Christopher Columbus explored from 1492-1506 sponsored by King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella of Spain. He explored to find a new route to Asia and search for gold and riches, claiming new lands and providing maps but mistreating native people. John Cabot explored 1497-1498 sponsored by King Henry VII of England, wanting to find gold and riches like seen from Asia, claiming new lands and providing map information of Canada. Juan Ponce de Leon explored 1506-1521 sponsored by King Ferdinand of Spain, exploring the Caribbean, founding Florida thinking it an island with a fountain of youth, claiming new lands and establishing settlements in Florida.

1. European Explorers Chapter 5

2. Columbus Explored from 1492 - 1506 He was sponsored by King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella of Spain

3. Christopher Columbus Columbus was a sailor from Italy who at the age of 15 knew he wanted to explore far away lands. He explored the new world to find another route to Asia and to search for gold and riches Columbus is known for claiming lands in the new world, providing new maps, and mistreating native people.

4. Cabot Explored from 1497 - 1498 He was sponsored by King Henry VII of England

5. John Cabot John was a merchant shopkeeper from Venice, Italy. He was a skilled navigator and wanted to explore new lands. He wanted to explore the new world to find gold and riches like he had seen come from Asia. Cabot was known for claiming new lands and for providing new map information of what is now known as Canada.

6. Ponce de Leon Explored from 1506 - 1521 He was sponsored by King Ferdinand of Spain.

7. Juan Ponce de Leon Leon was a soldier who explored lands in the Caribbean. He founded Florida for Spain, thinking it was an island which held the fountain of youth. He explored the new world to find gold and riches as well as to search for a new route to Asia. Leon was known for claiming new lands, and for establishing settlements in what is now known as Florida.

8. Cortes Explored from 1519 - 1521 He was a sponsored by Spain.

9. Herman Cortes Cortes was a Spanish Nobleman who explored Mexico in search of the rich Mexican Empire. Herman main motive for exploring the new world was to find gold and riches. Cortes was known for attacking the Aztecs and spreading the smallpox disease among the Aztec people.

10. Cartier Explored from 1534 - 1542 He was sponsored by King Francis I of France.

11. Jacques Cartier Cartier was an experienced navigator and explorer from France. He explored the new world to find a Northwest Passage to find a shorter route to Asia. Cartier was known for establishing a settlement in what is now Canada for France. He also provided new information for maps of the Americas.

12. Coronado Explored from 1540 - 1542 He was sponsored by Spain but his money was provided by his wife, the viceroy of Mexico.

13. Francisco Vasquez de Coronado Coronado was a Spanish nobleman who explored much of Mexico and the southwest United States. He came to America to seek glory and fortune. Coronado was known for is maps. He discovered the Grand Canyon and Rio Grande. Coronado was also known for his cruel mistreating and killing of the native pueblo Indians.

14. Hudson Explored from 1609 - 1610 He was sponsored by the Dutch East India Company in Holland, England.

15. Henry Hudson Hudson was an English sea captain. He explored the new world mainly in search of a shorter route to Asia. Hudson is known for discovering what is now call the Hudson River and a body of water called Hudson Bay.

16. La Salle Explored from 1667 - 1684 He was sponsored by King Louis of France but had the governor of Montreal paid for his journey.

17. Robert de La Salle La Salle was French nobleman who was a fur trader along the St. Lawrence River. His motive for exploring the territories already owned by France was to find personal wealth in the way of trading goods. La Salle is known for founding Louisiana for France as well as making maps of the Mississippi River.