Christopher Columbus: Columbus completed four voyages across the Atlantic Ocean and explored the Americas, leading to the widespread European colonization of the Americas.
Vasco da Gama: Da Gama led the first European voyage to India, opening up a new sea route from Europe to the East.
Ferdinand Magellan: Magellan led the first expedition to circumnavigate the world, proving that the Earth was a sphere.
Francis Drake: Drake was an English explorer who completed a circumnavigation of the world and also made significant contributions to the English naval efforts during the Anglo-Spanish War.
Giovanni da Verrazzano: Verrazzano was an Italian explorer who explored the East Coast of North America and the Caribbean on behalf of the French crown.