Explorers Who Changed World History

Famous explorers like Columbus and Magellan overcame many challenges in their exploration of new lands.

Columbus's transatlantic voyages ushered in European exploration of the Americas and colonization. Photo: History — Columbus's transatlantic voyages ushered in European exploration of the Americas and colonization. Photo: *History*

Leif Erikson

Christopher Columbus was not the first European to reach North America. A Norwegian explorer named Leif Erikson (born 970, died circa 1019–1025) beat Columbus to the punch. According to the Norse epic, Leif’s greatest achievement was sailing from Greenland to an area called Vinland, believed to be modern-day Newfoundland, Canada. Leif’s voyage took place around the year 1000. He likely got the idea for the journey after another famous Norwegian explorer, Bjama Herjolfson, veered off course to Iceland and landed elsewhere.

Leif set sail with about 30 of his best sailors and when he reached Vinland, he established a Viking settlement in an area called L'Anse aux Meadows. They didn't stay there long (estimates range from 990 to 1050) but it was a major achievement in Norwegian exploration and colonization. Leif is a well-known figure in Norse culture and mythology but it's only in recent years that he has begun to be credited as the first European to reach North America.

Christopher Columbus

Born in Genoa, Italy, in 1451, Columbus is perhaps the most famous explorer of all time. He is best known for discovering the pepper trade route to Asia. Columbus sailed west across the Atlantic Ocean, which allowed him to reach Asia more quickly than other explorers who sailed around the southern tip of Africa. In 1492, Columbus set sail from the port of Palos, Spain, and headed west. He commanded three ships: the Nina, the Pinta, and the Santa Maria.

After several weeks at sea, Columbus and his crew sighted land and assumed it was Asia. In fact, they had reached an island in the Bahamas that Columbus called San Salvador. Over the next few months, he and his crew explored the coast of Cuba and Hispaniola, establishing the settlement of La Navidad. Over the next few years, Columbus made a total of four voyages to the New World . On the one hand, he was considered a hero for helping Europeans discover and colonize the Americas. On the other hand, Columbus's treatment of the native peoples earned him much criticism. Columbus's expedition also brought disease and violence to the region.

Zheng He

Explorer Zheng He was born in 1371 in China. As a general in the Ming Dynasty army, Zheng He was given the important task of undertaking a series of voyages to establish diplomatic and trade relations with other countries. His first voyage took place in 1405 and was a large one. Zheng Hui commanded over 300 ships, including a giant treasure ship measuring 121.92 meters long. The purpose of the voyages was to demonstrate China's power and prestige. Therefore, Zheng He was tasked with presenting gifts and treasures to the heads of the countries he visited.

During the reigns of the Yongle and Xuanzong emperors of the Ming Dynasty, Zheng He made seven voyages. He visited many countries and regions, including Southeast Asia, India, and East Africa. Along the way, he established important Chinese trading posts and carried out diplomatic missions. Zheng He died in 1433.

Ferdinand Magellan

Columbus was not the only European to set sail for the spice trade. Born in Portugal in 1480, Ferdinand Magellan, a soldier and sailor, was assigned by the Spanish government to lead an expedition to find a western route to the spice islands of Indonesia. He set sail from Spain in 1519 with five ships and a crew of more than 200 men. He crossed the Atlantic Ocean and traveled south along the coast of South America. Along the way, Magellan discovered a passage around the southern tip of the continent, the Strait of Magellan. He continued his journey and crossed the Pacific, reaching several new islands including Guam and the Philippines.

Magellan’s voyage was so long that by the time his crew returned to Spain in 1522, they had circumnavigated the globe. Although he is remembered as the first person to circumnavigate the globe, Magellan did not complete the voyage. His journey was plagued by challenges ranging from storms to native uprisings. During one uprising, Magellan was killed with a bamboo spear by Filipino natives on April 27, 1521, after attempting to force them to convert to Christianity.

An Khang (According to Ancient Origins )

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