Age of Exploration and Globalization

By Daruchini
  • 1453

    The Fall of Constantinople

    The capture of Constantinople by the Ottoman Empire brought all land trade between Europe and Asia to a standstill, forcing the various nations of Europe to seek other sea routes. This led to the overseas exploration of Portugal and Spain.
  • 1488

    Bartolomeu Dias Reaches the Cape of Good Hope

    Dias's travel suggested that it was possible to sail to Asia by going around Africa and that this possibility would open up important trade routes to Portugal in the Indian Ocean.
  • 1492

    Columbus Discovers the Americas

    Known as the first long-term trip of Europeans with the Americas, Columbus's journey was entertained by Spain in setting the course for a cascade of explorations and colonization activities in the new world.
  • 1494

    Treaty of Tordesillas

    This treaty divided the newly discovered territories between Spain and Portugal, the early colonizers and traders in the Americas and elsewhere.
  • 1498

    Vasco da Gama Reaches India

    The very first successful trip of Vasco da Gama to India paved the way for securing a direct sea route to the Asian subcontinent from Europe which in turn turned the country into a pivotal player in the spice trade.
  • Period: 1519 to 1522

    Magellan Circumnavigates the globe

    Ferdinand Magellan's expedition, which he did not survive, became the first under the name of a captain to convert to a round-the-world journey. This was the first voyage to present a view of how interconnected the world was and how trade would be internationalized.
  • 1521

    Fall of the Aztec Empire

    By the completion of conquest against the Aztecs, Hernán Cortés opened the gate to the rule of Spain over the Americas that would enrich the empire by fortunes, and destroy many native civilizations.
  • 1545

    Finding Silver in Potosí

    he discovery of abundant silver reserves in Potosí, Bolivia, boosts the economy of Spain and connects the Americas to the world economy

  • The Defeat of the Spanish Armada

    The defeat of the powerful fleet of Spain by England converted the seas to England where more adventurers could thrive in space in later periods of the Age of Exploration.

  • Founding of the Dutch East India Company (VOC)

    The establishment of the VOC was showing how exploration turned into business for the Dutch to control important trade routes and conquer global markets.