John Cabot's journeys across the Atlantic

Shortly after Zheng He's voyages, an Italian navigator and explorer called John Cabot was living in Bristol. He was sent by the English king, Henry VII, to find a shorter route to Asia, and to claim new lands for England. He tried to sail across the Atlantic but bad weather, food shortages and arguments with his crew meant he failed. He tried again the next year with a small ship, 'The Matthew', and a crew of just 18, reaching what is now Canada. The next year, the king sent Cabot on another trip to try and reach even further; Cabot and his ships never returned.