Amerigo Vespucci, the presumed namesake of the continents of North America and South America, is a controversial figure in the history of European exploration. The number of voyages he took to the New World is in dispute, but among his accomplishments, he found a rough method of calculating longitude, made notes on the indigenous peoples he encountered, and published theories proving that Columbus had not landed in India. This volume separates the...

Italian explorer John Cabot sailed to the New World under the flag of England in 1496. His travels through Canada are sketchy due to his flimsy record log and his disappearance during his third voyage. Despite never finding the riches or the Northwest Passage he sought, Cabot's discoveries led the charge for the English colonization of North America. This resource examines Cabot's early life, his appeals to European monarchs to fund an expedition,...

The conquistador Balboa is best known for having led the first party of explorers of European descent to reach the Pacific by traveling overland from the Atlantic. An ambitious man from a noble but relatively impoverished family, Balboa was eager to make a name and fortune for himself in the New World. His initiative and take-charge attitude helped him rise to power but also made him powerful enemies who, in the long run, orchestrated his trial and...

While he is now primarily associated with the quest for the legendary Fountain of Youth, Ponce de León was not merely involved in this fruitless search. A powerful figure in the Caribbean, he became the first governor of Puerto Rico. He led the first European expedition to Florida and was responsible for giving the state its name. The title discusses Ponce de León's treatment of Native Americans and the issues with crediting him with the "discovery"...

Chronicles the life and voyages of the Portuguese explorer, focusing on his discovery of Brazil.

In the 18th century the explorer and mariner James Cook made his way to the American colonies to fight for the British in the French and Indian War. In the New World he would earn fame as a courageous sea captain, talented mapmaker, astronomer of Venus, and seeker of the Northwest Passage. This fascinating account details his voyage around Antarctica and his accomplishment as the first accurate mapmaker of the Pacific Ocean. This guide will introduce...

For many, his name brings to mind both the glory and terrible danger of exploration: Marco Polo. Come along as this informative and engaging book describes Marco's travels from his native Italy past many obstacles, to the farthest reaches of Asia and back home again. Experience the incredible cold of the mountains of Pakistan, the intense heat of the Taklimakan Desert, and the wonders in between. Meet people like the fabled Kublai Khan, lord of the...

Explorer Sir Francis Drake is renowned for being the first Englishman to sail completely around the world. His adventures set England on a course for successfully sailing the seas, but like most explorers, his adventures were full of successes and failures alike. In this engrossing book, readers will become completely captivated by the secrecy and intrigue associated with Drake's agreements with England's Queen Elizabeth. The drama of his defeat of...

In a pattern anyone familiar with the European explorers of the 1500s will recognize, Francisco Vázquez de Coronado set out in search of land and treasure. Following in the footsteps of Hernán Cortés, Coronado set out for the New World in hopes of claiming land and wealth for Spain. Readers will get caught up in the fantastic and dangerous journeys of the Coronado expedition from Mexico to Kansas as they sought in vain for the mythical seven cities...

In the summer of 1535, France's king Francis I sent explorer Jacques Cartier to the New World to search for the Northwest Passage that would lead from China and the East. It was hoped he would also return with ships brimming with riches and gold for the country. Alas, Cartier found neither the elusive passage nor a bounty of riches, but he did find the St. Lawrence River. Readers will learn about the details of Cartier's extensive travels, his encounters...