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Dec 13, 1400
Zheng He begins his voyages in China
At the beginning of the 1400s, Zheng He and his sailors set out to show off China's might across the world. Zheng He led seven expeditions to what the Chinese called "the Western Ocean" (Indian Ocean). He brought back to China many trophies and envoys from more than thirty kingdoms – including King Vira Alakeshwara of Ceylon, who came to China as a captive to apologize to the Emperor. -
Dec 13, 1488
Bartholomeu Dias rounds the tip of Africa
Bartolomeu Dias was a Portugese navigator whose 1487-88 Atlantic voyage around the southern tip of Africa opened sea routes between Europe and Asia. -
Dec 13, 1492
Christopher Columbus discovers the West Indies
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Dec 13, 1497
John Cabot discovers Newfoundland
There is very little precise contemporary information about the 1497 voyage. If Cabot kept a log, or made maps of his journey, they have disappeared. What we have as evidence is scanty: a few maps from the first part of the 16th century which appear to contain information obtained from Cabot, and some letters from non-participants reporting second-hand on what had occurred. As a result, there are many conflicting theories and opinions about what actually happened. -
May 20, 1498
Vasco da Gama reached India after rounding Africa
Both Prince John and Prince Manuel continued the efforts of Prince Henry to find a sea route to India, and in 1497 Manuel placed Vasco da Gama, who already had some reputation as a warrior and navigator, in charge of four vessels built especially for the expedition. They set sail July 8, 1497, rounded the Cape of Good Hope four months later, and reached Calicut May 20, 1498. -
Dec 13, 1500
Pedro Alvarez Cabral discovers Brazil
On 15 February 1500, Cabral was appointed Capitão-mor (literally Major-Captain, or commander-in-chief) of a fleet sailing for India. It was then the custom for the Portuguese Crown to appoint nobles to naval and military commands, regardless of experience or professional competence.This was the case for the captains of the ships under Cabral's command—most were nobles like himself.The practice had obvious pitfalls, since authority could as easily be given to highly incompete -
Dec 13, 1519
Megellan’s ship the Vittoria completes the first circumnavigation of the globe
First Circumnavigation of the Globe, begun in 1519, was an attempt to prove that the coveted Spice Islands, or Moluccas, were actually property of Spain. Finding a direct route between the Spice Islands and Spanish Peru would be argument enough for ownership of these lands. Ferdinand Magellan set out from Spain on this voyage with five ships, but the voyage was more difficult than expected. Disease, bad weather, and loss of ships to Portuguese attack hampered the voyage. On April 27, 1521, Magel -
Vikings first discover Greenland
Like Iceland before, around 930 Greenland was discovered by a viking who was blown off course, his name was Gunnbjorn. The first viking to colonize Greenland was Eric the Red. In 982, Eric was banned from Iceland because of manslaughter, and he decided to explore the country discovered by Gunnbjorn. After three years he returned, talking enthousiastically about the land, which he called Greenland, and in 986, he returned with several shiploads of colonists. Two colonies were started, the eastern
