Exploration

Exploration:
 * European countries sought to build political and economic strength through colonization
 * The goals of settlers were generally at odds with the goals of native peoples

[|Exploration Map]

Explorers:
 * Columbus - first document (or recorded) European to reach the Americas
 * Vespucci - America is named after him (Amerigo); mapmaker
 * Balboa - first recorded European to find the Pacific Ocean
 * Magellan - led the first round-the-world expedition (though he didn't survive it); found passage from Atlantic to Pacific (Strait of Magellan)

[|Conquistadors site]