Explorers

Ennin was a 9th century Japanese Buddhist monk who travelled to China and left a record of 9th century China from an outside perspective.

Erik the Red was the 10th century Viking explorer who spent 3 years exploring Greenland and then encouraged Viking settlement there.

Ferdinand Magellan is often regarded as having undertaken the first recorded circumnavigation of the Earth, but did he really?

This resource examines the life of Magellan and assesses his contribution to European exploration in the 16th century, as well as his position in later histories.

Hero of the British defeat of the Spanish Armada and favourite of Queen Elizabeth I of England, Francis Drake is often cast on the role of a hero.

This resource examines Drake’s lives and his many roles – hero or pirate, explorer of North America or slave trader and opportunist.

Explorers of Asia have come from within and outside of Asia. One of the earliest records of explorers from within Asia is that of Gan Ying, who travelled from China to make contact with the Roman Empire in the 3rd century.

Gonçalo Coelho was a Portuguese explorer who sailed with Amerigo Vespucci to Brazil in 1501. He returned to South America in 1503. This resource examines the life and role of this 16th century Portuguese explorer.