Explorers and Important People to Know

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Across
  1. 2. Portuguese explorer who led an expedition to sail west to Asia in 1519. Magellan was killed in a battle in the Philippine Islands, however, one of his ships and its sailors made it back to Spain in 1522, making them the first Europeans to sail around the world.
  2. 3. Italian explorer who explored what is now New York Bay. He has a bridge named for him.
  3. 4. King of Spain, who with Queen Isabella, funded Christopher Columbus’s voyages. He also helped lead the Spanish Reconquista.
  4. 8. Prince of Portugal, who set up the first European school for training sailors in navigation.
  5. 11. Queen of Spain, who with King Ferdinand, funded Christopher Columbus’s voyages. She also helped lead the Spanish Reconquista.
  6. 13. Spanish conquistador who led a group that defeated the Aztec in what is now Mexico. He set out in search of gold.
  7. 15. Spanish conquistador who conquered the Inca Empire. After killing the Inca ruler, he traveled to the capital of their empire and took control of the region.
  8. 16. English explorer who claimed a large area of what is now New York for the Dutch (people of Holland). He was also in search of the Northwest Passage. He spent a month exploring a river that is named after him today.
  9. 17. German religious leader who began the Protestant Reformation by protesting the policies of the Catholic Church.
  10. 18. Italian explorer who visited Asia in the late 1200’s. He wrote a famous book about his travels.
  11. 20. Spanish explorer who claimed what is now Florida for Spain in 1513. He sailed with Columbus on his second voyage. He later helped conquer Puerto Rico. He set out to find the island of Bihmini and the Fountain of Youth and landed on what is now Florida instead.
Down
  1. 1. Spanish explorer who led an expedition through southwestern North America searching for the Seven Cities of Gold. He never found gold and brought no riches back but claimed land for Spain.
  2. 5. Inca ruler who refused to accept Christianity and Spanish rule. He was taken prisoner and killed in the Spanish conquest of the Inca Empire.
  3. 6. French explorer who explored the eastern coast of what is now Canada. He was sent to find the Northwest Passage and look for gold. He reached the mouth of the Saint Lawrence River and claimed the land around it for France. He never found the Northwest Passage.
  4. 7. Spanish explorer who led an expedition through southeastern North America. They became the first Europeans to see the Mississippi River.
  5. 9. Italian explorer who sailed for Spain. He was searching for a western route to Asia but reached islands near the Americas instead.
  6. 10. Italian explorer who made several voyages to South America. Overtime, he came to realize that he found lands not yet known to Europeans.
  7. 12. Spanish explorer who reached the Pacific Ocean in 1513. He was one of the first Europeans to settle in the Americas. He made his way west across the Isthmus of Panama and discovered the Pacific Ocean.
  8. 14. Italian explorer who explored Newfoundland for the English. King Henry VII sent Cabot to lead an expedition west across the Atlantic. His aim was to help England compete with other European nations for land and wealth.
  9. 19. African enslaved person who went on an expedition in search of the Seven Cities of Gold. He was killed during the expedition, he is still remembered today along with those who traveled through North America.