Explorers
During the Renaissance Era people started to get curious about the world around them, and wanted to explore the unknown. So some people Christopher Columbus and Juan Ponce de Leon wanted to go across the oceans to gain Gold, Glory, and Religious material.
Christopher Columbus
Christopher Colombus discovered the West Indies, not the Americas, as some people say. Christopher was Italian, but the Italian king and queen did not want to fund his trip, so he traveled to Spain. Spain gave him funding, and in return Christopher claimed the West Indies in the name of the Spanish King.
Sir Francis Drake
Sir Francis Drake was an English explorer, privateer, navigator, slaver and captain. In his early sea life he was a pirate and illeagal slave trader. But in 1560 became a privateer for England. In 1577 he was chosen to circumnavigate the Earth, and it only took 3 years (1577-1580)!
Juan Ponce de Leon
Juan Ponce de Leon was a Spanish Explorer and Conquistador. He was the first European to land on Florida, and he discovered the Gulf Stream. He was also the first governor of Puerto Rico. In his later life he was obsessed with trying find imaginary things, like the Fountain of Youth.
Ferdinand Magellan
Ferdinand Magellan was a Portuguese explorer. He was convicted of a crime and was removed from Portuguese. Instead he joined with the Spainards. The first part of his voyage was riddled with problems. By the end of the voyage many sailors abandond him, and he had discovered the Pacific Ocean, and a strait at the tip of South America.
Henry Hudson
Henry was an English navigator and explorer. He was assigned to find an ice-free path from Europe to Asia, by sea. He attempted two times to do this, but instead he found the new world. He discovered a large bay and river, later named after him.