The most well-known Rennaisance explorer is Chroistopher Columbus. He "discovered" America in 1492. He was born in Italy in 1451, he died in 1506. He believed the world was round, not flat, which was the popular belief of the time. Columbus sailed on the Santa Maria to America where he found America and residents who he called "Indians" because he believed he had discovered India. Fredinand Magellan went to offer his his services to the king of Spain in 1512. He was inspired by Columbus to prove that the Spice Islands were on the Spanish of the line of Demarcation between Spain and Portugal. In 1521 Magellan was killed in a fight between local natives while on the Spice Islands. Marco Polo was an explorer who slightly precede the Rennaisance era, but he was a great influence on the explorers of the Rennaisance era, such as Columbus. Sir Walter Raleigh was an explorer, but more than that he was a real Rennaisance man. In addition to being an explorer he was also an artistrocrat, writer, poet, soldier, courtier, and explorer. He was executed He was executed by beheading 1618. He funded his own voyage. He planned for colonation in the "Colony and Dominion of Virginia" ended in failure at Roanoke Island, but it paved the way for subsequent colonies.