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Period: 1341 to
Age of Exploration
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1400
Portugal becomes the 1st to explore New World
Portugal launches exploration expeditions to the New World and East Indies -
1415
Portuguese Conquest of Ceuta
The Portuguese conquest of Ceuta took place on 21 August 1415, between Portuguese forces under the command of King John I of Portugal and the Marinid sultanate of Morocco at the city of Ceuta. The city's defenses fell under Portuguese control after a carefully prepared attack, and the successful capture of the city marked the beginning of the Portuguese Empire. Ceuta was held under Portuguese control until being transferred to Spain in 1668. -
1430
1st Portuguese Exploration
Infante Dom Henrique (Prince Henry the Navigator) - sailed to the Madeiras and Azores, and south, along the coast of Africa, to the western bulge of Africa (Cabo de Não) -
1492
Spain starts its expeditions for the New World
Spain sends explores on an expedition to explore the New World. -
1492
Columbus Sailed the Ocean Blue (S)
On August 3, 1492, Columbus set sail from Spain to find an all-water route to Asia. More than two months later, Columbus landed on an island in the Bahamas that he called San Salvador; the natives called it Guanahani. Columbus traveled nearly 3,000 miles in 33 days and then spotted land in the Bahamas. For nearly five months, Columbus explored the Caribbean, particularly the islands of Juana (Cuba) and Hispaniola (Santo Domingo), before returning to Spain. -
1496
Great Britain becomes 3rd to explore New World
Great Britain explores the New World but explores the western route instead -
1497
John Cabot finds new land on his expedition (E)
John Cabot founds present-day Canada & New England -
1497
John Cabot - First Voyage (E)
Giovanni Caboto born in Genoa, citizen of Venice, sailed for England from Bristol, England, in May 20, 1497. Reached Belle Island on the northern coast of Newfoundland, on June 24, 1497. He sailed down the east coast of Newfoundland, to the southern corner, Landing only on Newfoundland, at Belle Island. He never landed again on the coast, before he returned to England on July 30, 1497. -
1517
Approaching the King (p)
Magellan relocated to Spain to seek royal support for his venture. When Magellan arrived, he had no connections and spoke little to no Spanish. He soon met another transplanted Portuguese named Diogo Barbosa, and within a year he had married Barbosa’s daughter Beatriz, who gave birth to their son Rodrigo a year later. With a little introducing here and there, soon Magellan secured an appointment to meet the king of Spain -
1519
In Search of Fortune (p)
Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan set out from Spain with a fleet of five ships to discover a Western sea route to the Spice Islands. The voyage was long and dangerous, and only one ship returned home three years later. -
1534
France begins to explore the New World
France joins the countries race to explore the New World later on. -
1534
France starts to explore North America
France starts to explore present-day US states like Ohio, and Mississippi. -
1534
Jacques Cartier was sent to the new world (f)
In 1534, Jacques Cartier, a French navigator, was sent to the New World by King Francis I to discover a new route to Asia and to search for riches. He was the first explorer to discover the St. Lawrence River in what is now Canada. -
1535
France claims present-day Canada
As France explores part of Central America France ends up claiming most of present-day Canada. -
1536
Francisco Pizarro Defeats the Incas (s)
Francisco Pizarro, a Spanish conquistador, wound up capturing and killing the Incan Emperor Atahuapla, and claimed the lands for Spain. Pizarro also led an expedition that conquered the Inca Empire. -
Fail to settle new world (E)
England’s first effort to establish a settlement in the New World ended badly. In 1584, Sir Walter Raleigh gained a royal charter to found the settlement of Roanoke, located on an island off the coast of North Carolina. Raids by Native American tribes and disease devastated the settlement, and it was eventually abandoned. Still, the Spanish monarchy, determined to eliminate their New World rivals, dispatched the great Spanish Armada in 1588 to attack the British.