Early Explorers (1400's and earlier)
Eric the Red (circa 950-1000 AD)
Erik was born in Norway in the year 950 A.D. His father, Torvald, was a strong Viking leader. When Erik was older he moved to Iceland and was later exiled for 3 years for killing 2 people. He then explored and found an icy land, which he called Greenland to make it sound nicer then it was.After his exile was over, Erik went back to Iceland and brought people back to Greenland. After awhile, the settlement experienced very cold weather, and most people left. The people who stayed froze or were attacked by Inuits.
Erik had a daughter named Freydis and 3 sons, including the explorer named Leif Ericsson.
Written by Ben D. (Jan. 2010)
Erik had a daughter named Freydis and 3 sons, including the explorer named Leif Ericsson.
Written by Ben D. (Jan. 2010)
Carving circa 1688
Statue circa 1938
Leif Ericksson (circa 980-1020 AD)
Leif Ericson was a Norse son of Eric The Red in 980 A.D. Leif had a full family of six including Leif. He had two brothers, a sister, a mother, and a father. When Leif was eight, a German man named Thyrker due to tradition raised him. Thyrker was captured but not enslaved by Leif’s father, Erik the Red. He taught Leif everything he needed to know like reading and writing runes, Russian and Celtic languages, old sagas, and plant studies. He also taught Leif how to trade and hunt.
One year, King Olaf sent Leif and some men to go to Greenland. On their way they hit a big storm and ended up in Canada. The importance of Leif Ericson going to Canada is huge because famous explorers might not have heard about him and been inspired to go exploring.
Written by Chris S. (Jan. 2010)
One year, King Olaf sent Leif and some men to go to Greenland. On their way they hit a big storm and ended up in Canada. The importance of Leif Ericson going to Canada is huge because famous explorers might not have heard about him and been inspired to go exploring.
Written by Chris S. (Jan. 2010)
Sketch of Ericksson.
Statue of Ericksson.
Christopher Columbus (1451-1506)
Christopher Colombus was born in 1451 in Genoa, Italy. In his early life, Christopher Colombus sailed as a merchant, once traveling to Iceland. He was most famous for going to the Americas, which he thought to be the East Indies but was actually the Bahamas.
Written by Noah L. (Jan. 2010)
Written by Noah L. (Jan. 2010)
Portrait of Columbus.
Interpretation of Columbus discovering the Americas.
Bartolomeu Dias (1457-1500)
Bartolomeu Dias was born in 1457 and died in 1500 and was from Portugal. He lived 43 years. He could have been a teacher and might have taught different languages, astronomy, physics, or music and was smart. He had a good family, too.
He tried to find a new trading route to China by sea, but instead ended up in Africa’s Cape of Good Hope.Later, on another expedition in 1500 with Pedro Alvares Carbral, he sailed and was one of the first Europeans to see Brazil. He died on that expedition.
Written by Janet D. (Jan. 2010)
He tried to find a new trading route to China by sea, but instead ended up in Africa’s Cape of Good Hope.Later, on another expedition in 1500 with Pedro Alvares Carbral, he sailed and was one of the first Europeans to see Brazil. He died on that expedition.
Written by Janet D. (Jan. 2010)
Portrait of Dias.
Dias finds Cape Good Hope.
Vasco de Gama (1460-1524)
Vasco De Gama was born in Sines, Portugal.There he learned math and navigation.His dad was an explorer and Vasco wanted to be one too.Eventfully he set sail.Vasco De Gama sailed for many years and came to the Cape of Good Hope near South Africa, traveled up to Asia and traded spices in India.Then he sailed back to Portugal. Many years latter the King wanted him to go back to the Cape of Good Hope and then to India but he died on December 24, 1524 of in an illness in India.
Written by Chloe G.
Written by Chloe G.
De Gama circa 1524.
Portait of de Gama.
Juan Ponce de Leon (1460-1521)
My explorer Ponce de Leon was born on 1460 and lived to 1521, 61 years. Ponce de Leon was a fighter at an early age against the Muslims in Southern Spain in 1490’s. Ponce De Leon was from Spain. When he got older he was an explorer wanting to find gold and the Fountain of Youth. Ponce de Leon sailed to the coast of Florida and was the second Caucasian to set foot on America. Something that is interesting is that when he found America he was named Captain General by the King of Spain, but Indians killed him when he tried too finding Bimini.
Written by Ian S.
Written by Ian S.
Portrait of Leon.
Leon declared Captain General.
