Age of discovery

Leif Ericson

Nov 4, 1001

Leif Ericson was a viking who set sail from Greenland to Norway in 999 CE. And discovered the Americas in 1001 CE

Zheng He

Nov 7, 1418

Zheng He is a Chinese explorer who possibly discoverd america. He is believed to have discovered america in 1418 due to an ancient Chinese map.

Henry The Navigator

Nov 7, 1460

Prince Henry or Henry the Navigator sponsored the Portuguese exploration. He is also regarded as the main initiator of the Age of Discovery. In 1460 Henry died.

Columbus First Voyage

Oct 12, 1492

On August 3rd 1492 Columbus convinced The King and Queen of Spain to finance his voyage. Columbus was in command of the 3 ships the Pinta, the Nina, and the Santa Maria. And the first land he saw was San Salvador.

The Columbian Exchange

Nov 16, 1492

The Columbian Exchange refers to a period of cultural and biological exchanges between the New and Old Worlds. Exchanges of plants, animals, diseases and technology transformed European and Native American ways of life. Beginning after Columbus' discovery in 1492 the exchange lasted throughout the years of expansion and discovery. The Columbian Exchange impacted the social and cultural makeup of both sides of the Atlantic.

Vasco De Gama

Nov 9, 1499

He was the first European to reach India by sea in 1499

Amerigo Vespucci

Nov 9, 1508

Was Chief Navigator of Spain in 1508, and America is named after him.

Francisco Pizarro

Nov 16, 1509

A Spanish conquistador who led an expedition that conquered the Inca Empire. He captured and killed Incan emperor Atahualpa and claimed the lands for Spain.

Ferdinand Magellan

Nov 9, 1519

He set out from Spain in 1519 with a fleet of five ships to discover a western sea route to the Spice Islands. En route he discovered what is now known as the Strait of Magellan and became the first European to cross the Pacific Ocean.

Herman Cortez

Nov 9, 1519

He ignored orders and traveled to Mexico with about 500 men and 11 ships in 1519, setting his sights on overthrowing ruler Montezuma II in the Aztec capital of Tenochitilán. The Aztecs eventually drove the Spanish from Tenochitilán, but Cortés returned to defeat the natives and take the city in 1521.

Middle Passage

Nov 16, 1619

The Middle Passage was the stage of the triangular trade in which millions of Africans were shipped to the New World as part of the Atlantic slave trade.