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Nov 7, 1346
The Black Death in Europe
The disease was bubonic plague, present in two forms: one that infected the bloodstream, causing the buboes and internal bleeding, and was spread by contact; and a second, more virulent pneumonic type that infected the lungs and was spread by respiratory infection. The presence of both at once caused the high mortality and speed of contagion. So lethal was the disease that cases were known of persons going to bed well and dying before they woke. -
Nov 7, 1406
Ptolomey long-lost map of the world is Discovered
The long-lost map of the world drawn in the second century by the geographer Ptolomey is rediscovered in western Europe. It becomes the best existing map of the world. Ptolomey's map makes Columbus believe that Asia can be reached by sailing west from Europe. -
Nov 7, 1420
First Caravels are Built
The caravel was an improvement on older ships because it could sail very fast and also sail well into the wind (windward). Caravel planking on the hull replaced thinner, less effective planking. Caravels were broad-beamed ships that had 2 or 3 masts with square sails and a triangular sail (called a lanteen). They were up to about 65 feet long and could carry roughly 130 tons of cargo. Caravels were smaller and lighter than the later Spanish galleons (developed in the 1500's). -
Nov 7, 1487
Bartholomeu Dias and The Cape of Good Hope
Thi expedition sailed south along the West coast of Africa. Extra provisions were picked up on the way at a Portuguese fortress on the Gold Coast. His ships rounded the Cape of Good Hope at a considerable distance, not noticing it was there, Dias continued east and entered the Mossel Bay on 3 February 1488. Dias's expedition reached its furthest Dias wanted to continue sailing to India, but he was forced to turn back when his crew refused to go further. It was only then that the Cape was found. -
Nov 7, 1492
Columbus First Voyage and the Compass
Columbus takes off on his first voyage and he discovers the West Indies in the New Worls. Columbus also learns that the compass will change direction slightly as the longitude changes. -
Nov 7, 1494
Treaty of Tordesillas
A treaty that dividing the New World possessions between Portugal and Spain. This treaty, signed in 1494 was a product of the Catholic Church. -
Nov 7, 1498
Vasco De Gama reaches India
Da Gama sailed from Lisbon, Portugal, in July 1497, rounded the Cape of Good Hope, and anchored at Malindi on the east coast of Africa. With the aid of an Indian merchant he met there, he then set off across the Indian Ocean. -
Nov 7, 1499
Amerigo Vespucchi explores South America
Vespucci joined an expedition in the service of Spain. The intention was to sail around the southern end of the African mainland into the Indian Ocean. After hitting land at the coast of what is now Guyana Vespucci sailed southward. He discovered the mouth of the Amazon River and before turning around he saw the Trinidad and the Orinoco River. Lastly Amerigo returned to Spain by way of Hispaniola. He later claimed that South America was its own continent and not part of Asia. -
Nov 7, 1504
Columbus' last of his Four Voyages
On May 11, 1502, Christopher Columbus set out on his fourth and final voyage to the New World. He had four ships and his mission was to explore uncharted areas to the west of the Caribbean, hopefully finding a passage west to the Orient. Columbus did explore parts of southern Central America, but his ships, damaged by a hurricane and termites, fell apart while he was exploring. Columbus and his men were stranded on Jamaica for about a year before being rescued. -
Nov 7, 1514
Smallpox in the Americas
a highly infectious viral disease that has nonetheless been eradicated. Infection results, after about two weeks, in a high fever, head and body aches and vomiting. Eventually red spots appear that change to water and then pus-filled vesicles that on drying out leave scars. The person stays infectious until all scabs are shed. -
Nov 7, 1519
Ferdinand Magellan begins his voyage around the world
On 10 August 1519, the five ships under Magellan's command – Trinidad, San Antonio, Concepción, Victoria and Santiago – left Seville and descended the Guadalquivir River to Sanlúcar de Barrameda, at the mouth of the river. There they remained more than five weeks. Finally they set sail on 20 September to try and complete the first journey around the world. -
Nov 7, 1522
Ferdinand Magellan ends his voyage around the world
Magellan's expedition of 1519–1522 became the first expedition to sail from the Atlantic Ocean into the Pacific Ocean, and the first to cross the Pacific. It also completed the first circumnavigation of the Earth, although Magellan himself did not complete the entire voyage, being killed during the Battle of Mactan in the Philippines. -
Nov 7, 1539
Hernando de Soto explores Southeastern United States
A vast undertaking, de Soto's North American expedition ranged throughout the southeastern United States searching for gold, silver and a passage to China. De Soto died in 1542 on the banks of the Mississippi River in Arkansas or Louisiana. -
Nov 7, 1541
Hernando DeSoto explorers the Mississippi River
On May 8, 1541, de Soto's troops reached the Mississippi River. De Soto was less interested in the river. In his view it was, first of all, an obstacle to his mission. He and 400 men had to cross the broad river, which was constantly patrolled by hostile natives. After about one month, and the construction of several floats, they finally crossed the Mississippi. -
Dutch explorers discover Australia
Landfalls were unplanned. The first was in 1616, when Dirk Hartog landed on what is now called Dirk Hartog Island, off the coast of Western Australia, and left behind an inscription on a pewter plate.Further voyages by Dutch ships explored the north coast of Australia between 1623 and 1636, giving Arnhem Land its present-day name. The most famous and bloodiest landfalls were those associated with the mutiny and murder that followed the wreck of the Batavia off Western Australia in 1629. -
Why?
Why did i choose these topics? I choose them all becuase i think that these people and/or events affected the course of exploration. These people greatly influenced the advancements and the findings of many different countries throughout the years at sea. Many new technologies were created that also added to the finding of the new world. Even though not all of these were good things.
