
Who are the greatest explorers of all time?
Who were the greatest explorers in history?
- Marco Polo. Photo: Leemage/UIG via Getty Images.
- Christopher Columbus. Photo: DeAgostini/Getty Images.
- Amerigo Vespucci. Photo: Austrian National Library.
- John Cabot. Photo by © CORBIS/Corbis via Getty Images.
- Ferdinand Magellan.
- Hernan Cortes.
- Francis Drake.
- Walter Raleigh.
Who is the greatest explorer of all time?
The World’s 11 Greatest Explorers
- Marco Polo. A great explorer named Roald Amundsen once said: “adventure is just bad planning.” In the days of Marco Polo, a 13th century teenager journeying into the unknown with ...
- Magellan. ...
- Captain Cook. ...
- Richard Francis Burton. ...
- Nelly Bly. ...
- Ibn Battuta. ...
- Sir Ranulph Fiennes
What are some names of some famous explorers?
- Sir Francis Drake.
- Leif Eriksson.
- Hernando de Soto.
- Hernan Cortes.
- John Cabot.
- Exploration of North America.
- Christopher Columbus.
- Northwest Passage.
Who was the most important explorer?
If the polls are correct, a nationalist could head government in the North for first time
- Election posters burned. This would mean talks with an initial deadline of six months; with the can thus kicked a good distance down the road, where, one wonders, would this ...
- Traditional allegiances. ...
- Candidates. ...

Who is the first explorer in the world?
Ferdinand Magellan (1480–1521) was a Portuguese explorer who is credited with masterminding the first expedition to circumnavigate the world. Magellan was sponsored by Spain to travel west across the Atlantic in search of the East Indies.
Who is a famous explorer?
Christopher Columbus (1451 -1506) Undoubtedly one of the most famous explorers in history, Columbus was born in Genoa in 1451. From a young age his impulse to travel was strong - he went to sea as a teenager and made Portugal his base.
What are 8 explorers?
8 Explorers Who Changed History by Getting LostChristopher Columbus (1451–1506) 'In the year 1492′, a popular nursery rhyme tells us, 'Columbus sailed the ocean blue'. ... Juan Ponce de León (1460–1521) ... John Cabot (1450-?) ... Giovanni de Verrazzano (1485–1528) ... Jacques Cartier (1491–1557) ... Henry Hudson (1570?-1611?)
Who is the most famous English explorer?
1. James Cook (1728 - 1779) With an HPI of 82.31, James Cook is the most famous Explorer. His biography has been translated into 151 different languages on wikipedia.
Who discovered most of the world?
Christopher Columbus (1451-1506) Often called the “discoverer” of the New World, Christopher Columbus embarked on 4 voyages across the Atlantic Ocean between 1492 and 1504.
Who are today's explorers?
5 Modern Day AdventurersJessica Watson – Circumnavigator.Eric Larson – Polar Explorer.David de Rothschild – Voyager.Andrew Skurka – Alaska-Yukon Explorer.
Who discovered America?
Explorer Christopher ColumbusExplorer Christopher Columbus (1451–1506) is known for his 1492 'discovery' of the New World of the Americas on board his ship Santa Maria.
Who discovered Africa?
Portuguese explorer Prince Henry, known as the Navigator, was the first European to methodically explore Africa and the oceanic route to the Indies.
Who discovered Antarctica?
The race to find Antarctica sparked competition to locate the South Pole—and stoked another rivalry. Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsen found it on December 14, 1911. Just over a month later, Robert Falcon Scott found it, too. He turned back with disastrous results.
Who was the greatest European explorer?
Christopher Columbus was of Italian origin, yet he was commissioned by King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella of Spain to explore for them. In his attempts to reach Asia, he landed in the Caribbean islands in 1492. Throughout his time, he would make four total voyages and helped to claim land for the Spanish throne.
Who explored Asia?
1519–?: Leaving Spain with five ships and 270 men in 1519, the Portuguese Ferdinand Magellan is the first to reach Asia from the East. In 1520, he discovers what is now known as the Strait of Magellan.
Who explored America?
Christopher Columbus is credited with discovering the Americas in 1492. Americans get a day off work on October 10 to celebrate Columbus Day.
Who is a famous Australian explorer?
James Cook One of the greatest navigators, explorers and cartographers of the Age of Enlightenment.
What are some explorer names?
10 Famous Explorers Whose Discoveries Changed the WorldMarco Polo. Photo: Leemage/UIG via Getty Images.Christopher Columbus. Photo: DeAgostini/Getty Images.Amerigo Vespucci. Photo: Austrian National Library.John Cabot. Photo by © CORBIS/Corbis via Getty Images.Ferdinand Magellan. ... Hernan Cortes. ... Francis Drake. ... Walter Raleigh.More items...•
Who is an explorer?
countable noun. An explorer is someone who travels to places about which very little is known, in order to discover what is there. Synonyms: traveller, journeyer, adventurer, voyager More Synonyms of Explorer.
Who were the British explorers?
The most famous English explorers embarked on their voyages of discovery during the Elizabethan reign of Queen Elizabeth I. The most famous English explorers included Sir Walter Raleigh, Sir Francis Drake, Sir Martin Frobisher and Sir John Hawkins.
Who was the first European explorer to circumnavigate the globe?
Ferdinand Magellan. While in the service of Spain, Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan led the first European voyage of discovery to circumnavigate the globe. As a boy, Magellan studied mapmaking and navigation. In 1505, when Magellan was in his mid-20s, he joined a Portuguese fleet that was sailing to East Africa.
Who discovered the Pacific Ocean?
In 1513, Spanish explorer and conquistador Francisco Pizarro joined Vasco Núñez de Balboa in his march to the "South Sea," across the Isthmus of Panama. During their journey, Balboa and Pizarro discovered what is now known as the Pacific Ocean, although Balboa allegedly spied it first, and was therefore credited with the ocean's first European discovery.
What did Magellan study?
As a boy, Magellan studied mapmaking and navigation. In 1505, when Magellan was in his mid-20s, he joined a Portuguese fleet that was sailing to East Africa. By 1509, he found himself at the Battle of Diu, in which the Portuguese destroyed Egyptian ships in the Arabian Sea.
Where did John Cabot land?
John Cabot was a Venetian explorer and navigator known for his 1497 voyage to North America, where he made a British claim to land in Canada, mistaking it for Asia. The precise location of Cabot’s landing is subject to controversy. Some historians believe that Cabot landed at Cape Breton Island or mainland Nova Scotia.
Where did Christopher Columbus go?
Christopher Columbus was an Italian explorer and navigator. Columbus first went to sea as a teenager, participating in several trading voyages in the Mediterranean and Aegean seas. One such voyage, to the island of Khios, in modern-day Greece, brought him the closest he would ever come to Asia.
Who was America named after?
Photo: Austrian National Library. America was named after Amerigo Vespucci, a Florentine navigator and explorer who played a prominent role in exploring the New World. On May 10, 1497, Vespucci embarked on his first voyage, departing from Cadiz with a fleet of Spanish ships.
Who was Marco Polo?
Marco Polo. Marco Polo was a Venetian explorer known for the book The Travels of Marco Polo, which describes his voyage to and experiences in Asia. Polo traveled extensively with his family, journeying from Europe to Asia from 1271 to 1295, remaining in China for 17 of those years.
Who was the greatest explorer of the world?
Born on February 25, 1304 in Tangier, Morocco, Ibn Battuta is most renowned for his ground breaking exploits as a traveler and explorer. He was perhaps the greatest explorer of his era because he devoted about three decades of his life extensively traveling the world, visiting numerous places and experiencing different cultures.
Who was the most important explorer in the history of Europe?
Born on October 27, 1728 in Marton, England, Captain James Cook is considered by many as the most eminent explorer to come from England. The naval captain, navigator and explorer attained very important feats in his lifetime, making him an influential figure in Europe’s exploration age.
Why is the crater on the moon named after him?
In honor of Vasco da Gama’s momentous expeditions in the 1500s, a crater on the Moon was befittingly named after him. Born in 1460 in the coastal town of Sines, Portugal, Vasco da Gama grew up always wanting to be an explorer just like his father, Estevao. The Portuguese explorer learnt the trade and quickly went on to serve as a command for a number of ships owned by the Portuguese monarch.
What did Francis Drake do to circumnavigate the world?
Growing up and listening to famed stories of Ferdinand Magellan’s historic circumnavigation of the world, Francis Drake must have desired nothing else than to be on the seas and traveling to new places. The English admiral patient honed his navigation skills and successfully circumnavigated the world. By so doing, he became the second seaman in history to accomplish such an arduous task. Upon his return to England, he was received as hero, with Queen Elizabeth I making him a knight.
Who did Marco Polo travel with?
Departing China in the last decade of the 13 th century, Marco Polo accompanied a Mongol princess to Persia. The Venetian explorer, who did not get much recognition in his lifetime, had spent the previous two decades or so in China. In his book The Travels of Marco Polo, the explorer details how he first travelled from Europe to Asia and then settling in China. He would go on to quickly familiarize himself with the customs and traditions of the Chinese people. In time, the people grew fond of him, appointing him as their governor. He also maintained a very good relationship with the the Mongol ruler – Kublai Khan – who was then ruler of China. Polo even went on to serve in the Privy Council of the Kublai Khan.
Why were the Spanish conquistadors so reviled?
Spanish conquistador Hernán Cortés’ exploits are some of the reasons why Spanish conquistadors were so reviled by the indigenous people of the Americas. And who could blame them? Explorer Cortés’ exploration of Central America ended up butchering over 100,000 indigenous people for the price of the entirety of Mexico.
Who was the most famous explorer of the time?
Here are 15 of the most celebrated – and notorious – explorers during the Age of Exploration, before and after. 1. Marco Polo (1254-1324) A Venetian merchant and adventurer, Marco Polo travelled along the Silk Road from Europe to Asia between 1271 and 1295.
Who was the first European to explore China?
Polo was not the first European to reach China, but his travelogue inspired many explorers – among them, Christopher Columbus. His writings also had a significant influence on European cartography, ultimately leading to the Age of Discovery a century later. 2.
Why did Magellan have more credit than Elcano?
This was in part because Portugal wanted to recognise a Portuguese explorer, and because of Spanish fears of Basque nationalism. 11.
What was the significance of Vasco da Gama's discovery of the Cape Route?
Da Gama’s discovery of the Cape Route opened the way for an age of Portuguese exploration and colonialism in Asia. ‘Vasco da Gama Leaving Portugal’ by John Henry Amshewitz, 1936 (Credit: University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg ).
How many voyages did Christopher Columbus make?
Often called the “discoverer” of the New World, Christopher Columbus embarked on 4 voyages across the Atlantic Ocean between 1492 and 1504. Under the sponsorship of Ferdinand II and Isabella I of Spain, he had originally set sail hoping to find a westward route to the Far East.
What did Columbus call the natives of the Caribbean?
Believing he had reached the Indies, he dubbed the natives there “Indians”. Columbus’ voyages were the first European expeditions to the Caribbean, Central America and South America, and opened the way for the European exploration and permanent colonisation of the Americas.
How many ships did Admiral Zheng have?
Commanding the world’s mightiest fleet of 300 ships and as many as 30,000 troops, Admiral Zheng made 7 epic voyages to southeast Asia, south Asia, the Middle East and Africa between 1405 and 1433.
Who was the first explorer to circumnavigate the globe?
Other explorers. Ferdinand Magellan (1480 – 1521) Portuguese sailor and adventurer who led the first expedition to make a successful circumnavigation of the globe. Magellan also made the first crossing from the Atlantic into the Pacific and also the first successful crossing of the Pacific Ocean.
Who was the Norwegian explorer who discovered the South Pole?
De Gama made a direct voyage to India – travelling around the Cape of Good Hope in South Africa – arriving in Calicut in 1498. 3. Roald Amundsen (1872 – 1928) Amundsen was a Norwegian explorer and a key figure in the heroic age of Antarctic exploration. His Antarctic expedition of 1910-12 discovered the South Pole.
What was Christopher Columbus' first voyage?
Christopher Columbus (1451 – 1506) An Italian explorer, Columbus made four ground-breaking voyages to the Americas (1st journey was in 1492 to the Bahamas). Sailing in uncharted seas, Columbus greatly extended the knowledge of crossing the Atlantic and paved the way for the Spanish conquest of the Americas. 2.
Who was John Cabot?
John Cabot (1450 – 1499) Cabot was an Italian navigator and explorer. In 1497, he discovered parts of North America (later named Newfoundland) This is widely considered to be the first European discovery of North America since the Viking journeys of the 11th Century. 6.
Who was the first person to climb Mount Everest?
10. Sir Edmund Hillary (1919 – 2008) New Zealand born climber, who with Sherpa Tenzing became the first person to climb Mount Everest in 1953. He also visited both poles, becoming the first person to complete the ‘triple.’.
Who was Marco Polo?
Marco Polo (1254 – 1324) Polo was a Venetian traveller and explorer who made ground-breaking journeys to Asia and China. His journeys and writings helped to open up the Far East to Europe and inspired Christopher Columbus and many other explorers. 5. John Cabot (1450 – 1499) Cabot was an Italian navigator and explorer.
Who was the most famous explorer of all time?
Ferdinand Magellan – one of the most famous explorers of all time. Date of birth and death: Ferdinand Magellan was born on 3 February 1480 in Northern Portugal. Place and date of death: Ferdinand Magellan died on 27 April 1521 in Mactan in the Philippines.
Who was the first explorer to travel the Silk Road?
Marco Polo was one of the first explorers to travel the Silk Road, travel around Asia and visit China, where he found favour with the ruling Kublai Khan, in the Middle Ages. Crucially, he was also the first explorer to return to Europe afterwards and document the experience.
What is Ernest Shackleton famous for?
Sir Ernest Shackleton is famous for his journeys into the Antarctic. After being sent home ill from an expedition to the Antarctic in 1901 he led the infamous Trans-Antarctic Expedition in 1914.
Who invented diving equipment?
Jacque Cousteau invented a plethora of diving devices and scuba gear. He was a filmmaker and oceanographer as well as an explorer, and probably the most famous undersea explorer in recent history. Wes Anderson’s film ‘The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou’ is also dedicated to Cousteau!
Who was Lewis' friend?
At the request of Meriwether Lewis’ childhood friend Thomas Jefferson (the principal author of the Declaration of Independence and third President of the United States), Lewis and William Clark led an expedition of the Louisiana Territory, a land that at the time the US had recently purchased from France.
Who was the first person to sail from Europe to India?
Vasco da Gama was the first person to ever successfully sail from Europe to India, leaving Calicut on 29 August 1498. The explorer was commissioned by the king of Portugal to find a maritime route to the East, and the success of his journey proved highly influential in the years that followed.
When was Jacque Cousteau born?
Photograph: Wikipedia Commons. Date of birth and death: Jacque Cousteau was born in 11 June 1910 in Sant-Andre-de-Cubzac in France. Place and date of death: Jacque Cousteau died on 25 June 1997 in Paris, France.
Who was the first person to circumnavigate the world?
The man responsible for the first circumnavigation of the world, Ferdinand Magellan was born into the Portuguese nobility in 1480. Commissioned by Charles I of Spain to find a westward route to the Spice Islands of Indonesia, he set out in 1519 with a fleet of five ships. The voyage was long, taking Magellan and his men down along the coast of West Africa before they crossed the Atlantic to Brazil. They then proceeded to sail down the South American coastline looking for a passage that would take them to the Pacific Ocean. Between the South American mainland and the archipelago of Tierra del Fuego, they found it; what is now called the Strait of Magellan.
Who is the father of ocean exploration?
Jacques Cousteau was many things: naval officer, inventor, explorer, conservationist, photographer, filmmaker and more. However, it is his role in opening up the ocean depths to science and human understanding that made Cousteau a household name and earned him the title: the Father of Ocean Exploration.
Who was Ernest Shackleton?
Born in 1874 into an Anglo-Irish family in County Kildare, Ireland, Shackleton was 16 when he first went to sea. Shackleton learned the art of seamanship well, and at the age of 24 received his certification as a Master Mariner, qualifying him to command a British ship anywhere in the world.
Did Marco Polo and Ibn Battuta have the same influence on Columbus?
As influential as both Ibn Battuta and Marco Polo were, neither man’s discoveries have come close to the same influence of Columbus. Columbus’ discovery, after all, really did change the world. With due deference to Leif Eriksson, we might instead classify Columbus’ achievement as “the Rediscovery of America”. Semantics aside, few other events in history have had quite the same impact as the voyage of three Spanish ships west across the Atlantic in 1492.