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Period: 1400 to
Age of Exploration
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1420
Prince Henry the Navigator sponsors Portuguese Explorers
Prince Henry led the way in sponsoring exploration for Portugal and by doing so, Portuguese fleets were able to explore the west coast of Africa. His sponsorship was what sparked the Age of Exploration. After other countries saw Portugal's success, they also began exploring. -
1488
Bartolomeu Dias discovers the Cape of Good Hope
Dias discovered and sailed around the southern tip of Africa, later called the Cape of Good Hope. His discovery opened the way for a sea route from Europe to Asia, which increased Portugal's trade with India and other Asian countries. -
1492
Christopher Columbus discovers a New World
Spain financed Christopher Columbus's voyage to find a western trade route to Asia. However, Columbus landed in the Caribbean instead, convinced he had reached East Asia. His discovery of the New World was perhaps the biggest step in taking the lead of the Age of the Exploration for the Spanish. His voyage opened the Americas to later European explorers. -
1493
The Columbian Exchange
Christoper Columbus's discovery of the New World not only had its effect on Spain, but all of Europe. His discovery had opened up a trade network between Europe and the Americas. A major goal of European exploration was to gain wealth. The exchange of plants, animals, and diseases between Europe and the Americas was known as the Columbian Exchange. -
1494
Spain and Portugal sign the Treaty of Tordesillas
There was conflict between Spain and Portugal over the newly discovered territories so as a result, they signed the Treaty of Tordesillas, which officially divided the lands outside Europe between the Portuguese Empire and the Spanish Empire. This treaty gave Spain rights to almost all of the Americas and gave Portugal control over its route around Africa. -
1497
John Cabot lands on the coast of North America
Cabot set out on a voyage from England hoping to find a northwest passage to Asia. Instead, he landed on the coast of North America, mistakenly believing he was in Asia and claimed the land in the name of King Henry VII. Cabot's discoveries under the English crown dramatically helped England to get its first colonies in the New World. -
1497
Vasco da Gama reaches India
De Gama was the first European to make it to India by rounding the Cape of Good Hope. Although the Portuguese lost half their ships and many sailors died on the voyage, the venture was highly profitable; he returned with a cargo of spices. His discovery opened a new successful route and Portugal was able to trade with India at a much faster pace. -
1500
The Commercial Revolution
The Commercial Revolution was the start of growth expansion, colonialism, and mercantilism. European powers became rich and the Commercial Revolution provided the benefits of free enterprise for many Europeans. Trade also provided new goods for purchase, which helped to improve the European standard of living. -
1500
Pedro Cabral discovers Brazil
Cabral reached South America after conducting the first substantial exploration of it. He claimed Brazil for Portugal, meaning that Portugal had now marked its territory in South America. This allowed Portugal to trade with more people, furthering their progress. -
1519
Hernan Cortes takes over Aztec Empire
Hernan Cortes was set on an expedition to Mexico after Velázquez canceled it. He left with 600 men and reached Yucatán, a region on the coast of Mexico. He and his men marched to the Aztec capital, Tenochtitlán, where they captured and demolished it. Their actions inspired other conquistadors to conquer regions in the Americas. -
1521
Ferdinand Magellan circumnavigates the Earth
Magellan was a Portuguese navigator and explorer who sailed under the flags of both Portugal and Spain. He organized the Spanish expedition to the East Indies, where he led the first expedition to sail completely around the world. Magellan discovered the Strait of Magellan as well as new oceans and land. -
1524
Giovanni da Verrazzano explores the East Coast of North America
Giovanni da Verrazzano left Portugal and sailed the ship "La Dauphine" for 50 days until he and his crew made it to the New World. They entered through the Bay of New York, in the tip Manhattan. Not only did he first discover New York Harbor, but also Block Island and Narragansett Bay. -
1532
Francisco Pizarro overthrows the Inca Empire
Inspired by the success of Cortés in Mexico, Pizarro arrived in Peru with steel weapons, gunpowder, and horses. He captured and executed the Inca emperor, Atahuallpa. Pizarro then sacked the Inca capital, Cuzco, and established a new capital at Lima for a new colony of the Spanish Empire. The Spanish spread across Ecuador and Chile, adding much of South America to Spain's empire. -
1534
Jacques Cartier explores the St. Lawrence River
Cartier, a French navigator, was sent by King Francis I to the New World in search of riches and a new route to Asia. His exploration of the St. Lawrence River allowed France to claim what is now Canada. -
1577
Sir Francis Drake circumnavigates the Earth and defeats the Spanish Armada
Drake's most famous voyage was his circumnavigation of the earth, being the first Englishman to do so. Along the way of his journey, he raided Spanish settlements. He also played a major role in the destruction and defeat of the Spanish Armada, which helped England to create a great empire in the New World. -
The English form the East India Company
Hoping to exploit trade in East and Southeast Asia and India, the English formed the East India Company. The English presence in India increased during the first half of the 17th century and by 1650, they had established a number of trading posts. Their success in India attracted rivals, like the French. However, Britain soon forced the French to withdraw completely from India, and the British East India Company began to expand, giving it complete control of India. -
The Triangular Trade
As the demand for slaves increased, traffic in enslaved people became more common. In 1518 the first ship of slaves from Africa arrived in the Americas. Over time, the trade of enslaved Africans increased dramatically. This constant trade between Europe, Africa, and the American continents became the Triangular Trade. Ships from Europe would ship manufactured goods to Africa, and in return were given slaves, which would be sent to America to be sold. -
The Dutch form the Dutch East India Company
The Dutch formed the Dutch East India Company, which furthered their quest to be the major European commercial power in the east. They gradually pushed the Portuguese out of the spice trade in Southeast Asia, leading to massive profits for Dutch merchants. These profits helped the Dutch surpass the Spanish and Portuguese in world trade. -
Henry Hudson discovers three waterways
Hudson was originally hired by the Dutch East India Company to find a trade route through the Americas to India. He failed at this but instead discovered the Hudson River, Hudson Bay, Hudson Strait, and other parts of present-day Canada and the northeastern United States. His discovery led to the Dutch colonization in these areas. -
Pilgrims leave England for the New World
The Pilgrims settled in Plymouth Massachusetts in order to escape religious persecution under the Church of England. The Church of England, or Anglican Church, was a Protestant form of Christianity and the official religion of England. Anglicanism spread to the New World and became popular throughout Colonial America. -
The Seven Years' War between France and Britain begins
After on-going fighting between England and France, England officially declared war on France. Previously, the French expansion into the Ohio River valley sparked conflict with British colonies. During the first official year of fighting, the British suffered a series of defeats against the French so the British prime minister borrowed heavily to fund an expanded war effort. -
The Treaty of Paris ends the Seven Years' War
The Treaty of Paris officially ended the worldwide war between Britain and France. It ensured British dominance in North America, where they also received Upper Canada, Spanish Florida, and many French holdings overseas. France was forced to cede Canada and its lands east of the Mississippi to Britain, and Louisiana to Spain. -
Slavery in the Northwest Territory is banned by the Northwest Ordinance
Ratified by Congress in July 13, 1787, this law
prohibited slavery in territories north of the Ohio River. It was the first federal law to address the issue. This created a structure for the settlement of land in Wisconsin, Ohio, Illinois, Indiana, and Michigan.
