The Portuguese
During the 1400's, Portuguese became the world's leading explorers. They believed the East could be reached by sailing around Africa. King John I and his son, Prince Henry the Navigator, sent ships farther and farther south along Africa's west coast. Finally in 1487 Bartolomeu Dias sailed around the continent's southern tip. King John II was so pleased that he named this point the Cape of Good Hope.
While the Portuguese were searching for a water route around Africa, other explorers felt that Asia could be reached by sailing west. Most educated people believed that the world was round, not flat. Christopher Columbus, one of the world's greatest seaman, proved this to be true.

Christopher Columbus 1451-1506
Born in the seaport town of Genoa, Italy, Christopher Colum¬bus was the oldest of five children. Although he helped with his father's wool-weaving business, young Christopher longed to be a sailor. By the time he was a man, he had taught himself to read, write, and speak Latin. He learned everything he could about the sea, and eventually became a Portuguese sea cap¬tain. It is likely that Columbus had heard about the early Viking trips. He definitely was familiar with the teachings of Martin Behaim. In 1492 Behaim created the world's first globe. Although it showed the world to be round, the yet undis¬covered Western Hemisphere was missing. India and China were located at the Atlantic Ocean's western shore.
By now every European country was interested in finding a way to gain wealth from the East. Columbus believed this could most easily be done by sailing west. He presented his plan to Portugal's King John II, along with a list of what he wanted as payment. This list included three good ships; a large share of any trade that would result; the governorship of lands he might discover; and the title of admiral. Columbus had mar¬ried Felipa de Perestrello who died shortly after their only child, Diego, was born. Columbus wanted these rewards to be passed on to Diego and any other sons he might have. King John promptly dismissed the admiral and his expensive plan!
While his brother, Bartolomew, sought support in England and France, Christopher journeyed to Spain. He hoped that King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella would sponsor him. On his way to the Spanish court at Palos, he stopped at a nearby monastery to leave little Diego. There he became friends with Friar Antonio who introduced him to the queen.
Queen Isabella liked Columbus. She put him on the royal payroll, but her advisors had doubts about his plan. They believed that China was much farther away than Columbus imagined. In the meanwhile Spain was at war with the Moors. Moors from North Africa had conquered that country in the 8th century, Spain's first concern was to drive them out of their last stronghold—the city of Granada. The war continued until January of 1492. After seven years of waiting, Columbus finally received news that Queen Isabella would finance his expedition, and grant him all terms he requested.
The First Voyage
Ninety seamen sailed south from Palos on August 3, 1492. Twenty-four were on board the tiny Nina under the direction of Captain Vicente Yanez Pinzon. Twenty-six manned the Pinta, captained by Vicente's brother, Martin Alonso Pinzon. Colum-bus's flagship, the Santa Maria, carried forty. It took nine days to reach the Canary Islands where repairs were made and pro¬visions stowed. On September 6, the little fleet sailed west from San Sebastian across the Atlantic Ocean. Although seas remained calm, by October 10 the men were frightened. They wondered if they would ever see land again. An agreement was made to continue for three more days.
At 2:00 a.m. on October 1 2, land was sighted. By noon Col¬umbus had set foot on an island in the Bahamas that the natives called Guanahani. He renamed it San Salvador. For many years, seamen who studied Columbus's route believed he had arrived at what was later called Watling Island. In 1926 Watling's name was changed to San Salvador. Recent findings have questioned that decision. San Salvador is now thought to be Samana Cay, a tiny island 65 miles southeast of Watling..
Columbus believed he had reached islands around India. His second discovery was Crooked Island which he named Santa Maria de la Conception. Long Island was called Fernandina, and Fortune Island was named Isabela. He called all the islands the West Indies, and the natives Indians. He claimed everything for Spain!
Columbus decided to return to Spain after the Santa Maria wrecked on a coral reef off the large island of Hispaniola. This island's present name is Haiti. Forty men were left behind to build a fort with the ship's timbers. Rough January seas almost caused the Nina and Pinta to sink. The Nina, carrying Colum¬bus, was forced to stop at Lisbon, Portugal. Here the Admiral had the pleasure of visiting King John with proof that he had been correct about sailing west. Although the Nina and Pinta had been separated for weeks, both ships reached Palos on the same day—March 15, 1493.
Columbus received a hero's welcome. He was given the titles Admiral of the Ocean Seas and Viceroy of the Indies. He brought back parrots, tobacco, corn, sandT and even several natives. Even though there were no spices and gold, he was told to organize a second voyage and begin a colony on Hispaniola.
The Second Voyage
Seventeen ships carrying 1000 men sailed from Cadiz on September 25, 1493. They reached the West Indies on November 3. To his horror, Columbus found that those who had been left behind had been killed by the Indians. The Admiral chose the island's north coast to begin the colony of Isabella. He left his younger brother, Diego, in charge, while he sailed to further explore the region. Columbus discovered and named many of the Caribbean islands. Unfortunately, he found very little gold and no spices. This time his welcome home was not so grand.
The Third Voyage
On May 30, 1498, Columbus sailed from Sanlucar, Spain. Once again he had only three small ships. While exploring the coast of Venezuela, he realized that he had discovered an unknown continent. He called it the Other World. Meanwhile Spain was very disappointed. People named Columbus Admiral of the Mosquitoes. In 1500 Francisco de Bobadilla was sent to settle problems in Santo Domingo, the new capital of Hispaniola. Bobadilla sent the Columbus brothers—Christopher, Bartolomew, and Diego—back to Spain in chains.
The Fourth Voyage
Columbus was given one last chance to find the riches of the East. On May 2, 1502, he sailed with four small ships. He had married again, and his 13-year-old son, Ferdinand, accom¬panied him. The purpose of Columbus's 4th voyage was to find a water passage to the Indian Ocean. Columbus continued to believe that his Other World, which we know as South America was just a short distance from China. He searched the coast of Central America looking for a strait. Indians in the area of Panama told him that a great ocean was just a few days march away. Columbus never knew how close he was to the Pacific,
The expedition went badly. Indians were unfriendly, and two of the ships became unseaworthy. The remaining vessels barely made it to the island of Jama/ca.Here Columbus and his men were marooned for one year. In a dugout canoe, Captain Diego Mendez paddled to Hispaniola for help. When finally rescued, Columbus sailed for home. The Admiral's last trip ended in Sanlucar, Spain on November 7, 1504.
The 53-year-old explorer was in poor health, and he was never given his rightful share in American trade. Columbus died on May 2, 1506 in a simple home at Valladolid, Spain. With him were his two sons and the faithful Captain Mendez. Later his grandson took the Admiral's remains to the colony of Santo Domingo.

OTHER EXPLORERS
Many great explorers came to the New World during the next one hundred years. We are going to learn a little about five of them. Find out more about their lives, as well as other explorers of the 16th century.
Vasco da Gama 1469-1524
In 1497 King Manuel I of Portugal ordered Vasco da Gama to sail around Africa to find a sea route to India. Da Gama traveled nearly 24,000 miles during his two-year journey. When he returned to Portugal, his ship was loaded with jewels and spices. At last Europeans had found a way to reach Asia by water.
John Cabot 1450-1498
John Cabot was an Italian navigator who sailed for England in 1497. He convinced King Henry VII that he could reach the Indies by taking a route farther north than that of Columbus. Cabot reached Cape Breton Island and Newfoundland where he found a great wealth of fish, but not the spices he was seeking. On a second trip he explored the coasts of Greenland and North America as far south as New York.
In 1508 Cabot's son, Sebastian, continued his father's work. He sailed as far south as North Carolina. Although a sea route to China was not found, all lands the Cabots visited were claimed for England.
Vasco de Balboa 1475-1517
Balboa was a Spanish adventurer who came to the island of Hispaniola in the early 1 500's. He was soon heavily in debt. To escape prison he stowed away on a ship headed for Panama. Balboa convinced settlers there to begin a new col¬ony and make him governor. Indians wanted the Spaniards to leave, so they showed them objects of gold. They said gold could be found just over the mountains to the west. Anxiously Balboa and his followers marched across Panama to seek their fortunes. Gold was not found, but in 1513 the eastern shore of the Pacific Ocean was discovered. Balboa called it the South Sea. Upon returning to the settlement, a new Spanish gover¬nor arrested Balboa who died in prison in 1517.
Ferdinand Magellan 1480-1521
After Balboa's discovery of the South Sea, Spanish explorers were even more anxious to find a waterway to India. The route around Africa was long and heavily guarded by the Portuguese.
Magellan was a skilled Portuguese sea captain who sailed for Spain in 1519. When his fleet of 5 ships reached the southern tip of South America, he discovered an icy, 350-mile waterway. This Strait of Magellan led to the South Sea. Magellan found the waters so calm, he renamed the sea Pacific or Peaceful Ocean.
Only 3 ships were brave enough to continue. After months of hardly any food or water, they reached the island of Guam. From the South Sea Islands, they sailed to the Philippines where they received a warm welcome. Magellan made friends with the chief, and agreed to help him fight enemies on a near¬by island. The explorers were shocked when 1000 natives struck. Many Spaniards were killed including Magellan. Only the ship, Victoria made it back to Spain. It had completed the first around-the-world voyage.
Jacques Cartier 1491-1557
France sent explorers to search for a waterway to the Indies. In April of 1534, Captain Jacques Cartier sailed with two small ships to Newfoundland, Labrador, and the Gulf of St. Lawrence. In July of 1 535, he returned with three ships and explored the St. Lawrence River. When the waterway became very shallow, Cartier had to turn back. Although there was great disappointment that a water route to China had not been discovered, all the lands he explored were claimed for France.