1541.—Pizarro and Orellana (Span.) discover Amazon river.
1542.—Antonio de Mota first reaches Japan.
1542.—Ruy Lopez de Villalobos (Span.) discovers Pelew Islands, and takes possession of Philippine Islands for Spain.
1542.—Pinto (Port.)—visits Japan,
1553.—Sir H. Willoughby (Eng.) reaches Nova Zembla.
1576.—Frobisher (Eng.) coasts Labrador and Baffin Land.
1577-80.—Sir F. Drake (Eng.) made second circumnavigation of the globe, and first saw Cape Horn. Explored western coast of North America nearly as far as Vancouver Archipelago.
1587.—J. Davis (Eng.) finds Davis Strait.
1596.—Barentz and Heemskerk (Dut.) discover Spitzbergen, Bear Islands, etc.
1598.—Mendaña (Span.) discovers Marquesas Islands.