Great Explorers
⭐ MasteredExplorers like Columbus, Zheng He and Magellan sailed across oceans. Magellan's expedition was the first to sail around the world.
Sailors once used stars to find their way across the sea.
All about Great Explorers
Explorers such as Christopher Columbus, Zheng He and Ferdinand Magellan sailed across oceans to discover new lands, trade routes and peoples. Their voyages changed how people understood the world and connected distant continents.
Zheng He led huge Chinese treasure fleets in the early 1400s. Magellan's expedition set out in 1519, and although Magellan himself died in the Philippines, his crew completed the first voyage around the world.
They used maps, compasses and ships that were shaped by the winds and currents.
Explorers often faced storms, hunger and disease on their journeys. Their voyages also brought together different peoples and cultures, which led to trade and exchange. Some of these journeys had harmful effects on the people who already lived in the new lands.
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👀 What the animation shows
This animation shows a sailing ship crossing an ocean with the wind filling its sails. Watch how the ship follows its route on the map as the explorers search for new lands.
Real-life uses of Great Explorers
- Creating accurate maps of the world
- Opening new trade routes between continents
- Learning about the cultures and environments that explorers encountered
Frequently asked questions about Great Explorers
Did Columbus discover America?
Columbus reached the Americas in 1492, but people had already lived there for thousands of years. His voyages led to lasting contact between Europe and the Americas.
Who was the first to sail around the world?
Magellan began the journey, but Juan Sebastián Elcano completed it in 1522, returning to Spain with the remaining ship.
Why did explorers sail?
To find trade routes, wealth, new lands, knowledge and sometimes power and fame.