The Exploration of the Americas

Long ago, people from Europe did not know about North and South America. In 1492, an Italian sailor named Christopher Columbus sailed across the Atlantic Ocean. He reached islands near America. Soon, many other explorers came to see these new lands.

The Native People

Before European explorers arrived, millions of Native American people already lived in the Americas. They had many different tribes, languages, and cultures. Some built huge cities like the Aztecs and Incas. Others lived in small villages and hunted for food. They had been living there for thousands of years.

New Explorers Arrive

After Columbus, other explorers sailed to the Americas. Men like Vespucci, Magellan, and Cortes mapped the lands. They brought back new foods like corn, potatoes, and tomatoes to Europe. Sadly, the meeting of these two worlds was hard for the Native people. Many got sick or lost their land.

Fun Facts

• The continent America was named after the explorer Amerigo Vespucci.
• Vikings from northern Europe had actually reached North America about 500 years before Columbus.
• Columbus thought he had landed in India, which is why he called the Native people 'Indians.'

Did You Know?

Foods like chocolate, peanuts, and pineapples were unknown in Europe until explorers brought them back from the Americas.