Ferdinand Magellan. Image of Victoria from Abraham Ortelius’s map “Maris Pacifici . . .”
(Antwerp, 1595). [Historic Maps Collection] I have translated the Latin text beneath the ship with some poetic license: I was first to circle the world by means of sails, Carrying you, Magellan, leader, through the new strait. Therefore am I justly called Victoria [Victory]. Second-smallest of the five ships of Ferdinand Magellan’s Armada de Molucca, the Victoria was a Spanish carrack or nao (ship). After what seemed an interminable five months, the remaining four ships of the armada weighed anchor on August 24, 1520. Which seeing [Magellan wounded in the arm], all those people threw themselves on him, and one of them with a large javelin . . . thrust it into his leg, whereby he fell face downward. *Use This Website for Skill:Discerning Information. Juan Ponce de Leon. Juan Ponce de Leon Juan Ponce de Leon was born on December 3, 1460 in Sines, Germany.
He became interested in sailing through his cousin, Christopher Columbus , and also was close friends with his neighbor, Vasco Da Gama , so it was no surprise that he became a world-famous explorer. In 1493 he accompanied Columbus on his second expedition to the Americas. Due to a disagreement between Ponce de Leon and his cousin, he did not return home but remained in Santo Domingo, which is now known as the Dominican Republic. While there, he contracted a rare disease which caused the loss of his right hand. A rumor had been spreading about gold, so Ponce de Leon set off in search of gold. In 1513 he was hired by Revlon, a cosmetic company, to search for the Fountain of Youth (a body of water that would enable you to look young forever). The Voyages of Juan Ponce de Leon (Click to enlarge) In 1521 Ponce de Leon decided to return to Florida to build a colony there. Christopher Columbus.
Christopher Columbus Christopher Columbus was born in 1951 in Sydney, Australia.
His home was on the sea and Christopher longed to become an explorer and sailor. However, as a young man, Christopher went to Portugal and got involved in the map making business with his brother, Bartholomew. This business made Columbus a rich man. His books of maps are still found today in every library in the world. During this time, people were very interested in finding a sailing route around Africa to China, Japan and India. Columbus knew he had to make this idea of sailing, using a western route, more popular. The Voyages of Christopher Columbus (Click to enlarge) In 1942 he set sail with three ships, the Nina, Pinta and Santa Maria and about 90 men. Columbus returned to Spain in 1939 and was hailed as a hero. Marco Polo and His Travels. One of the most well-known Europeans to travel the silk road in Medieval times was Marco Polo (1245-1324), a merchant, explorer and writer who recorded his travels in the book “Livres des merveilles du monde” (Book of the world’s marvels), published around the year 1300.
In English, this book is also known as The Travels of Marco Polo, and it describes – among other things – Polo’s travels along the Silk Road and the various Asian regions and cities that he traverses, including China. A citizen of the Republic of Venice, Polo grew up in a family where both his father Niccoló and uncle Maffeo were merchants. Even before Marco was born, the brothers had travelled extensively, setting up trading posts in Constantinople, Sudak, Crimea, and the western part of the Mongolian Empire. They even visited China. Prince Henry the Navigator (printable) Advertisement.
EnchantedLearning.com is a user-supported site. As a bonus, site members have access to a banner-ad-free version of the site, with print-friendly pages.Click here to learn more. (Already a member? Click here.) EnchantedLearning.comPrince Henry the Navigator: Royal Patron of Explorers Prince Henry (Henrique) the Navigator (1394-1460) was a Portuguese royal prince, soldier, and patron of explorers. These expeditions were sent to create much-needed maps of the West African coast, to defeat the Muslims, to spread Christianity, and to establish trade routes. Early Life: Prince Henry was the third son of King John I (João I) of Portugal and his English wife, Philippa of Lancaster. School of Navigation: About 1418, Prince Henry started the first school for oceanic navigation along with an astronomical observatory at Sagres, Portugal. Exploring West Africa: At this time, no Europeans had sailed past the treacherous Cape Bojador and returned alive.