For this lesson, students learn that navigational techniques change when people travel to different places - land, sea, air and in space. For example, an explorer traveling by land uses different methods of navigation than a sailor or an...

The earliest explorers did not have computers or satellites to help them know their exact location. The most accurate tool developed was the sextant to determine latitude and longitude. In this activity, the sextant is introduced and...

Welcome to the Web is an interactive set of web pages which can be used to teach children (and adults) about the Internet. This section deals with using web browsers.

Short essay addresses reasons that brought the Europeans to America. Covering many important points, he also provides compelling reasons and a map.

A biography of Giovannni da Verrazzano (1485-1528), an Italian navigator in the service of France, who sailed to North America in 1524. This site has a Google widget that will translate the page into many languages.

A biography of Vasco da Gama, a Portuguese explorer in the 15th and 16th centuries.

Why aren't we called Columbians instead of Americans? Here's an easy-to-read explanation of how America got its name from the Italian explorer Amerigo Vespucci. This is a transcript of an accompanying radio broadcast.

Gives a short overview of the life of this Danish explorer and navigator who was employed by Russia. The Bering Strait is named after him.

Biographical information about Jean Ribault, the French naval officer and navigator who established colonies in what was to become South Carolina and Florida.

A biography of Sir Martin Frobisher (1535-1594), one of the first English navigators to search for a Northwest Passage to India and eastern Asia. He became known as one of the greatest seamen during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. He...

A biography of Jacques Cartier (1491-1557), a French navigator. His explorations established the basis for France's claims to territory in what is now Canada. In 1535, he led the first European expedition up the St. Lawrence River. This...

[Free Registration/Login Required] An informational text about the Age of Exploration which begin with Portugal and Spain in the 15th century. A question sheet is available to help students build skills in reading comprehension.

Christopher Columbus was an explorer and navigator born in Genoa, Italy, in 1451. Columbus often gets the credit for discovering America. Of course we know that when Columbus came to America, there were already native people living here....

Although Sir Humphrey Gilbert (1539-1578) was not involved directly in the Roanoke voyages, both he and members of his family such as his half-brother Sir Walter Ralegh participated in the colonization of Virginia.

A comprehensive archive of links to versions of many different browsers. Current to 2005. This site is maintained by an international volunteer group primarily for professional web developers.

A short biography of Giovanni da Verrazzano and his explorations under the French flag to the Americas.

A biography of Juan de la Cosa who sailed with Columbus and owned the Santa Maria. Looks at his voyages and the maps he produced as a cartographer.

A concise biography of Vasco da Gama.

A biography of Sir Francis Drake.

A concise biography of Ferdinand Magellan.

Explores the early life of Christopher Columbus and how he discovered America.

Americus Vespucius was an explorer and navigator and was the first person to demonstrate that the New World was a fourth continent.

Samuel de Champlain, "The Father of New France", was a French navigator, geographer, cartographer, draughtsman, soldier, explorer, ethnologist, diplomat, chronicler, and the founder of Quebec City on July 3, 1608, of which he was the...

Christopher Columbus (between August 25 and October 31, 1451 - May 20, 1506) was a Genoese navigator, colonizer and explorer whose voyages across the Atlantic Ocean-funded by Queen Isabella of Spain-led to general European awareness of...