the time frame for the explores began in the early 15th century and continued into the 17th century. The explorers found lots of significant items such as the 4 s’s. the 4 s’s are spice, silk, scent, and stones such as gold, and silver. The reason why these items were so valuable was that they were very expensive. New lands that were mapped were also very important because it allowed for expansion. Another big reason explorer would explore was because of the slave trade. In the early 1400s south America wasn’t governed by any main empires of its history. Enslaving captured enemies was by this time (sadly) well-known. Muslims sellers’ extra slaves to their ships as early as the 600s CE. By 1480s the Europeans arrived, the slave trade was huge by this time. another big reason explorer would explorer was to convert people to Christianity. Marco polo said that he was asked by the emperor of china to go back to Italy, and bring missionaries with him, the next time he went to china to help convert people, but nobody believed him. Who knows maybe could have been a Christian nation today, if that would have happened? There are tons of famous explorer. One that is the most well know would be Ferdinand Magellan. Ferdinand Magellan was famous for circumnavigating the globe in 1522. A few other great explorers are Leif Ericson, Marco polo, prince henry, Columbus, Vespucci, the French explorer of the northeast united states, and last of all the most famous explorers would be the Spanish explorer. There are many different reasons that make these explorers so great. Let’s look at Leif Ericson. Life Erikson was a explorer from Iceland. He was the first explorer to step foot on north America besides green land that brings us to Columbus. Columbus on august 3rd Columbus sent out three ships the Nina, the pinta, and the Santa Maria with six months of supplies. Finally, in October Christopher and the crew landing in south and central America. the European people were more interested in finding gold and tobacco then friendships with the people that lived there. In the end they enslaved the native people and treated them terribly. The next great explorer to talk about is going to be prince henry the navigator. Prince is interesting because he says he was an explorer, but he never explored. Prince henry opened a school of navigation in the 1400s. this school invented the carvel and started Portuguese sailors to explore the coast of west Africa. The next explorer would be Amerigo Vespucci. Vespucci sailed beside the coast of south Africa. He was one of the first to realize he wasn’t in Asia. A German cartographer categorized the new land America in his honor. another well-known group of explorers would be the French explorers of the northeast united states. This group had 3 people in it. Cartier, Champlain, and Cabot. Cabot who was the first European to reach the coast of north America. This was five years after Columbus, and just like Columbus, Cabot thought he had reached the indies too. Thirty-seven year later Jacques Cartier went to the place that Cabot landed and explored the area further. Last and final, in 1603 another explorer studied the area more. his name was Samuel de Champlain. Samuel de Champlain also founded Quebec and discovered Lake Champlain. There are many more very great explorers who were courageous and went above and beyond to explore and discover new things. These are just some of the most well know explorers.