-
Feb 27, 1420
Prince Henry and his navigators began exploring the west part of the Atlantic ocean.
Prince Henry gathered the best geographers and navigators in Europe to explore. -
Feb 27, 1430
Prince Henry moved south along the coast of Africa.
This exploration taught the group of navigators about the ocean currents, wind patterns and climates. -
Feb 27, 1488
Bartolomeu Dias sailed to south tip of Africa and found the route to the Indian Ocean.
-
Aug 27, 1492
Christopher Colombus set on an exploration across the Altantic to the west.
-
Oct 27, 1492
Colombus's ship landed on an island, San Salvador.
Christopher planted Spain's flag on this Island and he is credited for naming the island. -
Feb 27, 1493
Christopher returned to Spain after exploring other islands.
He thought these islands were the islands of India but were really the American Islands. For the rest of his life he thought these were the West Indies. -
Feb 28, 1497
Amerigo Vespucci crossed the Altantic and discovered the New World, America.
He went back in 1504 to the New World, and a German mapmaker named it America after Amerigo. -
Feb 27, 1498
Vasco de Gama sailed east across the Indian Ocean.
After this voyage he made a second trip and returned with goods. -
Feb 27, 1500
Pedro Cabral sailed for India but landed on Brazil.
-
Feb 28, 1510
Portuguese conquered the southwest coast of India.
-
Feb 28, 1513
Vasco Nunez de Balboa founded Panama and the South Sea.
His discovery made it clear that the New World was indeed no part of Asia but a totally different piece of land. -
Feb 28, 1519
Ferdinand Magellan proved Balboa to be correct.
Ferdinand crossed the Altantic and sailed to South America until they reached its tip, and he named it the Paciific Ocean. -
Feb 28, 1521
Ferdinand Magellan sailed to the Philippines and died here with a fight with the islanders.
-
Feb 28, 1522
Magellan crew sailed back to Europe.
They were the first to make a voyage around the world.