10 Major Events of The Age of Exploration

Christopher Columbus lands in the Caribbean

Oct 12, 1492

Inspired by Portugal's early success in navigation, Spain supports Christopher Columbus's journey's to find a western route to Asia. in 1492, Columbus hits the Caribbean Islands believing it is East Asia.

The Line of Demarcation

May 4, 1493

Spain and Portugal are feuding over the new found land of Columbus. To keep peace they have Pope Alexander VI draw a Line of Demarcation that divided the new found land into two quadrants, Spain having everything to the left of the line and Portugal having everything to the right.

Portugal Claims Brazil

Jun 7, 1494

While Spain continues to claim land in South America, a large amount of land is still outside of their empire. Portugal claims Brazil and starts sending Europeans over to farm sugar.

Vasco da Gama reaches India after rounding Africa

May 20, 1498

A Portuguese explorer named Vasco da Gama hits India after going around the southern tip of Africa. Most of his men were dead and he had lost half his ships but he had found a path to access Asian markets directly through sea instead of indirectly over land.

A German mapmaker names the "New World" America

Apr 25, 1507

A German mapmaker hears word about Columbus's "New World" which he names "America" and were Columbus lands in the Caribbean is named the "West Indies"

Portugal seizes Malacca

Aug 24, 1511

After Vasco had set up trading post, the Portuguese capture key post along the Indian Ocean. In 1511 they seize Malacca allowing them to ally with Asian leaders and establish major parts in Asian trade routes.

Hernan Cortes lands in Mexico

Feb 1, 1519

Spanish Conqueror Hernan Cortes lands on the coast of Mexico with only 600 men, 16 horses and a couple of cannons. Even though Hernan Cortes army was vastly outnumbered by the Aztecs they captured and demolished the capital city of Tenochtitlan. These actions inspire other conquerors to come over and conquer regions of America.

The Vittoria completes its circumnavigation of the globe

Sep 8, 1522

The Vittoria completes its first circumnavigation only about three years after setting out Ferdinand Magellan leads the initial expedition but he and four of his ships did not survive the entire voyage.

Francisco Pizarro executes the last Inca emperor

Aug 29, 1533

Inspired by the success of Cortes in Mexico Francisco lands in Peru in 1532, he takes advantage of the unrest on the Inca Empire and quickly captures the Inca emperor who he executes in 1533 quickly adding much of South America to the Spanish Empire.

Martin Frobisher sights land in North America

Jul 28, 1576

Trying to find the Northwest passage between the Atlantic Ocean and Asia, Frobisher set sail for North America. In 1576 he sights the coast of what is now Labrador, Canada never successfully finding the Northwest Passage.