Ibn Buttuta (b. 1303 - d. 1365) - Morrocan-born Arab who traveled over Africa, Asia, and parts of Europe in his twenty-nine-year exploration of the Arab world. His journeys were recorded in a book written in Arabic and distributed throughout the Muslim world.  more

John Cabot (b. ca. 1450 - d. ca. 1499) - Italian mariner who settled in England and gained the support of King Henry VII. He sailed to North America and searched for a westward passage to the Orient. His explorations secured a large part of North America for England.  more

Sebastian Cabot (b. 1476 - d. 1557) - John Cabot's son and one of the most accomplished cartographers of his time. The first explorer to search for a Northwest Passage to the Orient. He sailed for Spain and explored parts of South America.  more

Juan de Cartegena - Captain of the San Antonio, one of the ships that set sail in 1519 with Magellan. Attempted to kill Magellan and take over the expedition. He was the ringleader of a mutiny attempt. Magellan had him marooned in Patagonia in 1520.  more

Jacques Cartier (b. 1491 - d. 1557) - Master navigator who discovered the St. Lawrence River,explored the area that became present-day Montreal, and searched for a Northwest Passage.  more

Samuel de Champlain (b. ca. 1570 - d. 1635) - French explorer, navigator, and geographer of North America. Founder of Quebec, the first permanent French colony in North America in 1608. Explored New England's coast. Discovered Lake Champlain. His writings and maps were accurate records of the geography of North America.  more

Charles I (Charles V) (b. 1500 - d. 1558) - Holy Roman Emperor (Charles V) from 1519 to 1556. He was king of Spain from 1516 to 1556. He ruled the Old World and the newly discovered lands to the west. He was the first king to rule a united Spain.  more

Admiral Cheng Ho (b. 1371 d. 1434?) - Chinese commander of the Treasure Fleet of the Dragon Throne who expanded China's power in the Pacific from 1405 to 1433.  more

Christopher Columbus (b. 1451 - d. 1506) - After securing support from the Spanish monarchs, King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella, was the first to explore uncharted seas to the west. In four voyages, discovered the Bahamas, Hispaniola, Cuba, Dominica, Guadeloupe, Jamaica, Central America, and South America. Sought passage to the Orient by going west.  more

Diego Columbus (b. 1480 - d. 1526) - Born in Portugal to Columbus and Felipa Perestrelas Moriz. His mother died when he was four years old. When he was of age, he sued the Spanish crown to obtain the offices and privileges that were granted to his father. His claims were never granted.  more

James Cook (b. 1728 - d. 1779) - English naval officer, surveyor, and explorer. In 1768, made his first famous journey to observe the eclipse of the planet Venus and to determine the existence of a southern continent. In 1772, sailed on his second voyage to search for the fabled southern continent and discovered several Pacific islands. During his final voyage in 1776, he sailed in the Pacific, charted the coast of North America from Oregon to the Bering Strait, and searched for a Northwest Passage in higher latitudes. He was killed in Hawaii in 1779. He was the first sea captain to prevent the spread of scurvy and other diseases aboard ship. He was one of the first to carry a chronometer,thus assisting him in determining his exact position on the globe.  more

Bartolomeu Dias (b. ca. 1450 - d. 1500) - Portuguese navigator who discovered the Cape of Good Hope and probably named it. He set the stage for explorers following him to reach India by sea. Dias died at sea when his ship sunk in a squall in the south Atlantic in May, 1500.  more

Francis Drake (b. 1540 or 1542 - d. 1596) - Second explorer to circumnavigate the globe. Successful pirate who helped break the Spanish and Portuguese monopoly of key sea routes. First Englishman to explore the Pacific. Died from dysentery off the coast of Panama.  more

Sebastian del Cano (or Elcano) (b. 1476 - d. 1526) - Piloted the Victoria back to Spain in 1522 following the death of Magellan. He aided Cartegena in his coup attempt, but was not executed because Magellan needed his seafaring skills.  more

Queen Elizabeth I (b. 1533 - d. 1603) - Queen of England and Ireland and the most famous of all English monarchs. Guided her country through the second Reformation and led England to become the most powerful kingdom in Europe. She was the daughter of Henry VIII. She supported Drake's voyage around the world. During her reign, the English succeeded in defeating the Spanish Armada in 1588.  more

Eric the Red (b. ca. 950 - d. ca. 1001) - A Norse chieftain who discovered Greenland in 982 and led a group of colonists there in 986 A.D. The colony lasted four or five centuries.  more

Leifr Eiriksson (b. ca. 980 - d. ca. 1020) - Norse discoverer of America. Son of Eric the Red. May have been blown off course and landed in present-day Newfoundland or New England in 1000 A.D.  more

King Ferdinand (b. 1452 - d. 1516) - King of Spain who ruled jointly with Queen Isabella. They were known as the Catholic monarchs. They expelled the Jews from Spain and conquered the Muslim kingdom of Granada. They eventually drove the Moors from Spain in 1492.  more

King Francois I (b. 1494 - d. 1547) - King of France from 1515 until his death. His country was at war with Charles V during most of his reign. Repeatedly invaded Italy. Was interested in Italian Renaissance culture.  more

Vasco da Gama (b. ca. 1460 - d. 1524) - Followed Bartolomeu Dias' route to the Cape of Good Hope and continued sailing along the other side of the African continent to the east. Discovered a route to India, defeated the Arab fleet in 1502, and opened the way for Portuguese trade routes to the East Indies.  more

King George III (b. 1738 - d. 1820) - King of Great Britain and Ireland. Ascended to the throne in 1760. Lost the American colonies during the revolution. A tyrant to American patriots and popular among his subjects in England.  more

Harold Godwinsson (b. ? d. ?) - Anglo-Saxon king who defeated Harald Hardradde in battle in Yorkshire, England on September 25, 1066.  more

Hanno (b. ? d. ?) - Phoenician explorer who explored the coast of northwestern Africa in the sixth century B.C.  more

Harald Hardradde (b. ? d. ?) - King of Norway who invaded England in 1066 to claim the throne of the late Edward the Confessor.  more

John Harrison (b. 1693 - d. 1776) - Over a period of 35 years, built and perfected four models of his chronometer. His invention helped navigators calculate longitude.  more

King Henry VII (b. 1457 - d. 1509) - King of England from 1485 until his death. Amassed a fortune and replenished the royal treasury following the War of the Roses. Issued a license to John Cabot to initiate trade routes.  more

King Henry VIII (b. 1491 - d. 1547) - King of England and best known of all the monarchs. Broke with Rome and established the Church of England.  more

Prince Henry, the Navigator (b. 1394 - d. 1460) - Patron of Portuguese exploration. Sent several expeditions down the west coast of Africa to outflank the Muslims, establish trade routes, and spread Christianity. Established school for navigators in 1450.  more

Heriolf - One of the settlers who joined Eric the Red to colonize Greenland in 986 A.D.  more

Biarni Heriolfsson - Heriolf's son who was blown off course on his way to join his father in Greenland. He discovered an unknown land (possibly the eastern coast of Canada). He told Leif Ericsson how he found the new land. Ericsson backtracked on his course to find present-day Newfoundland.  more

Himilco (b. ? d. ?) - Phoenician who traveled to the coast of England in the fifth century B.C. and established direct tin trade between the two peoples.  more

Henry Hudson (b. ? - d. 1611) - English navigator and explorer who set sail on four voyages in his lifetime. He looked for a Northwest Passage, discovered the Hudson Bay and Hudson River. His efforts led to the eventual establishment of New Amsterdam (later called New York). During his last voyage in 1610, rebellious mutineers seized Hudson, his son, and seven others and set them adrift in a small boat without provisions. They were never heard from again.  more

Queen Isabella (b. 1451 - d. 1504) - Queen of Spain who ruled jointly with her husband, Ferdinand. (See King Ferdinand)  more

King Joao I - Father of Prince Henry, the Navigator.  more

Kublai Khan (b. 1215 - d. 1294) - One of four grandsons of Genghis Khan. He inherited the eastern kingdom. After his grandfather, he was one of the greatest of all Khans. His rule lasted from 1260 until his death in 1294.  more

Sieur de La Salle (b. 1643 - d. 1687) - French explorer in North America. Discovered the mouth of the Mississippi River. Took possession of land naming it Louisiana after King Louis XIV. Was shot to death by mutineers near the Brazos River in present-day Texas in 1687. His discoveries established French claims toterritory in North America.  more

Ferdinand Magellan (b. 1480 - d. 1521) - Portuguese explorer who led the first circumnavigation of the earth by sea for Spain. He discovered the Strait of Magellan. He was killed in the Philippines in 1521 and his voyage was completed by Sebastian del Cano (or Elcano).  more

King Manuel I (b. 1469 - d. 1521) - Inherited the kingdom of Portugal in 1495. He carried out his predecessor's plan for exploration of India and global expansion for Portugal.  more

Luis de Mendoza (b. ? d. ?) - Captain of the Victoria, the only ship to make it back to complete the first circumnavigation of the globe. He plotted to kill Magellan and participated in mutinies against the great explorer. He assisted Cartegena in his attempt to take over the expedition. He most likely was executed for his treason.  more

Mongols - A number of wandering tribes who lived in central Asia. Under Genghis Khan, Mongol tribes conquered a vast empire stretching from China to Hungary in the west.  more

Moors - Also known as Muslims. People who follow the Islamic religion founded by the prophet, Mohammed.  more

Pope Nicolas V (b. 1397 - d. 1455) - Was Pope from 1447 until his death. He was called "the Great Humanist." He restored Rome to make it a center of art, literature, and Christianity. While he was Pope, he had the Vatican renovated.  more

Ottoman Turks - Led by the Sultan of Turkey, these people dominated Syria, Egypt, Iraq, the Barbary states, the Balkan states, and parts of Hungary and Russia. The Ottoman Empire lasted from the thirteenth century to World War I.  more

Queen Philippa of Lancaster - Mother of Prince Henry, the Navigator  more

Antonio Pigafetta (b. 1491 - d. 1534) - One of few men to survive and complete the first circumnavigation of the globe. He was an ardent admirer of Magellan. His journal about the famous journey was later published.  more

Martin Alonzo Pinzon (b. ? - d. 1493) - Sailed with Columbus as captain of the Pinta. He was unwilling to acknowledge Columbus' authority during the famous voyage. He sailed off to make his own discoveries and met Columbus later, only to find the Nina after the wreck of the Santa Maria. He died a disappointed man because he desired the wealth and recognition that was bestowed on Columbus, his rival.  more

Vicente Yanez Pinzon (b. 1461 - d. 1513) - Captain of the Nina during the first voyage with Columbus. He was Martin Alonzo's brother, and a respected member of his seafaring family. During the voyage, he remained loyal to Columbus. After the voyage, he resented the fame Columbus received in Spain.  more

Maffeo Polo - The uncle of Marco. With his brother, Niccolo, visited China in the early 1260s.  more

Marco Polo (b. 1254 - d. 1324) - Medieval Italian traveler. One of the first European travelers to cross the entire Asian continent and leave a record of what he saw and heard.  more

Niccolo Polo ( b. ? d. ?) - The father of Marco and a wealthy merchant from Venice. Traveled to China with his brother by land in the early 1260s.  more

Prestor John - Fabled priest and ruler of a vast kingdom somewhere in the Far East or Africa. He was supposedly a Christian king who would be an ally of the European monarchs. No one had ever seen him or knew where his kingdom was located. He influenced Portuguese explorers who sought him during their travels.  more

Ptolemy (b. 100 A.D. - d. 170 A.D.) - Greek-Egyptian scientist who wrote several books on astronomy, geography, physics, and mathematics. His books on geography were in standard use for 14 centuries. Ptolemy used mathematics to plot the known world. His calculations of latitude and longitude, however, were incorrect.  more

Pytheas (b. 380 B.C.? d. 300 B.C.?) - Greek explorer who established trade with England's tin merchants and circumnavigated England in the process.  more

Gaspar de Quesada - Captain of the Concepcion who joined Magellan's expedition. He plotted to kill Magellan and participated in mutiny attempts. He was executed by Magellan in 1520.  more

Earl of Sandwich (b. 1718 - d. 1792) - English political leader and member of the House of Lords. He was the first Lord of the Admiralty, but was held in contempt in England because of his immoral personal life. He lived in virtual seclusion after 1782.  more

Scylax (b. ? d. ?) -Greek from the sixth century B.C. who explored the Middle East for Persia over a 30-month period. The information he gathered helped the Emperor Darius expand his kingdom.  more

Amerigo Vespucci (b. 1454 - d. 1512) - Born into a noble family in Florence, Italy, this Italian navigator made four voyages to America, two for Spain and two for Portugal.  more

William the Conquerer (b. 1027? - d. 1087) - One of the greatest monarchs and a pivotal figure in history. William was the illegitimate son of Robert I, duke of Normandy. During a visit to England in 1051, his cousin Edward the Confessor most likely named William to be his successor. He was promised support by Harold Godwinsson. In 1066, Harold crowed himself king. William raised an army and defeated and killed Harold at the Battle of Hastings. He reigned from 1066 until his death.  more