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1488
1488 - Bartolomeu Diaz rounds the southern tip of Africa
Bartolomeu Diaz's successful voyage around the southern tip of Africa, known as the Cape of Good Hope, opened up a new maritime route to Asia. This discovery was significant because it paved the way for future European exploration and trade with the East, reducing the need to go through overland routes controlled by Middle Eastern empires. -
1492
1492 - Christopher Columbus's first voyage to the Americas
Christopher Columbus's first voyage marked the beginning of European exploration and colonization of the Americas. His arrival in the Caribbean initiated a period of contact between the Old World and the New World, leading to the Columbian Exchange, which had profound ecological and cultural impacts on both sides. -
1497
1497 - John Cabot explores North America for England
John Cabot's exploration established English claims to parts of North America. While his precise landing location is debated, his journey contributed to the later English colonization of North America. -
1498
1498 - Vasco da Gama reaches India by circumnavigating Africa
Vasco da Gama's successful voyage to India via a sea route around Africa was a major milestone in global exploration. It opened up direct access to the lucrative spice trade and established Portuguese dominance in this trade route, enhancing their wealth and power. -
1500
1500 - Pedro Álvares Cabral discovers Brazil for Portugal
Cabral's discovery of Brazil expanded Portuguese exploration and colonization in the New World. Brazil became a valuable colony for Portugal, known for its vast natural resources, particularly in sugar production. -
1513
1513 - Vasco Núñez de Balboa reaches the Pacific Ocean
Balboa's discovery of the Pacific Ocean from the western coast of Panama was a crucial step in understanding the geography of the New World. It facilitated future Spanish exploration and conquest of the Americas. -
1519
1519-1522 - Hernán Cortés conquers the Aztec Empire
Cortés's conquest of the Aztec Empire in present-day Mexico was a pivotal event in the Spanish colonization of the Americas. It led to the establishment of Spanish rule in the region and the eventual expansion of Spanish influence throughout Central and South America. -
1519
1519-1522 - Ferdinand Magellan's expedition circumnavigates the globe
Magellan's expedition was the first known circumnavigation of the Earth. While Magellan himself did not complete the journey, his expedition demonstrated the vastness of the Earth and the feasibility of circumnavigating it by sea, contributing to our understanding of global geography. -
1524
1524 - Giovanni da Verrazzano explores the North American coast
Verrazzano's exploration of the North American coast, likely along the eastern seaboard, marked one of the early European attempts to map the eastern coast of North America. It laid the groundwork for future European claims in the region. -
1533
1533 - Francisco Pizarro captures the Inca Empire.
Fransico was a Spanish explorer and Francisco’s victory against the Incas marked the end of the Inca empire and the start of European colonization in South America. -
1534
1534 - Jacques Cartier claims northern North America for France
Jacques Cartier's exploration and claim of the St. Lawrence River area for France laid the foundation for French colonization in North America, particularly in the region known as New France. This event was a precursor to French involvement in the fur trade and North American colonization. -
1538
1583 - Humphrey Gilbert claims Newfoundland for England.
This paved the way for English settlements in North America. Humphrey Gilbert was a Spanish explorer and navigator. Gilbert set out on an expedition that was approved by the queen and claimed Newfoundland in the name of the queen, his ship later got swallowed by the seas during a storm in the Atlantic -
1577
1577-1580- Sir Francis Drake
In 1577-1580, Sir Francis Drake, an explorer from England, became the second person to circumnavigate the globe. He traveled to the Caribbean and the Pacific, learning many things about the New World. His expedition solidified England's reputation as a powerful country, earning respect among other nations. -
1602 - Formation of the Dutch East India Company
In 1602, the Dutch East India Company was formed and began to dominate the Asian spice trade industry, leading to massive profits for Dutch merchants and the establishment of trade networks in Asia. This marked the beginning of the Golden Age for the Dutch, surpassing Spanish and Portuguese world trade. -
1607 - English settlers established Jamestown
In 1607, Jamestown was founded, becoming the first permanent English colony in America. This settlement helped establish England's presence in the New World and laid the foundation for future colonies. -
1609- Henry Hudson
On April 6, 1609, Henry Hudson, an English navigator and explorer, discovered the Hudson River in New York and the Hudson Bay on the Arctic coast. He laid the foundation for Dutch colonization of the Hudson River Valley and provided vital geographical information about the New World. -
1620 - The Mayflower Pilgrims arrive in Plymouth, Massachusetts.
In 1620, the Mayflower Pilgrims arrived in Plymouth, Massachusetts. There, they established a self-governing community and laid the groundwork for democratic principles. -
1626 - Peter Minuit
Peter Minuit purchases Manhattan Island from Native Americans for the Dutch. This led to Dutch control of New Amsterdam. According to the legend, the Native Americans traded their land in exchange for trinkets with a value of only $24. -
1628 - Founding of New Amsterdam (later New York) by the Dutch.
In 1628, the Dutch West India Company established the New Amsterdam colony to protect the beaver pelt trade and provide a strategic trading post for the Dutch. It was later named New York. -
1632 - Samuel de Champlain
In 1632, Samuel de Champlain founded Quebec City, establishing a French foothold in North America. Quebec served as a hub for the fur trade and was an important step in French exploration in North America. -
1652-1654 - The First Anglo-Dutch War.
During 1652-1654, the First Anglo-Dutch War occurred between England and the Dutch due to trade disputes, and eventually, the Dutch won the war. -
1682 - Robert Cavelier de La Salle explores the Mississippi River.
In 1682, Robert Cavelier de La Salle explored the Mississippi River. His expedition helped France gain a better understanding of the geography of the Mississippi Valley and the Gulf Coast. This exploration paved the way for future French exploration, and his claims of the Mississippi River basin allowed for French expansion in the New World. -
1688 - Glorious Revolution in England.
In 1688, the Glorious Revolution took place in England, leading to the overthrow of King James II because of religious and political conflicts. This led to the establishment of parliamentary sovereignty in England. -
1701- Union of England and Scotland to form Great Britain
The Acts of Union were passed in 1701 to make sure that Scotland wouldn’t side with France in the war of the Spanish succession. England’s union with Scotland was later used as a model for its 1801 union with Ireland. -
1754-1763- The Seven Years War
The war was fought between the French Native Americans and Great Britain. The war was caused by territorial disputes around Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in North America. It was also caused by Hansburg trying to win back Silesia. The war ended with the Treaty of Paris. -
1769- James Cook begins the first Voyage to the Pacific
The goal of the expedition was to observe the 1769 transit of Venus across the sun. The ship departed from Plymouth dockyard and during the expedition, Cook charted New Zealand before continuing the Voyage. -
1775-1783 American Revolutionary War
The war began with tensions between the 13 colonies and Great Britain mainly due to taxation without representation. France would eventually join the Revolutionary War on the side of the Colonists and this helped the Americans win their independence in 1781 when British forces surrendered in Yorktown. -
1788- Establishment of the Penal Colony in Australia.
The penal colony of New South Wales was founded by Admiral Arthur Phillip, and this was the first European establishment on the continent of Australia. Eleven convict ships arrived there on January 20, 1788. -
1799 - The Dutch East India Company declares bankruptcy.
The Dutch East India Company declares bankruptcy. Its decline signaled changes in global trade dynamics. The company was largely prosperous throughout the 17th century but by the 18th century, the company became corrupt and in debt and the Dutch government removed the company’s charter.