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1415
Portuguese seize Ceuta
Victory inspires Henry the Navigator to organize voyages along the western cost of Africa -
Oct 12, 1492
Columbus lands in the Caribbean
Spain finances Columbus’ voyage to find a western trade route to Asia, but lands in the Caribbean convinced he has reached East Asia -
Jun 7, 1494
Treaty of Tordesillas
Portugal and Spain spit up land “discovered” in south America. Portugal claims Brazil not knowing South America was larger than expected -
May 20, 1498
Vasco de Gama reaches India
Traveled to Asia by rounding the horn of Africa, creating the first direct sea route. -
1507
“New World” named America
A German mapmaker reads reports written by Amerigo Vespucci. Naming the New World America and the Caribbean the West Indies -
1511
Portugal seizes Malacca
Portuguese begin capturing key ports around the Indian Ocean. Their brutality makes them feared and hated. -
1519
Cortes lands in Mexico
While the conquistador is greatly outnumbered by the Aztecs, they captured and demolish the capital city of Tenochtitlan. -
1533
Francisco Pizarro executes the last Inca Emperor
Inspired by Cortes, he uses the unrest of the Inca empire to capture the emperor. This spread Spanish influence across Ecuador and Chile. -
Founding of the East India Company
By royal charter, English merchants broke the Spanish and Portuguese monopoly on East Indian spice trade. -
Dutch East India Company founded
Utilized to aid trade in Dutch trading posts around the world. Would come in conflict with the East India Company.
