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1341
First to launch exploratory expeditions
Prince Henry the Navigator commission a journey around Africa's “Cape of Good Hope” to Asia. Multiple attempts later they make it to India and estiblesh a series of trading posts and forts. -
Period: 1341 to
Age of Exploration
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1415
Portugal captures Ceuta
Portugal captures Ceuta in North Africa, marking the start of Portuguese exploration. -
1419
Portuguese explorers
Portuguese explorers discover Madeira and the Azores. -
1434
proving further exploration
Gil Eanes rounds Cape Bojador, proving further exploration of Africa is possible. -
1488
Bartolomeu Dias
Bartolomeu Dias rounds the Cape of Good Hope, opening the route to the Indian Ocean. -
1488
Rounds the Cape of Good Hope
Bartolomeu Dias rounds the Cape of Good Hope, opening the route to the Indian Ocean. -
1492
Christopher Columbus:
Christopher Columbus was searching for East Indies , discovered the Caribbean instead, but still thought it was Asia. He began to send voyages regularly, to acquire gold and silver to stimulate the Spanish economy -
1494
Divides Land
Treaty of Tordesillas divides new lands between Spain and Portugal. -
1497
John Cabot
John Cabot found present-day Canada and New England. Eventually established colonies in eastern North America (Roanoke, Jamestown, etc.) -
1534
France joined the race
France founded the cities of Detroit, St. Louis, and New Orleans, claimed most of present-day Canada, and explored North America at great length (Ohio, Mississippi River, Rocky Mountains, etc.) -
1542
Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo
Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo explores the coast of California. -
Dutch Explorers
Dutch explorer Willem Janszoon becomes the first European to reach Australia. -
English settlers
English settlers establish Jamestown, the first permanent English colony in North America. -
Hernry Hudson explores
Henry Hudson explores Hudson Bay in search of the Northwest Passage. -
Abel Tasman discovers
Abel Tasman discovers Tasmania, New Zealand, and Fiji.