to the Canary Islands, then to Cape Verde. From Cape Verde, they sailed to the northern coast of South America and landed in Trinidad. He also explored part of South America and the islands now called Tobago and Grenada.

Treatment of native people

When he was trying to make the Spanish settlers happy, Columbus started the Encomienda system in Hispaniola. He "gave" land, or even a whole village, to a Spanish settler. Any natives that were living on the land were forced to work for that Spanish settler.

Arrest and the last voyage

On August 23, 1500, Columbus was arrested in Hispaniola, now called Santo Domingo, for cruelty to natives and Spaniards. He was sent to Spain in chains in October 1500. He was released on December 12, 1500, and taken to court. Columbus had important friends, and the King restored his freedom. He was allowed to lead another voyage.

Columbus made a fourth voyage in 1502- 1504. On this voyage, he explored the coast of Central America from Belize to Panama. In 1502, off the coast of what is now Honduras, a trading ship "as long as a galley" was encountered, filled with cargo. This was the first recorded encounter by the Spanish with the Native American civilization of Mesoamerica.

Later Columbus was stranded on Jamaica for a year; he sent two men by canoe to get help from Hispaniola. In the meantime, he impressed the local population by correctly predicting an eclipse of the moon. Help finally arrived, and he returned to Spain in 1504.

Later life and death

In his later years, Columbus demanded that the Spanish Crown give him 10% of all profits made in the new lands, according to earlier agreements. His demands were rejected. His family later sued for part of the profits from trade with America, but ultimately lost about fifty years later.

On May 20, 1506, Columbus died of heart failure and arthritis in Valladolid, Spain, at the possible age of 54. He was still convinced that his discoveries were along the East Coast of Asia. Even after his death, his travels continued with his body first buried in Valladolid and then in Seville. The will of his son Diego, who was governor of Hispaniola, had the remains transferred to Santo Domingo in 1542. In 1795 the French took over, and the body was moved to Havana. After the war of 1898, Cuba became independent and Columbus's remains were moved back to Spain, to the cathedral of Seville. However, some claim that he is still buried in the cathedral of Santo Domingo.

Personal life

Columbus's relatives said that Columbus was born in Genoa, Italy. Today, no historian can say for sure where Columbus was born. Most experts think the best evidence says he was born in Genoa. However, other historians think Columbus was born somewhere else, like Spain or Portugal. His father was Domenico Colombo, a wool weaver who worked in Genoa and Savona and who also owned a cheese stand at which young Christopher worked as a helper. His mother was Susanna Fontanarossa. He had three brothers - Bartolomeo, Giovanni Pellegrino, and Giacomo (also called Diego) - and a sister named Bianchinetta. His brother Bartolomeo ran a cartography workshop in Lisbon for at least part of his adulthood.

His native language is thought to have been a Genoese dialect. His name in the 16th-century Genoese language was Cristoffa Corombo. His name in Italian is Cristoforo Colombo, and in Spanish Cristóbal Colón.

Columbus wrote that he first went to sea when he was 14 years old. In 1470, the Colombo family moved to Savona, where Domenico took over a tavern.

In 1477, Columbus married Felipa Moniz Perestrelo. She was from a semi- noble family with connections to sailing. She died around 1479 or 1480 while giving birth to their son, Diego.

In 1485, while in Córdoba, Spain, Columbus met Beatriz Enríquez de Trasierra. They lived together for a while. They had one child named Fernando. Columbus's first son Diego did not take care of Beatriz as Columbus had instructed him.

Being ambitious, Columbus eventually learned Latin, Portuguese, and Castilian. He read about astronomy, geography, and history, including the works of Claudius Ptolemy, Pierre Cardinal d'Ailly's Imago Mundi, the travels of Marco Polo and Sir John Mandeville, Pliny's Natural History, and Pope Pius II's Historia Rerum Ubique Gestarum.

Columbus's goals

Columbus journeyed to the New World with goals in mind. First, he believed he could find a shorter and easier route to Asia, which made things Europe did not. Some people said this was nonsense. Columbus wanted to prove these people wrong.

After Columbus

The Spanish conquistadors first settled on the islands of Hispaniola (now the Dominican Republic and Haiti), Cuba, and Puerto Rico. They seized as much gold as they could.

In the United States, Columbus Day is a holiday that celebrates Columbus's arrival in the New World on October 12, 1492. The World's Columbian Exposition, which happened in 1893 in Chicago, Illinois, was held to celebrate the 400th anniversary of Columbus visiting the Americas.

Interesting facts about Christopher Columbus

The real name that he was given when he was born in Genoa was Cristoforo Colombo.

Many people during the time of Columbus believed that the Earth was flat.

Before his famous voyages, he used to sell maps and charts.

The first land they saw in America was the island of San Salvador, 375 miles off of the coast of Florida.

Columbus never actually set foot on mainland America.

Seville Cathedral in Spain, and the Columbus Lighthouse at Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic both claim to have Columbus's bones. In 2016 a DNA analysis said that the bones in Spain were his.

Christopher Columbus Quotes

"You can never cross the ocean unless you have the courage to lose sight of the shore."

"Following the light of the sun, we left the Old World."

"Nothing that results in human progress is achieved with unanimous consent. Those that are enlightened before the others are condemned to pursue that light in spite of the others."

Related pages
Egg of Columbus
Images for kids

In Spanish: Cristóbal Colón para niños

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Learn Christopher Columbus facts for kids

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Christopher Columbus is often thought of, and celebrated, for the discovery of America.

He is often remembered as a brave hero, who went in search of a new world.

The truth, however, is a bit different than the legend would suggest.

Read on to discover who Columbus really was.

Quick Facts

Christopher Columbus was born in Genoa, Italy in 1451.

His parents were Susanna and Domenico Columbus. His father was a weaver by trade. Though Christopher worked in his father's shop when he was young, he wanted to be a sailor.

When he was older, he got his wish and became a sailor. Then, in 1476, when Columbus was twenty-five, the ships that he was sailing with were attacked by French Pirates.

His ship sank, and he swam to the nearest shore, which was the coast of Portugal.

When he was well, he moved in with his brother Bartholomew in Portugal and, together, they ran a small shop that sold maps for sailors.

It was in Portugal that Columbus met and married his wife, Dona Felipa Moniz de Perestrello. The couple had a son named Diego.

The Earth is Flat?

Despite what you may have read before, Columbus and the people of his time didn't believe that the world was flat. They knew that it was round, but didn't know how big it was.

Where did Columbus want to go?

During Columbus' time, the only place to get certain spices or precious silks was by traveling to the Indies.

The only sea route that had ever been used to get to the Indies was very long since you had to sail east around Africa.

That is why Columbus wanted to sail to the west to try and reach the Indies. Since no one knew how big the Earth was, he argued that you could reach the Indies quickly by sailing to the west.

However, when he went to the King of Portugal to tell him his idea and get money for a voyage, Columbus was denied.

He then went and asked the kings of France, England, and Spain for help. They didn't help him either.

The New World

Then, in 1492, the king and queen of Spain agreed to help him. They gave him three ships: the Nina, the Pinta, and the Santa Maria. He and his crew set sail in August in search of the Indies.

However, in October his crew sighted land. Columbus claimed that they had reached the Indies, though, in reality, it was an island off the coast of Florida, which he named San Salvador.

Since Columbus thought that he was in the Indies, he called the locals Indians, though he had actually found the New World.

Who Found it First?

The reason that Columbus is considered as the first European to discover America is because he went back to Spain and told everyone about it.

His discovery helped to shape the world we live in today, and so he is remembered.

However, he was not the first European to set foot in the New World. The first people to find the Americas were actually the Vikings, led by Erik the Red, in the year 985.

That is a full 500 years before Columbus!

The Vikings were notoriously self-reliant though, and they did not share this discovery with other Europeans.

Was Columbus a Hero?

That depends on who you ask. For those in Europe, who saw the Americas as a chance for conquest and gold, the answer is yes. For the natives, however, he was not.

His discovery led to many native cultures being wiped out or changed forever.

Columbus returned to America several times throughout his life. Even after it had been disproven, he still insisted that he had found the Indies and not the New World.

He died in 1506.

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Christopher Columbus Facts Christopher Columbus is often thought of, and celebrated, for the discovery of America. He is often remembered as a brave hero, who went in search of a new world. The truth, however, is a bit different than the legend would suggest. Read on to discover who Columbus really was.

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Reading Fluency: Christopher Columbus | Worksheet | Education.com

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Your third graders will learn about Christopher Columbus and his famous voyages with this reading worksheet. Use this passage with exactly 100 words to assess your students' reading fluency.

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Christopher Columbus was born in Genoa, Italy, in 1451. His career in exploration started when he was very young. As a teenager he traveled the seas and eventually made Portugal his base. Columbus came to believe that the East Indies (present-day Indonesia and surrounding islands) could be reached by sailing west through the Atlantic Ocean. He appealed to the kings of Portugal, France, and England to finance a westward trip to the Indies, but all denied his request. After ten years of monumental efforts but fruitless results, King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella of Spain agreed to finance Columbus in the hopes of acquiring great wealth. On August 3, 1492, Columbus, crew, and three ships, the Nina, Pinta, and Santa Maria, left Palos, Spain, and headed westward.

Land Sighted!

After stopping in the Canary Islands off the coast of Africa, Columbus's ships hit the open seas. Covering about 150 miles a day, the trip was long and arduous. The crew was afraid of sea monsters and grew more restless every day that land was not sighted. Columbus offered a reward for the first person to sight land. On October 12, a crew member aboard the Pinta sighted one of the Bahama Islands. Columbus set foot on what he believed was one of the Spice Islands, a group of islands in Asia (now known as Indonesia), where valuable spices and riches came from. He named the land San Salvador. Columbus failed to find the riches he expected and continued to search for China. He next visited Cuba and Hispaniola (Dominican Republic). He encountered native peoples who he named "Indians" because he believed they were inhabitants of the Indies.

I Did Find a Shortcut to the Indies!

Columbus returned to Spain a hero. He was named Viceroy of the Indies. He soon returned to the New World but never found the riches he expected. Some began to believe that Columbus had found "a new world" rather than a shortcut to the Indies.

Legacy

Christopher Columbus is credited with discovering the continent of North America, although he probably wasn't the first explorer to see the continent, and he believed until his death that the islands he encountered were in the Asian continent. His discoveries were instrumental in the establishment of Spanish colonies in North America. Today, we celebrate Columbus Day in October to commemorate his discoveries.

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Christopher Columbus was born in Genoa, Italy, in 1451. His career in exploration started when he was very young. As a teenager he traveled the seas and eventually made Portugal his base. Columbus came to believe that the East Indies (present-day Indonesia and surrounding islands) could be reached by sailing west through the Atlantic Ocean.

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Explorers for Kids: Christopher Columbus

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Kids learn about the biography and life of explorer Christopher Columbus. He discovered the Americas for Spain.

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Cabrillo, Juan Rodriguez (?-3 Jan 1543) mercenary seaman, shipbuilder, and adventurer was born to unknown parents at an unknown location, although the idea that he was Portuguese was long promulgated by scholars. It is most likely that he was born within a few years of the turn-of-the-century (1499-1500), as he first is recorded in Mexico (1519) as a man, grown, but not yet married.

Cabrillo's national identity came into question in the late 1960s, publications began to appear suggesting his heritage was Spanish, rather than Portuguese; the truth awaits discovery of an original record of Cabrillo's birth. Although no record of his passage to America has been found, Cabrillo presumably sailed to Cuba, at that time under the control of brutal Diego Velasquez. There Cabrillo must have been exposed to the system of encomiendos, large estates worked by local Indian slaves or Indian people taken captive in more remote lands and transported to Cuba for labor.

Governor Velasquez had an unquenchable desire for greater wealth and land holdings. He convinced Hernán Cortez to sail to the Mexican mainland in hopes of extending the encomiendo system, but then, doubtful of Cortez' loyalty, Velasquez rescinded the commission. Cortez sailed anyway. Velasquez was outraged and sent a force to arrest Cortez. The force, including Cabrillo, soon capitulated to Cortez and joined him to wage war against the Aztec empire. It is here in Mexico that verifiable record of Cabrillo first appears.

Cabrillo was next documented in 1521, still in the service of Cortez, assisting in the building of a fleet of one and two-masted, square-rigged ships destined to sail lake Texcoco. Cabrillo, heading a contingent of men, was sent to the mountains charged with harvesting pine tar to waterproof the ships' hulls.

Rewarded for his service by property rights, slaves and a prosperous gold mine, Cabrillo headed south and transferred his loyalty to Pedro de Alvarado, then charged as Captain General of Guatemala and commissioned to explore the south seas. Cabrillo made his fortune in service as ship builder, magistrate and port master to Alvarado. During this time Cabrillo fathered three children by his unidentified Indian wife and settled in Honduras as a citizen with his own interest in an encomiendo at Cobán. He was able to build his own ship at this time. Kelsey (Kelsey 1991:31) quoted Bartolome de las Casas (1552) and Francisco de Torres (1564) who gave sworn testimony of Cabrillo's treatment of the Honduran Indian people. De las Casas said of Cabrillo, "He broke up homes, taking the women and girls and giving them to the soldiers and sailors in order to keep them satisfied and to bring them into his fleet." Torres spoke of manual labor, "Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo was served by those very Indians. He had control of them, and they served him by carrying supplies to his mines and transporting pitch for a ship that Juan Rodriguez was building. The witness saw this many times." Another Indian, Juan Ximénez, was reported by Kelsey (Kelsey 1991:31) as slaving in Cabrillo's mines. He said, "He was in the cuadrilla that Juan Rodriguez had in the mines taking out gold. He saw the Indians of Cobán serving Juan Rodriguez as though they belonged to him. They brought him beans, corn, peppers, and salt; clay pots and pans and little bowls for pulque as supplies for the Indians working in his mines." In addition Cabrillo maintained a lucrative exchange with Peru.

Cabrillo sailed for Spain in 1532. There he courted and married Beatriz, who returned with him to his estate and produced a second set of children. When the call came from Alvarado, now in partnership with the Viceroy of New Spain, to explore the west coast of North America and to find the long dreamed of Atlantic to Pacific passage, Cabrillo was ready. He was second in command under Alvarado, and when Alvarado was killed in 1541, the Viceroy gave Cabrillo first command of the expedition.

It was during the final year of his life that Cabrillo would earn a place in the history of the world, by being the first documented European to sail the Western shore of North America. His ships sailed into what is now Ensenada, Baja California, Mexico on September 17th and into San Diego Harbor on September 28, the feast day of San Miguel, in 1542. By the 10th of October the ships arrived at islands they named Santa Catalina and San Clemente. At San Miguel Island in what is now called the Santa Barbara Channel, Cabrillo broke his arm in a fall. How far north Cabrillo traveled after he broke his arm is contested by scholars, some think he led his crew as far north as Fort Ross, others think they went as far as the Russian or the Rogue River. However far north they went, they turned south again, apparently missing San Francisco Bay and halting to spend the months of winter at San Miguel Island. In all they assigned about forty place names, many to be later renamed by Viscaíno, including the harbor of San Miguel, renamed, San Diego, the name it bears to this day.

The return leg of the voyage spelled disaster for the tiny flotilla; weather kept the ships' crews from going ashore to replenish food, fuel, and water supplies. Forced ever southward, the men were hungry and sick when they were finally able to reprise their landing at San Miguel Island. Cabrillo's humerus refused to heal and his condition worsened; he died on San Miguel Island. Robert Heizer once documented a stone on San Miguel Island which he believed to be Cabrillo's headstone, and thus, the oldest "historical relic" in California (Lowie 1972). Although the idea that Cabrillo was buried in Spain was favored for many years, most scholars accept that he was buried in Alta California.

No copy of the original log of Cabrillo's voyage remains. The only account left was compiled by a man named Juan León and copied in 1543 by Andrés de Urdaneta, although the work was traditionally accredited to the mysterious Juan Páez. Two complete biographies have been written, the first, Henry Wagner's Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo, Discoverer of the Coast of California, was published in 1941 by the San Francisco Historical Society, and the second, Harry Kelsey's Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo, was published in 1986 by the Huntington Library, San Marino, CA.

The Cabrillo Historical Society in San Diego has published several volumes of papers on various aspects of Cabrillo's life and the history of European influence in North and South America which bear upon Cabrillo's activities. The volumes are The Cabrillo Era and His Voyage of Discovery, edited by Carl Reupsch (1982) and Cabrillo's World: A Commemorative Edition of Cabrillo Festival Historic Seminar Papers (1991). Robert Heizer's paper, California's Oldest Historical Relic? was published by the Robert H. Lowie Museum of Anthropology at the University of California, Berkeley in 1972.

Other scholars besides Harry Kelsey (in Cabrillo's World) have concerned themselves with the question of Cabrillo's national identity. Chief among these are W. Michael Mathes "The Discoverer of AltaCalifornia: Joáo Rodrigues Cabrihlo or Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo," Journal of San Diego History 19(Summer 1973):1-8 and F. Castelo Branco Cabrillo's Nationality, Academia de Marinha, Lisbon (1987).

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Cabrillo, Juan Rodriguez (?-3 Jan 1543) mercenary seaman, shipbuilder, and adventurer was born to unknown parents at an unknown location, although the idea that he was Portuguese was long promulgated by scholars. It is most likely that he was born within a few years of the turn-of-the-century (1499-1500), as he first is recorded in Mexico (1519) as a man, grown, but not yet married.

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The discovery of America and the brave explorers like Cabrillo who led the way for the early colonists

Facts about Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo
The following Fact File contains fast information about the life of Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo. Interesting facts and an overview and description of the life and times and his involvement in the Exploration and the discovery of the New World leading to the colonization of America.

Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo Fact 1

Why was Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo famous and what part of America did he explore? Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo led the first European expedition to explore the upper California coast

Cabrillo Ship - the San Salvador

Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo Fact 2

When was Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo born? He was born 1475

Facts about Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo
This article contains a short biography in a fact file format in date order. Fast facts and information about the life of Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo. Who was Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo and why was he famous? When did he explore the New World of America? Which area of America did Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo explore? Read the fact file that provides fast access to interesting facts for kids about the life of this famous explorer and his place in the history of America.

Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo Facts for kids
The life and biography of Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo is presented in a short, easy fact file format that is highly suitable for kids. The facts about are a fast and accurate way to gain a good understanding of the life of this famous man who played a major role in the Discovery of America. The facts include the major events in the life of Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo together with important dates and details of his family. For additional facts for kids and information refer to the additional articles including:

Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo Fact 11

In 1541 Antonio de Mendoza, the Viceroy of New Spain selected Cabrillo to establish a trading route between Central America and the Spice Islands

The Exploration & Discovery of America - The Geradus Mercator World Map
Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo

Life, Biography and Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo facts for kids

History Biography, facts on Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo

Fast Facts and info about Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo for kids

The biography is a great history resource for kids

Social Studies Homework help for kids on Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo facts

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The discovery of America and the brave explorers like Cabrillo who led the way for the early colonists Facts about Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo The following Fact File contains fast information about the life of Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo.

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Maritime History | San Diego Historic Places

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The maritime history of San Diego dates back hundreds of years.

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▼ Primary Sources ▼

Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo was born in about 1500. Early historian, Antonio de Herrera, claimed: "Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo, Portuguese, a person very skilled in seamanship." However, his grandson, Geronimo Cabrillo came (to the New World) from the Kingdoms of Spain." His biographer, Harry Kelsey, has argued the evidence suggests that he was "born in Spain, probably in Seville, but perhaps in Cuellar."

Castillo served as a mounted officer under Francisco de Orozco in the conquest of Oaxaca in 1521. The following year he joined Pedro de Alvarado in the campaign in Tututepec. Now a senior officer, Castillo took part in the invasions of Guatemala and Honduras in 1523. His biographer, Harry Kelsey, claims that: "Juan Rodríguez himself apparently took an Indian wife about this time, perhaps one of the extremely attractive Tzutuhil woman who still beguile travelers with their delicate features and flashing smiles. Her name is unknown, but she lived with Juan Rodríguez for a number of years, bearing several children, among them at least three daughters."

Castillo was given large amounts of land in Guatemala. He built a large house in Almolonga and in July 1529 discovered gold on territory he owned in Cobán. The author of Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo (1988), argues that this turned him into one of the richest men in Guatemala. Kelsey adds "as a merchant-adventurer he learned to read, write, keep accounts, and sell goods at a profit."

In the early 1530s Castillo returned to Spain in order to find a wife. He eventually married Beatriz Sánchez de Ortega, who lived in Seville, and the sister of his friend, Diego Sánchez de Ortega. On his return to the New Spain he began to concentrate on ship building. According to one source he built "seven or eight... between 1536 and 1540".

The following month Cabrillo recorded that from his ship he saw "very beautiful valleys, groves of trees, and low, rolling countryside". He added that the mainland was "good land, by its appearance, with broad valleys and with mountains farther inland." Cabrillo also saw that large areas of land covered with dense smoke. It was later discovered that Native Americans in this part of California used this "aboriginal burning technique increased the harvest of acorns and grass seeds and improved the browse for deer, rabbits, and other animals".

On 28th September, Cabrillo anchored in San Diego Bay. Cabrillo and his men therefore became the first Europeans to reach California from the sea. Soon after landing Cabrillo encountered members of the Chumash tribe. They initially fled but when some of the men went ashore to fish with a net, some of them returned, armed with bows and arrows and fired at the Spaniards.

Two days later three members of the tribe approached Cabrillo's party and they managed a lengthy conversation in sign language. They reported that further inland there were bearded men dressed just like those on the ships, armed with crossbows and swords. According to the Indians, the bearded men had killed many natives. This was the reason why they had fired on the men fishing in the sea.

On 8th October they visited San Pedro Bay. Cabrillo described the place as "a good port and a good land with many valleys and plains and wooded areas." The following day they anchored overnight in Santa Monica Bay. Cabrillo recorded that the land was "more than excellent" and was the type of "country where you can make a settlement." Going up the coast Cabrillo saw Anacapa Island, 14 miles (23 km) off the coast, and spent the next few days in Cuyler Harbor on the island of San Miguel. On 13th November Cabrillo reached Point Reyes, but missed San Francisco Bay. Coming back down the coast, Cabrillo entered Monterey Bay on 16th November.

At the end of the year Cabrillo returned to San Miguel. However, on 24th December, Cabrillo had an accident while entering the harbour in a small boat. Francisco de Vargas recorded: "As he began to jump out of the boat, one foot struck a rocky ledge, and he splintered a shinbone." Another account said he "broke an arm close to the shoulder"

Harry Kelsey, the author of Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo (1988) has pointed out: "In a fall such as this, it is certainly possible that he broke both his arm and his leg... Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo was taken back aboard ship, where the surgeon tried to treat the wound. However, the injury could not be helped with the medical knowledge then available. The wound quickly turned morbid and became infested with gangrene." Just before his death on 3rd January, 1543, he requested his chief pilot, Bartolomé Ferrelo, to continue the expedition northward. On 1st March he reached latitude 42 degrees north, later the boundary between California and Oregon, before turning south and returning to La Navidad.

Service in the conquest was further recognized in 1536 when, on 20 July, Pedro de Alvarado granted the encomiendas of Teoata and Cotela to his captain, then a resident of Gracias a Díos.6 This friendship with Alvarado was further reflected by the placing of Rodríguez Cabrillo in command of the former's shipyards at Acajutla where twelve vessels were under construction for exploration and discovery in the Pacific Ocean.

By 1540 the twelve ships were completed as was another, the San Salvador, constructed by Rodríguez Cabrillo at his own expense. The fleet thus prepared, Alvarado, with Rodríguez Cabrillo as his admiral, sailed to the Colima coast of New Spain to join forces with his partner in the enterprise. Viceroy Antonio de Mendoza. During this period Rodríguez Cabrillo was further honored by his commander with a concession of encomiendas at Tacuba and Jumaitepeque.

The situation in New Spain at the time of Alvarado's arrival in Colima did not permit the immediate initiation of exploration, for a general Indian rebellion, the Mixtón War, in the western regions (Nueva Galicia) required all available troops. Unable to proceed, Alvarado marched inland to join in battle, leaving Rodríguez Cabrillo in command of the fleet at Colima. The death of Alvarado in the summer of 1541 placed Rodríguez Cabrillo in full command of the fleet and in direct contact with Mendoza, who, desirous of continuing his plans for exploration, took charge of Alvarado's vessels and prepared them for sailing.

As a result of his experience and the high esteem in which he was held by Alvarado, Rodríguez Cabrillo was confirmed in his command by Mendoza and was ordered to prepare the San Salvador and Victoria for exploration northward along the Pacific Coast. Sailing from Navidad on 27 June 1542, Rodríguez Cabrillo began his historic voyage to Alta California; a voyage from which he would not return. On 23 November of that year he was injured by a fall on San Miguel Island, yet continued to explore the north coast of California.

In a fall such as this, it is certainly possible that he broke both his arm and his leg... Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo was taken back aboard ship, where the surgeon tried to treat the wound. However, the injury could not be helped with the medical knowledge then available. The wound quickly turned morbid and became infested with gangrene. Knowing that death was near, Juan Rodríguez called on his chief pilot to hand over command of the armada. He then proceeded to put his papers in the best order possible, though he was not able to summon enough strength to complete that part of his account that recorded the voyage north of the Channel Islands. This section of the narrative remains singularly lacking in detail, having none of the enlightening comments that enliven the earlier pages.

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Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo: Interesting Facts for kids ***

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Check out this site for interesting facts about Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo for kids. Short Summary, Biography and Fun Facts about Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo. Biography and Interesting Facts about Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo for kids.

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Well, the first thing might be: who was Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo? He was a soldier in the Spanish army that fought the Aztecs of Mexico. He was one of the wealthiest men in New Spain. And he discovered California.

It seems appropriate to launch our "Golden History - California" blog series for September 2015 with an introduction to the Spanish explorer who discovered and claimed California. It also seems fitting to share this today because the replica of Cabrillo's ship - "San Salvador - makes it's debut in San Diego's Festival of Sail today! (I'd love to be there, but my favorite era claims me and I'm off to a Civil War re-enactment in Huntington Beach...)

Now, let's "meet" Cabrillo and discover 5 facts about his life!

Well, from the Iberian Peninsula is the one safe answer. It's not known precisely if he was Spanish or Portuguese, though the matter is under investigative research by skilled historians and may be conclusively resolved soon.

It is important to remember that Cabrillo - no matter where he was originally from - was well-versed the Spanish culture, fought in the Spanish armies, and claimed California for Spain.
2. Cabrillo fought the Aztecs with Cortez
In 1519, Hernan Cortez took an expedition of soldiers, landed on the shores of Mexico, and marched inland, looking for land and gold. The natives thought the Spaniards were gods and, for a while, the "conquest" was "easy." The Spanish rallied the native tribes who hated the Aztecs, making those fierce warriors angry. Fierce conflict began.

Juan Cabrillo is listed in Cortez's records as a conquistador during the conquests of the Aztecs. He was a commander of a unit of crossbowmen.
3. Cabrillo was one of the wealthiest men in New Spain
Following the conquest of the Aztecs, Cabrillo continued his soldier of fortune experiences, moving south with the Spanish armies. Eventually, he settled and owned property in Guatemala, helped found the city of Santiago, and became one of the most important men in the colony.

He married Beatriz Sanchez de Ortega and they had two sons.

Cabrillo oversaw the fledgling industry of shipbuilding along the Pacific coast. But several of the ships were wrecked and Cabrillo's fortune was jeopardized; perhaps a trading voyage to China would stabilize he fortune. Thus, an expedition was planned; Cabrillo would be the commander, and they would sail and discover...
4. Cabrillo discovered San Diego Bay
In 1542, Cabrillo left the Port of Navidad with three ship and sailed northward to explore the land above Baja California. Aboard his flagship "San Salvador", Cabrillo entered San Diego Bay on September 28th and claimed the land for Spain; he named the bay "San Miguel" (but later explorers changed the name).

Cabrillo and his men continued sailing up the California coast, fighting the southward bound "California Sea Current." They missed San Francisco Bay, but sighted Point Reyes before turning south to winter in the Channel Islands.
5. Cabrillo did not survive his expedition
In an attempt to rescue his men who were under attack by natives, Cabrillo splintered his ankle. The injury did not heal and became infected. Juan Cabrillo died on January 3, 1543, and was probably buried on one of the Channel Islands.

Cabrillo's men continued the expedition, though, and sailed north again in the spring. They may have reached the Oregon coast before returning to Mexico with their reports.
Why is Cabrillo Significant in History?
Cabrillo was the first known European to set foot on the California coast. His claimed territory for Spain would become a Spanish Colony, Mexican Province, independent republic, and a state of the United States of America. Cabrillo's discovery unlocked mysterious California and ushered in the era of European - and later American - influence on the West Coast.

Your Historian,

Miss Sarah

P.S. Ever visited Cabrillo National Monument in San Diego?

About Sarah Kay Bierle

I'm Sarah Kay Bierle, historian, editor, and historical fiction writer. When sharing history, I try to keep the facts interesting and understandable. History is about real people, real actions, real effects and it should inspire us today.

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5 Things You Didn't Know About Juan Cabrillo

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Well, the first thing might be: who was Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo? He was a soldier in the Spanish army that fought the Aztecs of Mexico. He was one of the wealthiest men in New Spain. And he discovered California. It seems appropriate to launch our "Golden History - California" blog series for September 2015 with an...

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juan rodríguez cabrillo portuguese explorer

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Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo Biography - Portuguese Explorer

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This European navigator was the first of the many explorers that sailed to the coast of California. During his journeys, he mapped much of its coast, but sadly, he did not live long enough to bring back his findings back to Europe.

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19 Juan Ponce De Leon Facts For Kids

navajocodetalkersadmin on December 16, 2014 - 8:00 pm in Fun Facts for Kids

Juan Ponce de Leon, or just Ponce de Leon as he's often called, was a Spanish explorer who became the first governor the country of Puerto Rico, and who actually discovered the state of Florida. Ponce de Leon named the state of Florida and was traveling there to find what was called the fountain of youth, a supposedly magical fountain that would make people young again and let them live forever.

His Early Life

1. Ponce de Leon was born in the north of Spain in 1474 or 1475. It's believed that one of his ancestors was a Spanish princess and while not much is known about his family, many think that they were very influential and may have been very wealthy.

2. As a young man Ponce de Leon joined the military and fought for Spain and helped to defeat people that were called the Moors, in a country called Grenada. This happened around 1492, when Ponce de Leon would have been about 18 years old.

Going to the New World

3. That same year, a man named Christopher Columbus sailed to what is now called America; at that time it was called by those in Spain and surrounding countries the New World because it was all very new to them!

4. After Ponce de Leon fought in the wars in Grenada and Spain, his work as a soldier was no longer needed. Like many soldiers of that time, he then decided to find something exciting to do in another country, and many people in Spain were talking about this New World.

5. Not many people today realize that Christopher Columbus didn't make just one trip to the place that is now called America. After he discovered this New World for Spain, he returned there and planned another trip back to the same area. Columbus knew that the lands around America needed to be explored and that they had lots of valuable resources that could help those back home.

6. To make the next trip, Christopher Columbus needed volunteers who would sail with him. This time around, there were some 1200 people who wanted to go. These included regular sailors who helped with the ships that were used, along with colonists. These are people who simply wanted to move to a new area and settle down and build homes.

7. There were also soldiers who went with Columbus to the new world, to protect the colonists and the sailors and because they needed something to do now that there were no more wars to fight. It's believed that Ponce de Leon was one of those soldiers who went with Columbus and his other volunteers, to protect everyone and because he needed something to do.

Hispaniola

8. The first place that everyone landed during this trip was an island called Hispaniola. Not many people use this name for the island today because it's shared by two countries, the Dominican Republic and Haiti.

9. Hispaniola is located south of America, to the east. Many of the colonists who came with Columbus at that time decided to stay in that area, which is why so much of the culture of those two countries has Spanish influence.

10. Ponce de Leon was not done exploring however. After he helped Columbus and the other colonists and sailors settle into Hispaniola, he decided to do some more traveling. Many people think he then went back to Spain for some time, and then returned to the same area, to a country now known as Puerto Rico.

Puerto Rico

11. Ponce de Leon settled in Puerto Rico for some time and became its first governor, by order of the Spanish government. During that time he used what is called forced labor, which is a type of slavery, by forcing the people who were already settled in Puerto Rico to harvest crops. The other people who settled with him treated these native people very harshly and diseases like smallpox and the measles made them sick. Many of them died during this time, and even though they tried to rebel, Ponce de Leon would not allow it and forced them back to their labor.

12. During this same time, the son of Christopher Columbus arrived in Puerto Rico and claimed that he should have more of the land to himself since his father had discovered it for Spain. The two men had many fights over who should be in charge of the island, and eventually Ponce de Leon won out. Columbus's son then returned to Spain.

Sailing to Florida

13. The Spanish country was interested in learning more about this New World and stories were circulating about the land that was north of the island of Puerto Rico. Some even said that the lands held a fountain of youth, or waters that would make people young again.

14. In the year 1512 the government of Spain told Ponce de Leon that he should sail to the north and see if he could find this land and anything of value there. He set out to do that and eventually arrived in the area that is now known as Florida. Even though he had to pay for the trip himself, he was excited about going and took some 200 people with him. Some say that he landed in the city known as St. Augustine but others say it may have been even more south.

15. Wherever he landed, Ponce de Leon had called the area La Florida, or The Flowers, because it was spring and the land had many flowers that he could see from his ships. It's believed that Ponce de Leon thought he was looking at another island in the ocean but it was actually the landscape of Florida, which is how the state got its name.

Returning to Puerto Rico

16. Ponce de Leon and his sailors explored the coast of Florida for quite some time, discovering the giant sea turtles and other wildlife. However, they didn't realize how strong the waters off the coast could be and they didn't make it back to Puerto Rico right away. Instead, they were thrown off course and landed in Cuba, at first confused about their landing spot.

17. Eventually Ponce de Leon and his crew retraced their voyage along the coast of Florida and made it home to Puerto Rico, some eight months after they left. He wanted to travel again however and made plans for another trip.

18. In 1521 Ponce de Leon had another crew ready and they returned to the coast of Florida. This journey was not so easy however, as they encountered people who already lived there and who were not happy to see the invaders. Ponce de Leon and his sailors were attacked and he was shot with an arrow with a poison tip.

19. The people with Ponce de Leon returned to Cuba as it was closer for them, and he died of his injuries while in that country. His sailors took his body to Puerto Rico and it was stored in a crypt on the island. In 1836 however his body was moved to another area of Puerto Rico, and placed in The Cathedral of San Juan Bautista, the Roman Catholic cathedral of the Archdiocese of San Juan de Puerto Rico. This is the second oldest cathedral in the Americas, and his body still stays there today.

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19 Juan Ponce De Leon Facts For Kids | Navajo Code Talkers

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Juan Ponce de Leon, or just Ponce de Leon as he's often called, was a Spanish explorer who became the first governor the country of Puerto Rico, and who

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Juan Ponce de León was a Spanish explorer who is credited for discovering Florida in the United States. His first voyage was alongside Christopher Columbus but he later made a name for himself as he became governor of Puerto Rico. See the fact file below for more information about Ponce de León:

Juan Ponce de León was born in 1474 in Castile, Northern Spain, and is famous for being an explorer and conquistador (a term given to Spanish soldiers).

It's believed that Ponce de León was born into Spanish nobility.

Up until 1493, Ponce de León was a soldier for the Spanish military, but when the war against the Emirate of Granada ended, his services were no longer needed.

In 1493, Ponce de León joined Christopher Columbus, alongside 1200 other sailors, soldiers and colonists, as a volunteer on his 2nd voyage to the New World.

One of the first places in the New World that Ponce de León helped to discover was Puerto Rico.

In 1504, Ponce de León was asked to assist the Spanish governor, Ovando, with the trouble he was having with the people of Hispaniola. He succeeded in his role and was given land and the new title of 'provincial governor'.

Ponce de León established a town in the Dominican Republic called Salvaleón de Higüey.

Ponce de León married an innkeeper's daughter in 1508 and had 3 daughters and 1 son.

After 1508, Ponce de León received permission from Ovando to explore Puerto Rico and learn more about the gold that could be mined there. His boat anchored at San Juan.

Ponce de León was appointed as governor of San Juan Bautista (the Spanish name for Puerto Rico) in 1509 by Ferdinand II of Spain.

In 1512, Ferdinand ordered Ponce de León to go and discover new islands to the northwest of Hispaniola, which he called the Islands of Benimy.

In 1513, Ponce de León took 3 ships to go and explore the islands. He named one of them 'La Florida' because of the rich vegetation that he saw there.

Ponce de León discovered Florida around Easter time.

According to a legend, Ponce de León only discovered Florida because he was searching for the Fountain of Youth: a water spring that supposedly restored the youth of anyone who bathed in it.

In 1521, Ponce de León organised 2 ships to go and colonize Florida. He took with him 200 men, 50 horses, other animals and farming toold.

However, on this final trip, Ponce de León was injured by a poisoned arrow fired by the native people. He was taken to Havana, Cuba, where he died from his wound in 1521, aged 47.

Juan Ponce de León Worksheets

This bundle includes 13 ready-to-use Juan Ponce de León worksheets that are perfect for students to learn about Juan Ponce de León was a Spanish explorer who is credited for discovering Florida in the United States.
This download includes the following worksheets:

Juan Ponce de León Facts

Bon Voyage!

The Conquistadores

Modified TRUE or FALSE

The Biographical Data

Name the Flag

Word Search

Treasure Hunt Time

The Legend: The Fountain of Youth

Let's Sing!

(your name) :The Explorer

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Juan Ponce de León Facts, Information & Worksheets For Kids

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Juan Ponce de León facts & worksheets. Includes lesson plans & study material. Available in PDF & Google Slides format. Great for school & home use.

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Juan Ponce de Leon was born on December 3, 1460 in Sines, Germany. He became interested in sailing through his cousin, Christopher Columbus, and also was close friends with his neighbor, Vasco Da Gama, so it was no surprise that he became a world-famous explorer. In 1493 he accompanied Columbus on his second expedition to the Americas. Due to a disagreement between Ponce de Leon and his cousin, he did not return home but remained in Santo Domingo, which is now known as the Dominican Republic. While there, he contracted a rare disease which caused the loss of his right hand. As a result, de Leon had to learn to type all over again with just his left hand.

A rumor had been spreading about gold, so Ponce de Leon set off in search of gold. He sailed in search of these riches to the island of Borinquen, which is now called Puerto Rico. He fought to conquer this island and claim it for Spain. He became Poet Laureate and Official Typist of Puerto Rico.

In 1513 he was hired by Revlon, a cosmetic company, to search for the Fountain of Youth (a body of water that would enable you to look young forever). Along with three ships and many men he set off to discover this fountain. On April 2, 1513 they arrived at St. Augustine, Florida and claimed this land for Spain. Unfortunately, he did not find the Fountain of Youth.

On his next voyage, quite by accident, Ponce de Leon discovered the Gulf Stream, which flows out of the Gulf of Mexico. This stream would become extremely important to sailors due to its strong current. De Leon returned to Puerto Rico.

In 1521 Ponce de Leon decided to return to Florida to build a colony there. It was not easy going. The Native Americans did not welcome him and many fierce battles ensued. An arrow struck de Leon. This wound made him very ill and at last he died. He was buried in Havana Cuba in 1559.
Click here for other places to learn about this explorer

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Juan Ponce de Leon was born on December 3, 1460 in Sines, Germany. He became interested in sailing through his cousin, Christopher Columbus, and also was close friends with his neighbor, Vasco Da G...

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Juan Ponce de Leon Lesson for Kids: Facts & Biography - Video & Lesson Transcript | Study.com

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Ponce de Leon was a Spanish explorer famous for naming Florida and settlements in the Caribbean. Discover the life and legacy of Juan Ponce de...

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Juan Ponce de León was born in 1460 in Santervás, Spain. He was an explorer and fighter from an early age and helped fight the Muslims in southern Spain in the early 1490s. He was on board Christopher Columbus's second expedition to the Americas in 1493. Rather than returning to Spain, the adventurer remained at an island called Santo Domingo (now called the Dominican Republic).

The Conquistador

De León was soon appointed as the governor of the Higüey region of Santo Domingo. Like many Spanish explorers, he was bloodthirsty for gold. When he heard rumors that a nearby island called Borinquen (now Puerto Rico) was full of gold, he invaded the island and brutally conquered the natives. He was soon appointed governor of the island but lost his title in 1511 because of his extreme brutality toward the natives.

The Search for the Fountain of Youth

De León's misfortunes as governor did not stop him from sailing the seas looking for gold and, according to some legends, the Fountain of Youth. After returning to Puerto Rico, de León took three ships and 200 men on a mission to explore lands to the north. De León was said to have searched for the Fountain of Youth, a mythical spring that was said to make anyone who drank its water young forever. After making several stops at Caribbean islands and conquering the island of Bimini, de León and his men reached the east coast of Florida (St. Augustine) on April 2, 1513. He named the land "Pascua de Florida," or Feast of Flowers, because he discovered it on Palm Sunday. He claimed all of the land for Spain.

Captain General

On April 8, 1513, de León and his men left northern Florida and sailed south along the Gulf Stream. After a fight between his men and natives in southern Florida, he sailed to Cuba. He tried to sail back to Bimini but could not find it. De León soon returned to Puerto Rico where he sacked a rebellion of natives against Spanish rule. After returning to Spain, he was named captain general by the king on September 27, 1514.

Death

De León did not return to the New World until 1521 when he once again tried to find the island of Bimini. Instead, de León and his men landed on the Gulf coast of Florida, where they were met by hostile Indians who shot his men with arrows. De León himself was wounded and died a short time after sailing to Havana, Cuba, in July of 1521.

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Juan Ponce de León was born in 1460 in Santervás, Spain. He was an explorer and fighter from an early age and helped fight the Muslims in southern Spain in the early 1490s. He was on board Christopher Columbus's second expedition to the Americas in 1493.

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Ponce de León returned to Spain in 1514 and was knighted by King Ferdinand, who also reinstated him as the governor of Puerto Rico and authorized him to settle Florida. He returned to the Caribbean in 1515, but plans to organize an expedition to Florida were delayed by the death of King Ferdinand in 1516, after which Ponce de León again traveled to Spain to defend his grants and titles.

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Kids learn about the biography of explorer Juan Ponce de Leon including his early life, going to the New World, governor of Puerto Rico, exploring Florida, the Fountain of Youth, and fun facts.

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Worksheets for Kids & Free Printables | Education.com

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Award-winning educational materials like worksheets, games, lesson plans and activities designed to help kids succeed. Start for free now!

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Juan Ponce de Leon the Explorer for Kids ***

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Find Facts about Juan Ponce de Leon for Kids. Fun Facts about Juan Ponce de Leon for Kids. History and Info about Juan Ponce de Leon for Kids.

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Christopher Columbus was never very successful at finding large amounts of gold in the Americas, but that didn't stop the Spaniards from continuing their quest. Juan Ponce De Leon was just one of the explorers the Spanish crown sent to look for gold. He had hopes of finding much more, though.

Juan Ponce De Leon was born in 1460 in Spain. His parents were nobles and Ponce De Leon led a privileged life. He became a soldier, fighting against the Moors in Granada, and later sailed to America with Christopher Columbus. He was made governor of Hispaniola, the settlement started by Columbus.

Fun Facts About Juan Ponce De Leon for Kids

The Spanish king sent Ponce De Leon to Puerto Rico in search of gold. He was very successful there.

The king ordered Ponce De Leon to explore other islands in search of more gold. Ponce de Leon heard about an island called Bimini, which had a fountain that could make anyone who drank from it young and strong. It was called, "the fountain of youth."

Ponce De Leon set out in search of this island. He never found it or the magical fountain, but he did discover Florida.

Ponce De Leon constantly struggled against Indian uprisings in Puerto Rico. He was killed in 1521 during a war with native tribes.

Juan Ponce De Leon Vocabulary

1. Nobles: people given special status and privileges by the king

2. Privileged: given special treatment and opportunities

All About Juan Ponce De Leon Video for Kids

Check out this cool video about the expedition of Juan Ponce De Leon for kids:

Juan Ponce De Leon Q&A

Question: What was Juan Ponce de Leon's biggest achievement?

Answer: He reached the North American mainland. His maps and notes helped later explorers chart this area.

Enjoyed the Easy Geography for Kids about Juan Ponce De Leon info? Take the FREE & fun all about Juan Ponce De Leon quiz and download FREE all about Juan Ponce De Leon worksheet for kids. For lengthy info click here.

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All About Juan Ponce De Leon - Geography Fun Facts for Kids. Learn fun facts all about Juan Ponce De Leon with our FREE Easy Science and Geography for Kids

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See the fact file below for more information on Hernan Cortes or alternatively, you can download our comprehensive worksheet pack to utilise within the classroom or home environment.

Early Life:

Hernán Cortés was born in Medellin, Castile, Spain around 1485. His father was a captain in the Spanish army. At the age of 14, Cortés was sent to school as his parents wished him to be a lawyer. After two years, Cortés returned home for he was not interested in becoming a lawyer. He was the second cousin of Francisco Pizarro, conquistador of the Inca Empire.

In 1504, after the expedition of Christopher Columbus, Cortés became interested in travelling to new lands. He arrived at the city of Santo Domingo in the islands of Hispaniola. Cortés worked as a notary for several years.

In 1511, he joined Diego Velazquez on an expedition to Cuba. After the conquest of Velazquez, Cortés gained wealth and power in Cuba.

Conquest and Death of Cortés

By 1518, Cortés became the commander for the conquest of Mexico. Fearing more power, Velasquez cancelled the expedition but Cortés pushed through and set sail with 500 men and 11 ships.

In February 1519, Cortés arrived in the Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico. He employed different strategies of conquest by befriending some natives. Cortés also fought against natives with great resistance.

Cortés fought against Tlaxiaca and Cholula warriors. Afterwards, he raided the capital city of Tenochtitlan and asked Montezuma II for a meeting. The Aztec ruler repeatedly declined his request.

Cortés heard about the gold treasures of the Aztecs and planned his return.

He arrived in the city of Cholula, the religious center of the empire. After he discovered the plans of the natives, Cortés ordered the killing of almost 3,000 nobles and warriors and burned parts of the city.

On November 8, 1519, Cortés was welcomed by Montezuma II. He gave Cortés gifts of gold to spare the conquest of the empire.
By 1521, Cortés finally conquered Tenochtitlan and the entire Aztec empire. Governor Velazquez of Cuba sent another expedition led by Panfilo de Narvaez to take over Cortés.

After a year, Cortés was appointed as governor by King Charles I.

King Charles I of Spain was also known as the Holy Roman Emperor Charles V. He named the newly conquered land as New Spain.

While in Mexico, Cortés embarked on an expedition and discovered Baja, California. The Gulf of California was originally named the
Sea of Cortés.

In 1524, Cortés travelled to Honduras due to rebellion in the area. When he came back to Mexico, he found himself removed from power. He was forced to return to Spain.

By 1541, he led the unsuccessful expedition to Algiers. Cortés spent much of his retirement years seeking recognition and support from the Spanish Royal Court.

On December 2, 1547, he died in Spain.

Facts About the Aztec Empire

The Aztec civilization emerged from the 14th century until the 16th century. The capital city of Tenochtitlan was located on an island in Lake Texcoco, now Mexico City.

Some of the known rulers of the empire were Acamapichtli, Cuauhtémoc, and Montezuma II.

The Aztecs had the system of pictures known as N'ahuatl. Only scribes and priests were allowed to write.

They had two calendars. One was for religious festivals while the other was for measurement and time.

The Aztecs revered many gods and goddesses. They also mistook foreigners as the human figure of their gods.

Children were sent to school to learn about warfare, history, religion, and skills. Female children focused on the teachings of marriage. Parents could sell their children as slaves to pay debts.

They usually buried their dead under their houses. Houses could be made of stone and they were based on wealth and social status.

Much of the Aztec population was killed by diseases including smallpox brought by the Europeans.

Hernan Cortes Worksheets

This bundle includes 11 ready-to-use Hernan Cortes worksheets that are perfect for students to learn about Hernán Cortés who was a conquistador and explorer who overthrew Montezuma II, ruler of the Aztec Empire. He later claimed Mexico for the Spanish Crown.
This download includes the following worksheets:

Hernán Cortés Facts

The Biography

Looking for Cortés

Famous Explorers

The Aztec Empire

Mesoamerican Empires

Spanish Exploration

Facts v. Fiction

Timeline of Conquest

Odd One Out

Age of Discovery

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Link will appear as Hernan Cortes Facts & Worksheets: https://kidskonnect.com - KidsKonnect, January 11, 2018
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Hernan Cortes Facts, Worksheets & Exploration Information For Kids

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Hernán Cortés or Hernando Cortés was a conquistador and explorer who overthrew Montezuma II, ruler of the Aztec Empire. He later claimed Mexico for the Spanish Crown. Click for more information and to download our comprehensive worksheet.

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Hernan Cortes was an explorer who eventually defeated the Aztec people and brought Mexico under Spanish rule. This is a timeline of his life.

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Kids learn about the biography and life of Spanish explorer and conquistador Hernan Cortes. He conquered the Aztec Empire.

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Hernán Cortés | PBS World Explorers | PBS LearningMedia

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Now one of the most remembered conquistadors of all time, Hernán Cortés conquered vast parts of Mexico for Spain. While Cortés brought about the end of the Aztec civilization, his legacy is marred by his brutal treatment of Mexican natives.

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Kids.Net.Au - Encyclopedia > Hernan Cortes

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Kids.Net.Au - Encyclopedia > Hernan Cortes

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Hernán Cortés ( 1485 - 2 December 1547) was an explorer and conqueror from Spain. Between 1519 and 1521, he conquered the Aztec empire of emperor Montezuma II where Mexico is today.

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Fun Facts for Kids about Hernan Cortes (All You Need to Know!)

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Hernan Cortes was a Spanish explorer won Mexico for the crown of Spain. He also helped advance Spain’s position in North America.

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Who is Hernan Cortes?

How do you take over an entire country when you only have about 500 soldiers and 16 horses? Seems impossible, but this is just what Hernan Cortes did when he conquered Mexico for Spain in 1519. Cortes loved adventure, wanted to explore new places, and did not always follow the rules.

During this time, Spain and other European countries wanted to find more land in the New World that Christopher Columbus explored in 1492. It was believed these lands had treasure and gold. Hernan Cortes was one of the Spanish explorers called conquistadors, who conquered land in what is now Central and South America.

Hernan Cortes's Early Life in Europe

Hernan Cortes was born in Spain in 1485. He was a smart kid, but also could be tough and get into trouble. Cortes was still that way as an adult, as you'll see later on. Stories about the New World and what people were finding there made Cortes want to visit for himself. In 1504, he left Spain and sailed to Hispaniola, an island in the Caribbean.

Cortes in the New World

From Hispaniola, Cortes went to Cuba to take it for Spain. He did well there and had land, a house and slaves. He became mayor, but still wanted to conquer more places. On February 18, 1519, Cortes sailed to Mexico with 11 ships, 16 horses, and 500 soldiers. The explorer in charge of Cuba did not want him to go, but Cortes was a strong leader, and people joined him anyway.

The Fall of the Aztec Empire

When Cortes landed in Mexico he found that native people lived there. The natives gave him gifts, and he learned about their ways. The Aztecs, led by Montezuma II, ruled over Mexico and many different groups of natives. The Aztecs had beautiful palaces and temples.

Cortes started a city called Veracruz and became more powerful. He took his men and turned them into a real army. In a bold move, Cortes sank his own ships, showing everyone that he was there to stay.

Cortes and his army moved into Mexico. Sometimes they used force, but he didn't want a lot of fighting. Cortes became friends, or allies, with the natives who did not like being ruled by Montezuma II. Soon many natives were on his side. Cortes met with Montezuma II and took over the Empire.

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hernan cortes lesson for kids: facts & biography | study.com

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Hernan Cortes Lesson for Kids: Facts & Biography | Study.com

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This lesson will talk about Hernan Cortes, a famous explorer and conquistador from Spain in the 1500s. Learn about his life and adventures and how...

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Hernan Cortes

In 1519, an explorer by the name of Hernan Cortes left his home in Cuba in order to explore Mexico. Cortes was convinced that he could obtain more riches on the mainland than was possible by remaining on the islands in the Caribbean.

Cortes and over 500 men arrived in Mexico, and began traveling towards the Aztec capital of Tenochtitlan. The Aztec Empire was wealthy and in many ways more advanced than any European nation. However, they did not have horses, nor did they have guns. This gave the Spaniards a huge advantage.

In addition, many of the peoples who had been conquered by the Aztecs were unhappy about the way they had been treated by them. The Aztecs were brutal and often sacrificed the people they conquered to their gods. As a result, many of these people were ready to join forces with Cortes and his men to overthrow the Aztec Empire.

At first the Aztecs did not fight back. They thought that the Europeans were the fulfillment of an ancient legend that spoke of white-bearded gods.

After seeing the wealth of their empire, Cortes set out to take control of it. Within just a few years, he and his small army were able to defeat one of the most advanced civilizations of the era, setting Cortes as the ruler of Mexico in behalf of Spain.

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Hernan Cortes In 1519, an explorer by the name of Hernan Cortes left his home in Cuba in order to explore Mexico. Cortes was convinced that he could obtain more riches on the mainland than was possible by remaining on the islands in the Caribbean.

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Find Facts about Hernan Cortes for Kids. Fun Facts about Hernan Cortes for Kids. History and Info about Hernan Cortes for Kids.

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Kids.Net.Au - Encyclopedia > Sir Francis Drake

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Kids.Net.Au - Encyclopedia > Sir Francis Drake

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Vice Admiral Sir Francis Drake (1540 - 27 January 1596) was an English sea captain, privateer, navigator, slaver, and politician of the Elizabethan era.

Sir Francis Drake ( c.  1540 - 28 January 1596) was an English explorer, sea captain, privateer, slave trader, naval officer, and politician. Drake is best known for his circumnavigation of the world in a single expedition, from 1577 to 1580 (the first English circumnavigation, the second carried out in a single expedition, and third circumnavigation overall).

Elizabeth I awarded Drake a knighthood in 1581 which he received on the Golden Hind in Deptford. In the same year, he was appointed mayor of Plymouth. As a vice admiral, he was second-in-command of the English fleet in the victorious battle against the Spanish Armada in 1588. After unsuccessfully attacking San Juan, Puerto Rico, he died of dysentery in January 1596.

Drake's exploits made him a hero to the English, but the Spanish branded him a pirate, known to them as El Draque. King Philip II of Spain allegedly offered a reward of 20,000 ducats for his capture or death, equivalent to around £7,207,135.56 (or $8,816,416.86 USD) in 2022.

Birth and early years

Francis Drake was born in Tavistock, Devon, England. Although his birth date is not formally recorded. His birth date is estimated from contemporary sources such as: "Drake was two and twenty when he obtained the command of the Judith" (1566). This would date his birth to 1544. A date of c. 1540 is suggested from two portraits: one a miniature painted by Nicholas Hilliard in 1581 when he was allegedly 42, so born circa 1539, while the other, painted in 1594 when he was said to be 52, would give a birth year of around 1541. Lady Elliott-Drake, the collateral descendant, and final holder of the Drake Baronetcy, argued in her book on 'The Family and Heirs of Sir Francis Drake' that Drake's birth year was 1541.

He was the oldest of the twelve sons of Edmund Drake (1518-1585), a Protestant farmer, and his wife Mary Mylwaye. Drake probably was named after his godfather Francis Russell, 2nd Earl of Bedford.

Because of religious persecution during the Prayer Book Rebellion in 1549, the Drake family fled from Devon to Kent. There Drake's father obtained an appointment to minister the men in the King's Navy.

Drake's father apprenticed him to his neighbour, the master of a barque used for coastal trade transporting merchandise to France. The ship's master was so satisfied with the young Drake's conduct that, being unmarried and childless at his death, he bequeathed the barque to Drake.

Marriage and family

Francis Drake married Mary Newman at St. Budeaux church, Plymouth, in July 1569. She died 12 years later, in 1581. In 1585, Drake married Elizabeth Sydenham-born circa 1562, the only child of Sir George Sydenham, of Combe Sydenham, who was the High Sheriff of Somerset.

With the success of the Panama isthmus raid, in 1577 Elizabeth I of England sent Drake to start an expedition against the Spanish along the Pacific coast of the Americas. Drake acted on the plan authored by Sir Richard Grenville, who had received royal patent for it in 1574. Just a year later the patent was rescinded after protests from Philip of Spain.

Diego was once again employed under Drake; his fluency in Spanish and English would make him a useful interpreter when Spaniards or Spanish-speaking Portuguese were captured. He was employed as Drake's servant and was paid wages, just like the rest of the crew. Drake and the fleet set out from Plymouth on 15 November 1577, but bad weather threatened him and his fleet. They were forced to take refuge in Falmouth, Cornwall, from where they returned to Plymouth for repair.

After this major setback, Drake set sail again on 13 December aboard with four other ships and 164 men. He soon added a sixth ship, Mary (formerly Santa Maria), a Portuguese merchant ship that had been captured off the coast of Africa near the Cape Verde Islands. He also added its captain, Nuno da Silva, a man with considerable experience navigating in South American waters.

Drake's fleet suffered great attrition; he scuttled both Christopher and the flyboat Swan due to loss of men on the Atlantic crossing. He made landfall at the gloomy bay of San Julian, in what is now Argentina. Ferdinand Magellan had called here half a century earlier, where he put to death some mutineers. Drake's men saw weathered and bleached skeletons on the grim Spanish gibbets. Following Magellan's example, Drake tried and executed his own "mutineer" Thomas Doughty. The crew discovered that Mary had rotting timbers, so they burned the ship. Drake decided to remain the winter in San Julian before attempting the Strait of Magellan.

Defeat of the Spanish Armada

Drake was vice admiral in command of the English fleet (under Lord Howard of Effingham) when it overcame the Spanish Armada that was attempting to invade England in 1588. As the English fleet pursued the Armada up the English Channel in closing darkness, Drake broke off and captured the Spanish galleon Nuestra Señora del Rosario, along with Admiral Pedro de Valdés and all his crew. The Spanish ship was known to be carrying substantial funds to pay the Spanish Army in the Low Countries. Drake's ship had been leading the English pursuit of the Armada by means of a lantern. By extinguishing this for the capture, Drake put the fleet into disarray overnight.

On the night of 29 July, along with Howard, Drake organised fire-ships, causing the majority of the Spanish captains to break formation and sail out of Calais into the open sea. The next day, Drake was present at the Battle of Gravelines.

The most famous (but probably apocryphal) anecdote about Drake relates that, prior to the battle, he was playing a game of bowls on Plymouth Hoe. On being warned of the approach of the Spanish fleet, Drake is said to have remarked that there was plenty of time to finish the game and still beat the Spaniards, perhaps because he was waiting for high tide. There is no known eyewitness account of this incident and the earliest retelling of it was printed 37 years later. Adverse winds and currents caused some delay in the launching of the English fleet as the Spanish drew nearer, perhaps prompting a popular myth of Drake's cavalier attitude to the Spanish threat. It might also have been later ascribed to the stoic attribute of British culture.

Cultural impact

In Valparaíso, Chile, folklore associates a cave known as Cueva del Pirata (lit. "Cave of the Pirate") with Francis Drake. A legend says that when Drake sacked the port he became disappointed over the scant plunder. Drake proceeded to enter the churches in fury to sack them. However he still found the plunder to be not worth enough to take it on board his galleon, hiding it in the cave. Another version of the legend says a treasure was left in the cave because the plunder had been more than he could take on board. Together with the treasure Drake would have left a man chained or a sentry to wait for them to return, which they did not. The treasure is said to still be there, but those who approach it drown.

Further north in Chile a tale says that because Drake feared falling prisoner to the Spanish he buried his treasure near Arica, these being one of many Chilean stories about entierros ("burrowings").

In the UK there are various places named after him, especially in Plymouth, Devon. Places there carrying his name include the naval base HMS Drake, Drake's Island, and a shopping centre and roundabout named Drake Circus. Plymouth Hoe is also home to a statue of Drake. The Sir Francis Drake Channel is located in the British Virgin Islands.

Several landmarks in northern California were named after Drake, beginning in the late 19th century and continuing into the 20th century. protests against police brutality and racism drew critical attention to place names and monuments connected to white supremacy. Several California landmarks that commemorated Drake were removed or renamed. Citing Drake's associations with the transatlantic slave trade, colonialism and piracy, Sir Francis Drake High School, in San Anselmo, California, changed its name to Archie Williams High School, after former teacher and Olympic athlete Archie Williams. A statue of Drake in Larkspur, California was also removed by the city authorities. Multiple jurisdictions in Marin County considered renaming Sir Francis Drake Boulevard, one of its major thoroughfares, but left the name intact when they failed to reach a consensus. In San Francisco, the Sir Francis Drake Hotel was renamed the Beacon Grand Hotel.

Drake's will was the focus of a vast confidence scheme which Oscar Hartzell perpetrated in the 1920s and 1930s. He convinced thousands of people, mostly in the American Midwest, that Drake's fortune was being held by the British government, and had compounded to a huge amount. If their last name was Drake they might be eligible for a share if they paid Hartzell to be their agent. The swindle continued until a copy of Drake's will was brought to Hartzell's mail fraud trial and he was convicted and imprisoned.

Drake's Drum has become an icon of English folklore with its variation of the classic King asleep in mountain story motif.

Drake was a major focus in the video game series Uncharted, specifically its first and third instalments, Uncharted: Drake's Fortune and Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception, respectively. The series follows Nathan Drake, a self-proclaimed descendant of Drake who retraces his ancestor's voyages.

Drake was the subject of a TV series, Sir Francis Drake (1961-1962). Terence Morgan played Drake in the 26-episode adventure drama.

Images for kids

A map of Drake's route around the world. The northern limit of Drake's exploration of the Pacific coast of North America is still in dispute. Drake's Bay is south of Cape Mendocino.

Arms of Sir Francis Drake: Sable, a fess wavy between two pole-stars Arctic and Antarctic argent

Arms of Drake of Ash: Argent, a wyvern wings displayed and tail nowed gules. The Drake family of Crowndale and Buckland Abbey used the same arms but the tail of the wyvern is not nowed (knotted)

Sir Francis Drake with his new heraldic achievement, with motto: Sic Parvis Magna, translated literally: "Thus great things from small things (come)". The hand out of the clouds is labelled Auxilio Divino, or "With Divine Help"

In Spanish: Francis Drake para niños

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Kids learn about the biography and life of English explorer Sir Francis Drake. Privateer and pirate sailed around the world and conquered the Spanish.

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Admiral Sir Francis Drake was the most famous English privateer and navigator of the Elizabethan era. He was appointed by Queen Elizabeth I to lead the search for new trade routes. From 1577 until 1580, he circumnavigated the globe.
See the fact file below for more information on the Sir Francis Drake or alternatively, you can download our 22-page Sir Francis Drake worksheet pack to utilise within the classroom or home environment.
Key Facts & Information

Early Life

Francis Drake was born in Tavistock, Devon, England, sometime between 1540 and 1544. His parents were Edmund Drake, a farmer at the estate of Lord Francis Russell, and Mary Mylwaye. Young Francis grew up near the sea. From a young age, he worked under a merchant who traded goods between England and France.

He was the cousin of John Hawkins and a distant relative of Sir Walter Raleigh. By the 1560s, Drake set sail on his first expedition with John Hawkins. With a small fleet, he and Hawkins commanded a ship named Judith and sailed to Africa as illegal slave traders.

As part of the transatlantic slave trade, Drake transported slaves from Africa to the West Indies. This was forbidden by Spanish authorities who restricted English trade in the New World. In 1568, under the orders of the Spanish viceroy, Drake's fleet was trapped in the port of San Juan and attacked by Spanish warships. Most of the fleet was destroyed but Drake was able to escape.

Upon his return from the New World, Drake became a privateer and raided Spanish cargo ships. Spain considered him a pirate.

Over the next few years, Drake stole tons of gold and silver from raided Spanish towns. His actions were recognized by Queen Elizabeth I and she gave him a fleet to continue raiding Spanish towns in South America and seize property of King Philip of Spain.

Queen Elizabeth I ruled England for 44 years. She was the daughter of King Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn.

During her reign, Spanish and English relations were tense.

On November 15, 1577, Drake and his fleet left England. He captained the largest ship named the Pelican (later known as the Golden Hind) and reached Peru by crossing the Atlantic and the Strait of Magellan to reach the Pacific.

Drake ransacked every town in Peru and captured the Spanish ship Cacafuego. After three years of sailing, he returned to England loaded with treasure for the queen. Though she couldn't acknowledge his gifts, which would antagonise Spain, she knighted him Sir Francis Drake in 1581.

Drake's expedition was the second in history to circumnavigate the globe.

Between 1585 and 1586, England's relationship with Spain grew worse. King Philip II of Spain organized a fleet known as the Armada to conquer England. The Armada was thought to be invincible because Spain was wealthy and a world leader in navigation.

In 1588, Queen Elizabeth I appointed Drake as the vice admiral of the English Navy. On July 21, over a hundred Spanish ships entered the English Channel. Drake and Admiral Charles Howard knew the odds were stacked against them. The English ships were faster and more maneuverable, however, and they sent fire ships into the Spanish fleet.

A devastating storm then hit and the Armada, which had no place to harbor until it passed, was significantly damaged. More damage and losses occurred on the Armada's return journey. As a result, England became the most powerful navy in the world.

A year after the attempted invasion, Drake was called by the queen to destroy the remaining ships of the Armada. He also supported the rebels in Lisbon against Spanish authorities.

He returned home and became the mayor of Plymouth.

By 1595, the queen commissioned Drake and his cousins to raid all Spanish treasure in Panama.

After the unsuccessful battle at the Nombre de Dios, the English fleet moved west to the coast of Portobelo, Panama.

Drake contracted dysentery while in Portobelo. On January 28, 1596, he died while on his last voyage to the Caribbean. It's believed that Drake was buried at sea in a lead coffin near Portobelo.

In 1628, The World Encompassed was published containing his chronicles of circumnavigation.

Sir Francis Drake was married twice, first to Mary Newman and then to Elizabeth Sydenham, and had no children.

Sir Francis Drake Worksheets

This is a fantastic bundle which includes everything you need to know about Sir Francis Drake across 22 in-depth pages. These are ready-to-use Sir Francis Drake worksheets that are perfect for teaching students about Admiral Sir Francis Drake who was the most famous English privateer and navigator of the Elizabethan era. He was appointed by Queen Elizabeth I to lead the search for new trade routes. From 1577 until 1580, he circumnavigated the globe.

Complete List Of Included Worksheets

Sir Francis Drake Facts

El Draque

Famous English Explorers

Mapping Drake's Route

It's Drake!

Naval Superpowers

Transatlantic Slave Trade

Word Callout

Explorer's Notebook

Out of the Ship

England's Golden Age

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Sir Francis Drake Facts, Worksheets, History & Biography For Kids

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Not ready to purchase a subscription? Click to download the free sample version Download sample Admiral Sir Francis Drake was the most famous English privateer and navigator of the Elizabethan era. He was appointed by Queen Elizabeth I to lead the search for new trade routes. From 1577 until 1580, he circumnavigated the globe.

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Sir Francis Drake the Privateer & Explorer for Kids ***

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Find Facts about Francis Drake the Privateer for Kids. Fun Facts about Francis Drake the Privateer for Kids. History and Info about Francis Drake the Privateer for Kids.

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Golden Hind first English ship to sail around the world

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Golden Hind with Captain Sir Francis Drake circumnavigated the world between 1577 and 1580. The Golden Hind made vital discoveries before returning home with amazing treasures. This ship now offers a fantastic insight into life onboard a 16th century sailing ship and is based in Brixham, Devon the area where Sir Francis Drake lived and worked.

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For Kids

Francis Drake was the first English explorer to sail around the world. His ship was originally called the Pelican, but was renamed Golden Hind, sometimes spelled the Golden Hinde.

Drake was basically a pirate. He stole gold and silver and cargo from other ships! He loaded his own ship with so much cargo, some from trading, some from theft, that he was a bit concerned his own ship might sink! He pushed on anyway, and sailed successfully round the world.

Drake returned to England with an enormous amount of treasure, mostly stolen from Spanish explorers and Spanish ports in the Americas. This delighted the Queen of England when she heard about it, as England and Spain were enemies at the time.

The Queen was so pleased, in fact, that she knighted Francis Drake. Forever after, Francis Drake became Sir Francis Drake.

Sir Francis Drake (cartoon PowerPoint)
Free Explorer Games Online

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Sir Francis Drake - Explorer, Age of Exploration for Kids - FREE Lesson Plans for Teachers, Games for Kids

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Francis Drake was the first English explorer to sail around the world. His ship was originally called the Pelican, but was renamed Golden Hind, sometimes spelled the Golden Hinde. Drake was basically a pirate. He stole gold and silver and cargo from other ships!

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Who was Sir Francis Drake?

The most famous seaman of the Elizabethan age, Sir Francis Drake became the first Englishman to circumnavigate the globe. He was one of the great early European navigators.

Drake was vice admiral of the English fleet at the time of the defeat of the Spanish Armada.

Top 10 facts

1. Drake was born in Tavistock, Devonshire. His family was very religious and his father was a Protestant preacher. Although the family were respectable they were not very wealthy and Drake was sent to sea at the age of twelve.

2. Drake was apprenticed to a merchant and his seafaring skills brought him to the attention of his cousins, the Hawkins family, who were privateers. He participated in illegal slave trading expeditions with his cousin Sir John Hawkins.

3. Privateers were allowed by the government to commit acts of piracy against Spanish property; in return their sponsors received a share of the plunder. In 1572 Drake received his own privateer's commission from Elizabeth I.

4. In 1568 Drake and Hawkins were trapped by the Spanish at the port of San Juan de Ulua in Mexico. Many of their men were killed and Drake had to swim to safety. This incident resulted in him developing a life-long dislike of Spain.

5. Between 1577 and 1580 he successfully sailed around the globe becoming the first Englishman to do so. The first circumnavigation was made by Ferdinand Magellan some fifty years earlier.

6. The ship which Drake used to circumnavigate the world, the Golden Hind, was originally called the Pelican.

7. One of Drake's most famous exploits was the 'Singeing of King of Spain's beard'. This refers to his attack on Cadiz in 1587. Drake and his fleet managed to destroy 20-30 enemy ships and their supplies, delaying the launch of the Armada.

8. Drake was allegedly playing bowls on Plymouth Hoe when news reached him of the imminent arrival of the Spanish Fleet. He is said to have remarked that he had time to finish the game before defeating the Spanish.

9. Drake was a vice admiral of the English fleet at the time of the Armada. He is credited with the idea of using fire ships to scatter the Spanish Fleet, making the individual ships more vulnerable to English gunfire.

10. Drake's final expeditions against the Spanish were unsuccessfully. In 1589 he lost 20 ships and 12,000 men trying to help the Portuguese who were rebelling against Spanish occupation. He died of dysentery after engaging with the Spanish in the Caribbean.

Timeline

Drake born in Tavistock, Devon

Drake is knighted by Queen Elizabeth I. He becomes Mayor of Plymouth and a Member of Parliament

Spanish fleet sails from A Coruna
Vice Admiral Drake is second in command of the English fleet against the Armada

Did you know?

Francis Drake was the first of twelve sons of Edmund Drake and Mary Mylwaye.

Drake's conduct as a young apprentice to a ship master was so impressive that the master later gave him his ship!

When he landed in what is now California in the United States, Drake named it Nova Albion (new England)!

tQueen Elizabeth I knighted Drake when she dined on board his ship, the Golden Hind, at Deptford on the River Thames.

King Philip II offered a reward of 20,000 ducats for Drake's life.

Drake died of dysentery and was buried at sea. He was dressed in full armour and placed in a lead coffin.

Drake married twice but did not have any children.

Look through the gallery below and see if you can spot the following:

A statue of Sir Francis Drake in Portsmouth

The Golden Hind replica

Drake being knighted by Queen Elizabeth

Drake's burial at sea

Drake playing bowls at Plymouth Hoe

A map showing the route taken by Drake as he circumnavigated the world

Gallery

About

Drake was one of the most successful privateers of all time. His exploits were legendary and his attacks on Spanish property and interests made him a very rich man.

Drake demonstrated his abilities as a sailor from an early age. His explorations helped to increase knowledge about the world. He was the first Englishman to navigate the Straits of Magellan, a sea route at the southern tip of South America, and sailed further north along the coast of the Americas than any other European had before, landing in what is now California in the United States.

His daring raid on Cadiz and his tactical wizardry against the Armada demonstrated skilful seamanship and courage; he was a hero at home in England though he took part in the slave trade and was by all acoounts a very ruthless man.

The Spanish viewed Drake as a pirate who plundered and robbed their property, a ruthless destroyer of ships and killer of men. They nicknamed him 'the Dragon'. Drake's activities, supported by Elizabeth I, were a severe provocation to Philip of Spain and he sought his revenge with the launching of the Spanish Armada.

Famous friends

Sir John Hawkins (1532-1595), a second cousin of Drake. He rose from being a privateer to treasurer and controller of the English navy. His innovations in ship design helped the English fleet to defeat the Armada. He was a vice admiral at the time of the Armada and was knighted by Elizabeth I. He died on the same final expedition as Drake.

Sir Walter Raleigh (1554-1618) an Elizabethan aristocrat, poet, explorer and adventurer. A great favourite of Elizabeth I, he was keen to promote English settlement in North America and is credited with introducing the potato and tobacco into England. Imprisoned on a number of occasions, he was finally executed by James I.

Related Videos

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The most famous seaman of the Elizabethan age, Sir Francis Drake became the first Englishman to circumnavigate the globe. He was one of the great early European navigators. Drake was vice admiral of the English fleet at the time of the defeat of the Spanish Armada. Drake was born in Tavistock, Devonshire.

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On this day in history and today including special days, historical facts, customs past and present.

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Sir Francis Drake was born sometime around 1540 as the son of a Puritan farmer. Drake taught himself navigation as the navigator of a small merchant vessel early in his career. He also served as an officer aboard a West African slave vessel. In 1567, Drake and his cousin, John Hawkins, were attacked by a Spanish ship in the Gulf of Mexico. The Spaniards took all of their sea vessels, though they allowed Drake and Hawkins to escape with their lives. At the time, the Spaniards had no idea that failing to kill Drake would prove so costly to the entire Spanish Empire. From that point on, Drake developed a hatred for Catholic Spaniards and devised plans to seek revenge.

Plundering Spanish Treasure Ships

In 1572, Queen Elizabeth commissioned Drake to work as a privateer in attacking Spanish ports and shipping. Drake left England for the Caribbean Sea with two ships and 73 sailors. After an unsuccessful attempt to attack the Spaniards in present-day Nicaragua, Drake formulated new plans to attack a Spanish vessel carrying hoards of gold brought back from Mexico. After successfully heisting the gold, he then sailed back to England and brought the spoils back to Queen Elizabeth. Queen Elizabeth promptly appointed Drake as the leader of an expedition to sail around (circumnavigate) the world. As part of the circumnavigation, Drake made further plans to plunder Spanish interests.

Circumnavigation

On December 17, 1577, Drake left England with three ships and two supply ships and started his circumnavigation. The voyage got off to a poor start. Terrible weather prompted some of the crew to stage a mutiny (to take over the ship). The mutiny was unsuccessful, and when Drake reached the west coast of South America, he had the leader of the mutiny, Thomas Doughty, beheaded.

After the mutiny, Drake's ship, now named The Golden Hind, sailed for Valparaiso, Chile. The ship encountered Spanish sea vessels carrying gold. The Spanish ships could not identify The Golden Hind as a pirate ship because of rainy weather and because the Golden Hind had been ravaged by bad weather. As a result, Drake plundered the Spanish vessel and proceeded to plunder the Spanish port at Callo. Drake also learned of the location of a huge Spanish galleon named Cacafuego that was sailing toward Panama. Drake made plans to attack Cacafuego.

Attack on Cacofuego

On March 3, 1579, The Golden Hind demolished Cacafuego with cannon fire off the coast of Panama. Drake confiscated an unbelievable amount of precious metals and jewels from Cacafuego-80 pounds of gold, two tons of silver, pearls, and precious stones. Afterward, Drake sailed to California to repair his ship. He claimed the area, thought to be near San Francisco, for the English crown. Drake's return trip to England took over a year. Not only did he become the first explorer to make the journey around the world, but upon his return, despite the demands of the Spanish crown to have him beheaded, Queen Elizabeth made him a knight. After the circumnavigation, Drake was made commander of a fleet of English ships that continued to plunder Spanish sea vessels and steal their gold. When Spain declared war on England in 1585, Francis Drake led a thunderous assault at the Spanish port of Cadiz and scored another major victory when the Spanish Armada attempted to invade the English Channel.

Legacy

Many believe Francis Drake was the main reason the English defeated the vaunted Spanish Armada. He died in 1596 from dysentery off of the coast of Panama.

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Sir Francis Drake was born sometime around 1540 as the son of a Puritan farmer. Drake taught himself navigation as the navigator of a small merchant vessel early in his career. He also served as an officer aboard a West African slave vessel.

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This was was made for a school project it can also help people understand about amerigo vespucci Enjoy, Slapsticks5000

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Amerigo Vespucci Biography - life, family, childhood, name, death, young, book, old, information, born

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The father of Amerigo Vespucci was Nastagio Vespucci, and his uncle was the learned Dominican Giorgio Antonio Vespucci, who had charge of Amerigo's education. The entire family was cultured and friendly with the Medici rulers of Florence, a family that ruled Italy from the 1400s to 1737.

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Kids.Net.Au - Encyclopedia > Amerigo Vespucci

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Kids.Net.Au - Encyclopedia > Amerigo Vespucci

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Amerigo Vespucci | PBS World Explorers | PBS LearningMedia

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Amerigo Vespucci was the first person to realize that the land across the Atlantic was not Asia, but a new continent. Vespucci explored the South American coast, journeying down to the Amazon river.

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18 Amerigo Vespucci Facts for Kids

navajocodetalkersadmin on December 31, 2014 - 4:00 pm in Fun Facts for Kids

Amerigo Vespucci was the "founder," of America. North America and South America are both named for him. But how much do you know about this early explorer? In this article, we will post a few facts for you about Amerigo Vespucci and his fascinating life.

1. March 9, 1451 is Amerigo Vespucci's birthday.

2. Amerigo was born in Italy (Florence, Italy) originally. However, he later became a Spanish citizen.

3. Amerigo did not go to elementary, middle, or high school. Instead, he was mostly educated by one of his uncles, Giorgio Antonio Vespucci, who was a monk.

4. In his 20s, Amerigo traveled to Paris, France. Most likely, this diplomatic trip (which was an assignment from one of his uncles) gave him his first taste of world travel.

5. Before his travels, Amerigo worked as a banker in Spain.

6. The travels of Christopher Columbus also inspired Amerigo to travel.

7. Amerigo's explorations were funded by the king and queen of Spain at the time, Ferdinand and Isabella. Later, the Portuguese would also fund some of his travels.

8. Before he started traveling, Amerigo was already around 40 years old.

9. Amerigo gave the name "The New World," to South America. He did very little exploring in North America.

10. Each of the journeys to the New World took Vespucci around 5 weeks each.

11. It is thought that Vespucci may have actually been the first to discover Venezuela, perhaps a whole year before Christopher Columbus.

12. Amerigo discovered the Amazon River. He also discovered Rio de Janeiro, Cape St. Augustine, and Brazil.

13. Even though we say that Amerigo discovered these things, native peoples were already living in all of these areas when this European explorer arrived.

14. After his second journey, Amerigo decided to start writing down his experiences while exploring to leave a record behind after his death.

15. It is not known whether Vespucci made four, five, or six journeys, in total, to the New World.

16. When Amerigo died he was nearly 58 years old. He died of a disease called malaria while living in the city of Seville, Spain.

17. A German map maker was the first to insist that the part of the world which Amerigo discovered (South America) be called America in his honor. America is the female version of the name Amerigo.

18. Later, the name America was also given to North America. Christopher Columbus, however, had discovered lots of these areas, not Amerigo Vespucci.

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18 Amerigo Vespucci Facts for Kids | Navajo Code Talkers

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navajocodetalkersadmin on December 31, 2014 - 4:00 pm in Fun Facts for Kids Amerigo Vespucci was the "founder," of America. North America and South America are both named for him. But how much do you know about this early explorer? In this article, we will post a few facts for you about Amerigo Vespucci and his fascinating life.

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Amerigo Vespucci

Most of us learned that America was discovered by Christopher Columbus. But North and South America were actually named after a different explorer, Amerigo Vespucci. The interesting thing is that many people now think Vespucci received that honor mistakenly!

Early Life

Amerigo Vespucci was born in about 1451 in Florence, Italy. His parents were able to provide him with a good education and were friends with Italy's ruling family, the Medici. Vespucci's uncle served as Italy's ambassador (or country representative) to France. As a young man, Vespucci was sent on a mission by his uncle to meet with the King of France. Historians believe that this trip likely sparked his interest in traveling and exploring.

As an adult, Vespucci moved to Spain and became a banker. He worked with merchants (store owners) who helped to provide supplies for voyages - even the voyages that Christopher Columbus was credited with 'discovering' America during! (Although, at the time, Columbus he thought he'd landed in part of Asia!) Legend has it that Vespucci and Columbus met briefly between Columbus's voyages and that Columbus shared about the new places he'd visited.

When his business started to fail, Amerigo Vespucci decided to become an explorer and travel to new and faraway lands, an idea that was sparked by his fascination with travel and adventure.

Exploration

Historians believe that Vespucci made several voyages across the Atlantic Ocean, both as a crew member and as a leader. His third trip, in 1501, was his most successful. It is noteworthy that by this time, Vikings already had settlements in what is now called North America, and Columbus had landed in the Caribbean, south of Florida, although Columbus still wasn't sure if he was in Asia or another land.

During his 1501 voyage, Vespucci discovered a portion of South America now called Rio de Janeiro in Brazil. He was also the first to 'discover' the Amazon River. Columbus had considered the possibility that he might have landed on a new continent instead of in Asia, but he couldn't be sure. Vespucci's finds in South America confirmed that Columbus had discovered a new continent. He called this land the new world.

Controversy

A series of letters, supposedly written by Vespucci, describe his voyages and his discoveries. The problem is...most historians now believe they were not real. These letters made it seem like Vespucci, and not Columbus, discovered the new world.

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amerigo vespucci lesson for kids: biography & facts | study.com

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Amerigo Vespucci Lesson for Kids: Biography & Facts | Study.com

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Most of us learned that America was discovered by Christopher Columbus. But North and South America were actually named after a different explorer, Amerigo Vespucci. The interesting thing is that many people now think Vespucci received that honor mistakenly! Amerigo Vespucci was born in about 1451 in Florence, Italy.

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Amerigo Vespucci the Explorer for Kids ***

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Find Facts about Amerigo Vespucci for Kids. Fun Facts about Amerigo Vespucci for Kids. History and Info about Amerigo Vespucci for Kids.

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Amerigo Vespucci was born in Florence, Italy on March 9th, 1454. He was born to Ser Nastagio and Lisabetta Mini, friends of the Medici family who ruled Italy at the time. When in his early 20s Amerigo was sent on a diplomatic mission to Paris, and later had a banking business in Seville, Spain.

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Amerigo Vespucci

It was not until 1507 that people began to realize that what Columbus had discovered was not a new route to India, but instead was a completely new world. The first person to suggest that this was the case was an Italian explorer by the name of Amerigo Vespucci.

Because he was the first to realize that a new world had been discovered, map makers began calling this new land the 'Americas' in honor of him.

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Amerigo Vespucci It was not until 1507 that people began to realize that what Columbus had discovered was not a new route to India, but instead was a completely new world. The first person to suggest that this was the case was an Italian explorer by the name of Amerigo Vespucci.

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Kids learn about the biography and life of explorer Henry Hudson. Explored North America searching for the Northwest Passage.

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Henry Hudson was an English explorer and captain who lived from 1565 to 1611. He had attempted to find a northern route from Europe to Asia, and although he did not find one, he did explore three waterways in North America that were named after him including the Hudson Strait, Hudson Bay and the Hudson River.

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Henry Hudson was an English sea explorer and navigator during the early 17th century and is considered one of the world's most famous explorers. He is best known for his exploration of present-day Canada and parts of the northeastern United States. A river, a strait and a bay in North America are named after him.
See the fact file below for more information on Henry Hudson or alternatively, you can download our 27-page Henry Hudson worksheet pack to utilise within the classroom or home environment.
Key Facts & Information

Early Life

Despite earning a place in history as one of the most important European explorers of North America, historians know very little of Henry Hudson's youth prior to his first journey as a ship's commander in 1607.

Most historians believe he was born around 1565 in England and he presumably died in 1611.

It is very likely that Henry worked on ships from a young age, probably as a cabin boy, and learned navigational skills.

Henry Hudson captained four separate recorded voyages to the New World between 1607 and 1610, all of which took him into the mostly unfamiliar waters of the Arctic Ocean.

It was a time when European nations and trading companies competed with each other trying to discover the best routes to reach important trade destinations, especially Asia and India.

Hudson thought that because the sun shone for most of the summer on the North Pole, the ice there would melt for a short period and ships could make it across the "top of the world".

First Voyage - 1607

In May 1607, the Muscovy Company of England hired Hudson to find a northeastern passage to China. Hudson claimed that he could find an ice-free passage past the North Pole that would provide a shorter route to the rich markets and resources of Asia.

Hudson sailed with his son, John, and 10 companions on his vessel named Hopewell.

He sailed north, up the coast of Greenland and to an island, Spitsbergen, where Hudson reported numerous whales. They kept going north until Hudson found himself and his crew battling icy conditions and ran into an ice pack before being forced to turn back.

Hudson and his crew had a chance to explore some of the islands near Greenland before turning back in September.

Second Voyage - 1608

In April 1608, Hudson made a second Muscovy-funded voyage and took Hopewell out to sea. Hudson set sail in search of the elusive Northeast Passage, this time to the east around northern Russia.

They made it to Novaya Zemlya, well above the Arctic Circle, in July, but even in the summer they found the ice impenetrable and turned back. Hudson returned to England without achieving his goal.

After two unsuccessful sailing voyages in search of an ice-free passage to Asia, Hudson was still able to gain a commission from the Dutch East India Company to lead a third expedition in 1609.

Third Voyage - 1609

In 1609, the Dutch East India Company chose Hudson to lead an expedition to find an easterly passage to Asia.

Hudson had another ship called Halve Maen, or Half Moon, and left Amsterdam in April 1609 with the objective of discovering a northern route to Asia by heading north of Russia. However, due to the ice that had plagued his previous voyages, Hudson could not continue.

Having heard rumors of a way to the Pacific Ocean from North America from English explorer John Smith, Hudson ended up taking a different route and sailed to North America instead of heading back home.

The vessel sailed briefly in the Chesapeake Bay and Delaware Bay, but Hudson concluded that these waterways did not lead to the Pacific Ocean. They met native Americans in Maine then traveled south and found a river, which is now known as the Hudson River. The area was later settled by the Dutch and went on to become New York City.

Eventually, the Half Moon could no longer travel up the river and they had to return home. King James I of England was angry with Hudson for sailing for another country, so the English authorities seized the ship and the crew.

Fourth Voyage - 1610

On April 17, 1610, Hudson once again set sail from London to find the Northwest Passage. This time, he was funded by the Virginia Company and sailed the ship Discovery under the English flag.

He and his crew traveled to North America, sailing further north than he had on his previous expedition. After skirting the southern tip of Greenland, they entered what became known as the Hudson Strait, then reached the Hudson Bay.

Hudson spent the following months mapping and exploring the eastern shores. In November, however, the ship was trapped in the frozen waters of James Bay, forcing the crew to move ashore for the winter where the tension between crew members grew.

When the ice cleared in June 1611, Hudson planned to continue exploring, but his crew wanted to return home and some members grew restless and hostile. Led by Henry Green and Robert Juet, the crew mutinied and dispatched Hudson, his teenage son, and loyal crew members in a small open lifeboat. Hudson was never seen or heard of again. It is likely that he quickly starved or froze to death in the harsh cold weather of the north.

Only eight of the mutinous crewmen survived to return to Europe and, although arrested, none were punished for the mutiny and Hudson's death.

Reports also indicate that he was married to a woman named Katherine and they had three sons together named John, Oliver and Richard.

After Hudson's disappearance, it was said that Katherine petitioned the British East India Company to send a ship to look for and rescue Hudson.

When there were no signs of Hudson coming back, Katherine appealed to the company for financial compensation, which she eventually received.

Henry Greene and Robert Juet, the two leaders of mutiny, did not survive the voyage home.

A northwest passage was finally discovered by explorer Roald Amundsen in 1906.

Henry Hudson Worksheets

This is a fantastic bundle which includes everything you need to know about Henry Hudson across 27 in-depth pages. These are ready-to-use Henry Hudson worksheets that are perfect for teaching students about Henry Hudson who was an English sea explorer and navigator during the early 17th century and is considered one of the world's most famous explorers. He is best known for his exploration of present-day Canada and parts of the northeastern United States. A river, a strait and a bay in North America are named after him.

Complete List Of Included Worksheets

Henry Hudson Facts

About Henry

Hudson's Expeditions

16th Century Goals

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Henry Hudson Facts, Worksheets, Exploration & Information For Kids

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Henry Hudson was sea explorer and navigator during the early 17th century and is considered one of the world's most famous explorers. Click for more facts.

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Henry Hudson: Legacy Despite Disappointment

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Henry Hudson was one of England's most famous explorers, both for his discoveries and for the events that took place during his last known voyage.

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Henry Hudson (1565 - disappeared 23 June 1611) was an English explorer and navigator in the 1600s. He was well known for discovering the Hudson River and the Hudson Bay.

Hudson was trying to find a northwest passage to Cathay (present day China). He tried twice before he found it. Hudson discovered the Hudson Bay and Hudson River in North America. He claimed the Hudson Bay for England along with other pieces of land. He was working for the Dutch when he found the Hudson River. He found it in 1609 when he was looking for a way to get from North America to Asia by water. This was named the Northwest Passage.

Details of Hudson's birth and early life are mostly unknown. Some sources have identified him as having been born in about 1565, but others date his birth to around 1570. Hudson is thought to have spent many years at sea, beginning as a cabin boy and gradually working his way up to ship's captain.

Exploration

Expeditions of 1607 and 1608

In 1607, the Muscovy Company of England hired Hudson to find a northerly route to the Pacific coast of Asia. At the time, the English were engaged in an economic battle with the Dutch for control of northwest routes. It was thought that, because the sun shone for three months in the northern latitudes in the summer, the ice would melt and a ship could make it across the "top of the world".

On 1 May 1607, Hudson sailed with a crew of ten men and a boy on the 80-ton Hopewell. They reached the east coast of Greenland on 14 June, coasting it northward until the 22 June. Here the party named a headland "Young's Cape", a "very high mount, like a round castle" near it "Mount of God's Mercy" and land at 73° north latitude "Hold with Hope". After turning east, they sighted "Newland"-i.e Spitsbergen -on the 27 May, near the mouth of the great bay Hudson later simply named the "Great Indraught" (Isfjorden).

On 13 July, Hudson and his crew estimated that they had sailed as far north as 80° 23' N, but more likely only reached 79° 23' N. The following day they entered what Hudson later in the voyage named "Whales Bay" (Krossfjorden and Kongsfjorden), naming its northwestern point "Collins Cape" (Kapp Mitra) after his boatswain, William Collins. They sailed north the following two days. On the 16 July, they reached as far north as Hakluyt's Headland (which Thomas Edge claims Hudson named on this voyage) at 79° 49' N, thinking they saw the land continue to 82° N ( Svalbard's northernmost point is 80° 49' N) when really it trended to the east. Encountering ice packed along the north coast, they were forced to turn back south. Hudson wanted to make his return "by the north of Greenland to Davis his Streights ( Davis Strait), and so for Kingdom of England," but ice conditions would have made this impossible. The expedition returned to Tilbury Hope on the River Thames on 15 September.

Hudson reported large numbers of whales in Spitsbergen waters during this voyage. Many authors credit his reports as the catalyst for several nations sending whaling expeditions to the islands. This claim is contentious-others have pointed to strong evidence that it was Jonas Poole's reports in 1610, that led to the establishment of English whaling, and voyages of Nicholas Woodcock and Willem Cornelisz van Muyden in 1612, which led to the establishment of Dutch, French and Spanish whaling. The whaling industry itself was built by neither Hudson nor Poole-both were dead by 1612.

In 1608, English merchants of the East India and Muscovy Companies again sent Hudson in the Hopewell to attempt to locate a passage to the Indies, this time to the east around northern Russia. Leaving London on 22 April, the ship travelled almost 2,500 mi (4,000 km), making it to Novaya Zemlya well above the Arctic Circle in July, but even in the summer they found the ice impenetrable and turned back, arriving at Gravesend on 26 August.

Expedition of 1609

In 1609, Hudson was chosen by merchants of the Dutch East India Company in the Netherlands to find an easterly passage to Asia. While awaiting orders and supplies in Amsterdam, he heard rumours of a northwest route to the Pacific through North America. Hudson had been told to sail through the Arctic Ocean north of Russia, into the Pacific and so to the Far East. Hudson departed Amsterdam on 4 April, in command of the Dutch ship Halve Maen. He could not complete the specified (eastward) route because ice blocked the passage, as with all previous such voyages, and he turned the ship around in mid-May while somewhere east of Norway's North Cape. At that point, acting outside his instructions, Hudson pointed the ship west and decided to try to seek a westerly passage through North America.

They reached the Grand Banks of Newfoundland on 2 July, and in mid-July made landfall near the LaHave area of Nova Scotia. Here they encountered First Nations who were accustomed to trading with the French; they were willing to trade beaver pelts, but apparently no trades occurred. The ship stayed in the area about ten days, the crew replacing a broken mast and fishing for food. On the 25 July, a dozen men from the Halve Maen, using muskets and small cannon, went ashore and assaulted the village near their anchorage. They drove the people from the settlement and took their boat and other property-probably pelts and trade goods.

On 4 August, the ship was at Cape Cod, from which Hudson sailed south to the entrance of the Chesapeake Bay. Rather than entering the Chesapeake he explored the coast to the north, finding Delaware Bay but continuing on north. On 3 September, he reached the estuary of the river that initially was called the "North River" or "Mauritius" and now carries his name. He was not the first European to discover the estuary, though, as it had been known since the voyage of Giovanni da Verrazzano in 1524.

On 6 September 1609, John Colman of his crew was killed by natives with an arrow to his neck. Hudson sailed into the Upper New York Bay on 11 September, and the following day began a journey up what is now known as the Hudson River. Over the next ten days his ship ascended the river, reaching a point about where the present-day capital of Albany is located.

On 23 September, Hudson decided to return to Europe. He put in at Dartmouth, England on 7 November, and was detained by authorities who wanted access to his log. He managed to pass the log to the Dutch ambassador to England, who sent it, along with his report, to Amsterdam.

While exploring the river, Hudson had traded with several native groups, mainly obtaining furs. His voyage was used to establish Dutch claims to the region and to the fur trade that prospered there when a trading post was established at Albany in 1614. New Amsterdam on Manhattan Island became the capital of New Netherland in 1625.

Expedition of 1610-1611

In 1610, Hudson obtained backing for another voyage, this time under the English flag. The funding came from the Virginia Company and the British East India Company. At the helm of his new ship, the Discovery, he stayed to the north-some claim he deliberately stayed too far south on his Dutch-funded voyage-reached Iceland on 11 May, the south of Greenland on 4 June, and rounded the southern tip of Greenland.

On 25 June, the explorers reached what is now the Hudson Strait at the northern tip of Labrador. Following the southern coast of the strait on 2 August, the ship entered Hudson Bay. Excitement was very high due to the expectation that the ship had finally found the Northwest Passage through the continent. Hudson spent the following months mapping and exploring its eastern shores, but he and his crew did not find a passage to Asia. In November, however, the ship became trapped in the ice in James Bay, and the crew moved ashore for the winter.

When the ice cleared in the spring of 1611, Hudson planned to use his Discovery to further explore Hudson Bay with the continuing goal of discovering the Passage; however, most of the members of his crew ardently desired to return home. Matters came to a head and much of the crew mutinied in June. Descriptions of the successful mutiny are one-sided, because the only survivors who could tell their story were the mutineers and those who went along with the mutiny.

In the latter class was ship's navigator, Abacuk Pricket, a survivor who kept a journal that was to become one of the sources for the narrative of the mutiny. According to Pricket, the leaders of the mutiny were Henry Greene and Robert Juet. The latter, a navigator, had accompanied Hudson on the 1609 expedition, and his account is said to be "the best contemporary record of the voyage". Pricket's narrative tells how the mutineers set Hudson, his teenage son John, and seven crewmen-men who were either sick and infirm or loyal to Hudson-adrift from the Discovery in a small shallop, an open boat, effectively marooning them in Hudson Bay. The Pricket journal reports that the mutineers provided the castaways with clothing, powder and shot, some pikes, an iron pot, some food, and other miscellaneous items.

Disappearance

After the mutiny, Hudson's shallop broke out oars and tried to keep pace with the Discovery for some time. Pricket recalled that the mutineers finally tired of the David-Goliath pursuit and unfurled additional sails aboard the Discovery, enabling the larger vessel to leave the tiny open boat behind. Hudson and the other seven aboard the shallop were never seen again. Despite subsequent searches, including those conducted by Thomas Button in 1612, and by Zachariah Gillam in 1668-1670, their fate is unknown.

Pricket's reliability

Pricket's journal and testimony have been severely criticized for bias, on two grounds. Firstly, prior to the mutiny the alleged leaders of the uprising, Greene and Juet, had been friends and loyal seamen of Hudson. Secondly, Greene and Juet did not survive the return voyage to England (Juet, who had been the navigator on the return journey, died of starvation a few days before the company reached Ireland). Pricket knew he and the other survivors of the mutiny would be tried in England for piracy, and it would have been in his interest, and the interest of the other survivors, to put together a narrative that would place the blame for the mutiny upon men who were no longer alive to defend themselves.

The Pricket narrative became the controlling story of the expedition's disastrous end. Only eight of the thirteen mutinous crewmen survived the return voyage to Europe. They were arrested in England, and some were put on trial, but no punishment was imposed for the mutiny. One theory holds that the survivors were considered too valuable as sources of information to execute, as they had travelled to the New World and could describe sailing routes and conditions.

The gulf or bay visited by Hudson is three times the size of the Baltic Sea, and its many large estuaries afford access to otherwise landlocked parts of Western Canada and the Arctic. This allowed the Hudson's Bay Company to exploit a lucrative fur trade along its shores for more than two centuries, growing powerful enough to influence the history and present international boundaries of western North America. Hudson Strait became the entrance to the Arctic for all ships engaged in the historic search for the Northwest Passage from the Atlantic side - though modern voyages take more northerly routes.

Along with Hudson Bay, many other topographical features and landmarks are named for Hudson. The Hudson River in New York and New Jersey is named after him, as are Hudson County, New Jersey, the Henry Hudson Bridge, the Henry Hudson Parkway, and the town of Hudson, New York. The unbuilt Hendrik Hudson Hotel in New York was also to have been named after him.

In Spanish: Henry Hudson para niños

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Introduction

Henry Hudson (1565-1611) was an English explorer and navigator who helped with the first European explorations of the Arctic Ocean and northeastern North America. Little is known about his early life until Hudson was hired by the Muscovy Company in 1607. The Muscovy Company wanted Henry Hudson to find a direct waterway from Europe to Asia.

Hudson was known to be very headstrong and adventurous. He undertook four major expeditions to try to find the direct waterway from Europe to Asia. His relentless search for this waterway resulted in Hudson helping discover New York City's excellent harbor, as well as drawing European attention to the vast natural resources of North America.

Hudson's Four Voyages

In Hudson's first voyage, Hudson and his crew struggled with icy and cold conditions from the very beginning. They were only able to explore some of the islands near Greenland before they had to turn back. However, Hudson's reports noted an abundance of whales in the area, so many Europeans used this knowledge to start whale hunts.

In Hudson's second voyage the following year, Hudson tried again to find a direct route from Europe to Asia. Hudson attempted this by trying to go north of Russia through the Arctic Ocean. However, this also proved a failure as the route was eventually blocked by ice.

On Hudson's third voyage Hudson decided to try going west to find the route to Asia. He and his crew crossed the Atlantic Ocean and first came ashore in what is now Nova Scotia. It was on this trip he found New York City harbor and explored the coast and up some of the rivers, including the Hudson River named for him, before returning to England.

For Hudson's fourth and final voyage, Hudson left England in April 1610. He and his crew again headed west. This time, they went a bit more north and ended up in an area later named after him, called Hudson Bay. Hudson explored this bay quite thoroughly to find his passage to Asia; however, he soon found that the bay was a dead end. By the time he realized this, he and his crew were low on supplies and trapped in the ice. They had to spend the winter in this way, which led to high tensions between Hudson and his crew.

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voyage & route - video & lesson transcript | study.com

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Who Is Henry Hudson? - Facts, Voyage & Route - Video & Lesson Transcript | Study.com

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Henry Hudson was an English explorer and navigator. Learn more about his life and the four important expeditions that he made while trying to find...

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Henry Hudson

In 1621, leaders in the Netherlands sent an explorer by the name of Henry Hudson to North America in search of suitable land for setting up colonies. The Dutch government also established The Dutch West India Company to help establish colonies in North America.

The most important of these colonies was New Amsterdam, which would eventually become New York.

Henry Hudson explored much of the region around New Amsterdam, and also discovered the Hudson Bay.

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Henry Hudson In 1621, leaders in the Netherlands sent an explorer by the name of Henry Hudson to North America in search of suitable land for setting up colonies. The Dutch government also established The Dutch West India Company to help establish colonies in North America.

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For Kids

Henry Hudson was born in England. He started working as a cabin boy and worked his way up to ship's captain. He loved the sea. He loved exploring. Henry Hudson was hired by England to find a sea route to from England, through the North Pole, to reach China and India. Hudson tried. But he did not find a way to China. What he found were found seals and whales and other wildlife in the cold waters of the Arctic Ocean. England paid for a second trip. Again, Hudson was unsuccessful. England refused to pay for a third trip.

Henry Hudson turned to the Dutch East India Company. The Dutch and the English were rivals for discovery of new lands. They both wanted to find a sea route to China and India. The Dutch made Hudson a commander of the ship the Half Moon. Again, ice put a stop to his attempt to find a northwest passage to China. He turned his boat south, and discovered the Hudson River. He claimed all the land along the Hudson River for the Dutch.

On the way back to the Netherlands (Holland), Hudson stopped in England for supplies. There, his ship, and any English men among the crew were seized and arrested. England was not happy that Henry Hudson was exploring for the Dutch. They treated it as treason. To avoid prison, Henry Hudson had to promise not to work for the Dutch again. Any new lands he discovered on his adventures had to be claimed for England.

Hudson found some English investors to pay for a trip to the New World. He took one of his sons with him on this voyage. This time, when he reached New World, it was winter. According to the story his crew reported when they returned to England without him, was that once again Hudson could not find a way to China. Angry, hungry, and freezing, they had put Henry Hudson, his son, and a few crew members into a small boat and sailed away without them. They were put on trial, but they were acquitted of any wrong doing.

As for Henry Hudson, his son, and a few crew, they were never seen again. It is assumed they froze to death, but no one knows for sure. It remains a history mystery.
Henry Hudson (cartoon PowerPoint) The Lenape Indians Free Explorer Games Online

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Henry Hudson - New World Explorer for Kids

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Henry Hudson was born in England. He started working as a cabin boy and worked his way up to ship's captain. He loved the sea. He loved exploring. Henry Hudson was hired by England to find a sea route to from England, through the North Pole, to reach China and India.

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Find Facts about Henry Hudson for Kids. Fun Facts about Henry Hudson for Kids. History and Info about Henry Hudson for Kids.

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Ferdinand Magellan

In 1519, a Portuguese sailor set sail from Seville, Spain, in an effort to sail around the globe. This expedition was funded by Spain. After Magellan and his 260 men and five ships reached South America, they began looking for a way through the continent to the other side. After several months, they finally discovered the southern tip of South America, which is now known as the Straight of Magellan.

As Magellan traveled through these rough waters, one of his ships became separated and was forced to return to Spain. Another ship crashed on a rocky island.

The three remaining ships traveled for several more months and finally made it to the Philippines. Here, Magellan became involved in a local dispute with a tribal king and was killed. His remaining crew of 18 men sailed back to Spain, arriving home after being gone for three years.

This expedition was costly in both cost of goods as well as cost of life. However, it was important because it was the first time anyone had managed to sail around the entire globe. They proved once and for all that what Columbus had discovered was indeed a new world. They also discovered just how large the Earth really was.

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Ferdinand Magellan In 1519, a Portuguese sailor set sail from Seville, Spain, in an effort to sail around the globe. This expedition was funded by Spain. After Magellan and his 260 men and five ships reached South America, they began looking for a way through the continent to the other side.

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Ferdinand Magellan the Explorer for Kids ***

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Find Facts about Ferdinand Magellan for Kids. Fun Facts about Ferdinand Magellan for Kids. History and Info about Ferdinand Magellan for Kids.

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Ferdinand Magellan was born in Sabrosa, Portugal, in 1480 into a noble family. After serving as a court page for two years, his adventurous spirit led him to a career as an explorer. In 1506, Magellan went to the Spice Islands (Indonesia) to participate in several military and exploratory expeditions. In 1510, he was promoted to the rank of captain. In 1512, he was stationed in Morocco and made preliminary plans to find a western shortcut to the Spice Islands. Unfortunately, Portugal's king, Emmanuel, refused to finance his journey, and in 1517, Magellan renounced his Portuguese citizenship. He promptly offered his services to King Charles I of Spain. Charles I agreed to finance Magellan's trip in the hopes of becoming the king of the richest nation in the world.

Circumnavigation

On September 20, 1519, Magellan and 237 crew members set sail on five ships from Sanlucar de Barrameda in the hopes of finding a shortcut to the Spice Islands. After three long months of sailing the Atlantic, Magellan and his crew anchored near Rio de Janeiro in the present-day South American nation of Brazil. After trading with local natives, Magellan and his men quickly set sail again, ever worried about the threat of Portuguese ships. As the expedition continued, the weather got worse, and several crew members were executed for trying to take over the ship. Others were starving or suffering from frostbite. As the ships neared the southern tip of South America, one ship smashed into the beach and lost all supplies. Nevertheless, in October of 1520, Magellan and his crew crossed the treacherous straits at the tip of South America, which became known as the Straits of Magellan.

Trouble in the Pacific Ocean

As the expedition passed through the straits, they entered the vast Pacific Ocean. Things got worse before they got better. The crew suffered from extreme hunger and was forced to survive by eating rats, sawdust, leather, and even maggots. At least 20 men died from disease, particularly scurvy (caused by a lack of vitamin C) and starvation. On March 6, the ships finally reached land-the Pacific island of Guam. Nevertheless, the crew members were able to collect clean water and food, despite being on the alert for attacks by the natives. Soon, the crew sailed to the Philippine Islands, where they converted natives to Christianity. During an attempt to convert the native chief, Mactan, to Christianity, Magellan was wounded by an arrow that was driven through his foot by a native warrior. Mactan, who had become upset with Magellan's insistence that he convert, ordered his warriors to attack. They killed Magellan on April 27, 1521. Most of Magellan's crew escaped and set sail.

Return to Spain

With the loss of their leader, Juan Sebastian del Cano took control of the ship and sailed for Spain. Only two ships and 47 men remained. Portuguese forces captured one of the ships, leaving the Victoria as the only ship left. Severe storms and Portuguese attacks battered the Victoria. As Portuguese forces bore down on the expedition near the Cape Verde Islands, del Cano was forced to continue toward Spain without supplies or rest. Finally, on September 8, 1522, the Victoria made it back to Spain with only 18 men surviving, hence completing the first circumnavigation of the world.

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Ferdinand Magellan Biography for Kids - First Circumnavigation

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Ferdinand Magellan was born in Sabrosa, Portugal, in 1480 into a noble family. After serving as a court page for two years, his adventurous spirit led him to a career as an explorer. In 1506, Magellan went to the Spice Islands (Indonesia) to participate in several military and exploratory expeditions.

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Ferdinand Magellan - Explorer, Age of Exploration for Kids - FREE Lesson Plans for Teachers, Games for Kids

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Magellan, a Portuguese explorer, was the first man to try and sail around the globe. Magellan was from a wealthy family. He served in the Portuguese court. He knew the king of Portugal. In fact, they were good friends for quite a while. King Manuel, the king of Portugal had supported da Gama when da Gama wanted to sail around the tip of Africa to reach India, which he did accomplish, but to the delight of the king. He brought back riches from India. Magellan was surprised when the king argued with him about trying to find a way around the entire globe by water. Magellan’s argument was to think of the riches that were yet to be found. But the king did not agree it was possible to sail around the world, and he refused to pay for the attempt. So, Magellan talked to Spain. The King of Spain gave him 5 ships.

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Ferdinand Magellan | PBS World Explorers | PBS LearningMedia

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Ferdinand Magellan was the first person to reach Asia and the Indian Ocean by sailing a westward route through the Americas and across the Pacific Ocean. Magellan's groundbreaking voyage was the first circumnavigation of earth and gave the first true record of the distribution of oceans and continents.

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7 Ferdinand Magellan Facts For Kids

navajocodetalkersadmin on December 30, 2014 - 10:00 am in Fun Facts for Kids

Ferdinand Magellan was an explorer that set sail on a big expedition in 1519. He was looking to sale around the entire globe. You have probably heard about this explorer and some of his finds, but do you know the whole story behind his most famous expedition.

Here are some facts about Ferdinand Magellan that you probably don't already know:

What Was the Expedition?

1. Ferdinand Magellan's big expedition was paid for by Spain and set sail from Seville, Spain. He took along close to 300 men and five ships in total with him on his expedition to sail around the globe.

2. Once they arrived in South America, Magellan and his men started trying to find a way to the other side of the continent. It was then that they found the tip of South America after a few months. This eventually became known as the Straight of Magellan. His discovery was named after him to signify his exploration.

What Happened to All Five Ships?

3. Even though they embarked on their exploration with 5 ships, not all made it the entire journey. One of Magellan's ships was separated from the rest and had to make its way back to Spain due to the tough and wild waters. Another ship crashed into an Island. This means that not all the men that started out on the journey made their way around the globe.

Why Was Magellan Killed?

4. The 3 remaining ships and Magellan still did not get to finish their expedition when they ran into a huge problem. Once they made it to the Philippines Magellan got into a fight with a tribal King. The cause of the dispute is not widely known, but Magellan was killed as a result.

5. At the time of his death, Magellan only had 18 men left in his crew and they retreated by setting sail toward Spain. They finally made it back after more than 3 years away.

Was it a Success?

6. Magellan's expedition was costly in goods and resulted in the death of many men. However, it was seen as a success by many living in Spain at the time. It was the first time that anyone had set sail across the globe. This proved that Columbus had in deed discovered the New World. Magellan and his crew also discovered that the earth was in deed large.

7. Magellan did not return, but his bravery and exploration was immortalized.

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7 Ferdinand Magellan Facts For Kids | Navajo Code Talkers

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Ferdinand Magellan was an explorer that set sail on a big expedition in 1519. He was looking to sale around the entire globe. You have probably heard about this