Impressed by the timber and grapes available, he named it ‘Vinland’ (aka ‘Wine land’), and then promptly went back home to tell his compatriots about it. His patronage of Portuguese exploration led to expeditions across the Atlantic Ocean and along the western coast of Africa, and the colonising of the Azores and Madeira islands. In so doing, he hoped to win a reputation among leaders of his time that he could use to further his fight against slavery. Thankfully, the rest of the crew survived and, somehow, continued onto the Spice Islands where they arrived in November.

Top 10 Famous Explorers - Biography Online Top 10 Famous Explorers - Biography Online

Polo’s travels took him all the way, overland, from Venice to the great Mongol Kingdom of Genghis Kahn’s grandson, Kublai Kahn (another man with an outrageously impressive life story), and, eventually- after 23 years and endless adventures around Asia- back again. Da Gama was taken ill and died that year, to be sailed back to Portugal for burial a whole 14 years later, in 1538. Marco Polo (1254 – 1324) Polo was a Venetian traveller and explorer who made ground-breaking journeys to Asia and China.He went west to find Asia when nobody else of his era had tried, paved the way for future exploration across the Atlantic, and had his fair share of close encounters over 4 great journeys to North and South America. He spent much of his adult life at sea, explored near and far, and contributed to scientific discovery at every turn. A spice merchant, navigator and map maker, John Cabot was already a well-travelled man by the time he led the voyage that made him famous. It was on that trip that Columbus stumbled upon the New World- America- and went down in the history books in the process.

Great Orme Explorer - Visit Conwy Great Orme Explorer - Visit Conwy

So, without further ado, get ready for 20 famous explorers whose stories are sure to get you raring for an adventure of your own. The extent of his travels is genuinely insane (check his Wikipedia page for proof), considering he lived in a time where sailing boats, donkeys, camels, and good old-fashioned walking were the only ways to get around.A key figure of the Elizabethan era, Sir Walter Raleigh carried out several expeditions to the Americas between 1578 and 1618.

Famous Explorers - The Greatest Explorers of All Time

In this lesson, children discuss whether or not it is right that Neil Armstrong is remembered as the most significant person involved in the first Moon landing. Analyses of the data and accounts from his 1909 expedition have led many to doubt the veracity of his claims. Christopher Columbus has been both praised as a gifted navigator and criticized as a reckless adventurer.

Those guys were true champions: brave, audacious, and willing to put their necks on the line for the sake of human progress. With Lieutenant Cook (as he was at that time) sailed the botanist Joseph Banks, the astronomer Charles Green, and a small retinue of scientific assistants and artists. Cook continued to conform to the sacred calendar of the islanders by sailing away from Hawaii as makahiki came to an end.

Significant Explorers KS1 Resources - Twinkl Significant Explorers KS1 Resources - Twinkl

This incredible man was a Jack of all trades, a man of endless abilities, a unique personality that shirked the status quo, and, ultimately, a daring explorer through and through. A linguist who mastered 40 languages (and dialects), a war veteran who served in India and the Crimea, an undercover agent who investigated male brothels, a prolific (and talented) author and poet, a translator, master swordsman, diplomat…the list just goes on and on.After hiking to a whaling station to sound the alarm and three aborted rescue attempts in the three months that follow, Shackleton finally gets back to Elephant Island on a steam tug boat.