Verrazano

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** __Explorer - Giovanni da Verrazano__ **
Giovanni was known for being one of the first Europeans to explore the coast of North America. He was an Italian explorer and pirate. He was paid by the french to capture the spainiard ships and he was also the navigator who was the first European to sight New York. It seems he landed on the coast of present-day North Carolina. Verrazano also explored the West Indies, where he is believed to have been killed by the natives, the Spanish or Cannibals. From the time he was 18 to 21, He lived in Florence, Italy and studied th classics, higher mathematics, and navigation. .

__Background__
He was born in 1485 Florence, Italy, but as a child he lived in Lyons, France and he died in 1528 at the West Indies. He was preventing French Merchant's ships from using the southern route around South America. The Florentine navigator Giovanni da Verrazano, was commissioned to explore the Americas by King Francis 1 of France. He was first mentioned in the 1520s, as a pirate paid French to capture the Spanish's ship. Giovanni was commition to explore the Americas by King Francis I of France. He sailed along the coast of North America and seeking the New York Harbou. His goals were to explore the coast of the "New Land" and to find a passage to the Orient. He was chosen by King Francis I to sail to a passage between North and South America to find a faster route to the Orient. He then returned to France after several voyages with a claim for the New World for France on July 8th, 1524.

__Route of exploration__
In 1523, Francis I agreed to give Verrazzano 2 ships to sail and explore the westward passage to Asia. His ship's name was La Dauphine. He commissioned to find a Northwest passage to the Orient around North America. Giovanni reached America in 1525 while sailing under the french flag. On 1524 he was chosen by King Francis 1 of France to look for a "Northway Passage" to Asia through North America. He was renewed as the first European to explore the Atlantic coast of North America between south Carolina and Newfoundland including New York Harbor. In March 1, 1524, he reached Cape Fear, in North Carolina. He thought he saw the Pacific Ocean when he explored the North Carolina coast. He had actually found the Pamlico Sound which is part of the Atlantic Ocean. He was the first European to enter New York Bay in 1524. In 1523, Francis I agreed to give Verrazano 2 ships to sail and discover the westward passage to Asia. His ship's name was La Dauphine, the name of the eldist son of the king. ( e-library Atlantic Voyages of Discovery to North America (1497-1616)

__Hardships faced__
He tried trading with the Wampanoags and other tribes. Some tribes did not welcome him. In 1527 he was captured by the Spanish. On1528 Giovanni was exploring Florida, the Bahamas, and the Lesser Antilles when Giovanni anchored away from shore. Verrazano was killed by the Natives.

__Historical Contributions__
In New York Bay, they named their bridge after him - Verrazano-Narraws Bridge and the Narragansett Bay, where the Jamestown- Verrazano Bridge is located. He also discovered the Carolina Banks. He went to a art of naviagtions school in Florence. He was also the first to recognize that the coast from Florida to Newfoundland was contiguous and belonged to a new world.

__Other Notable Occurances__
He was responsible for stealing almost 2 million dollars worth of gold from the Spanish vessels. In November 21st, The Verrazano Narrow Bridge linking Staten Island and Brooklyn, opens in New York City.

__Sources and References__
http://www.tburg.k12.ny.us/ms/starkweather/5th%20Grade%20Folder/explorers%20ships.jpg <span [|http://www.solarnavigator.net/images/compass_pocket.jpg <span] [|http://elibrary.bigchalk.com/libweb/curriculumca/do/search <span] http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.com/index.cfm?PgNm=TCE&Params=A1ARTA0008337    </span <span Gibbs, Arnold. __Canada Revisited__. Alberta: Arnold Publishing Ltd., 1999.