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Portuguese explorer Bartolomeu Dias became the first European mariner to round the southern tip of Africa, opening the way for a sea route from Europe to Asia. ... A major maritime victory for Portugal, Dias' breakthrough opened the door to increased trade with India and other Asian powers

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Vasco da Gama was a highly successful Portuguese sailor and explorer during the Age of Exploration. He was the first person to sail directly from Europe to India, around the Cape of Good Hope.

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Pedro Álvares Cabral Portuguese navigator who is generally credited as the first European to reach Brazil

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Hernán Cortés is best known for conquering the Aztecs and claiming Mexico on behalf of Spain.

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Juan Ponce de Leon Achievement Spanish explorer who founded the first European settlement on Puerto Rico and who is credited with being the first European to reach Florida

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Vasco Núñez de Balboa, while leading an expedition in search of gold, he sighted the Pacific Ocean.

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Pizarro founded the nation's new capital, Lima.

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Hernando de Soto Seeking greater glory and riches, de Soto embarked on a major expedition to conquer Florida for the Spanish crown. He and his men traveled nearly 4,000 miles throughout the region that would become the southeastern United States in search of riches, fighting off Native American attacks along the way

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Alvar Nuñez Cabeza de Vaca and three fellow survivors became the first Europeans to explore the American Southwest, eventually settling in Mexico

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Samuel de Champlain was key to French expansion in the New World. Known as the “Father of New France,” Champlain founded Quebec, one of the oldest cities in what is now Canada, and consolidated French colonies. He also made important explorations of what is now northern New York, the Ottawa River, and the eastern Great Lakes.