-
1400
Prince Henry's Contributions
Prince Henry was not a sailor or navigator but he did sponsor exploration with hopes of finding Christian allies that were talked about, he also wanted to contribute to their geographic knowledge, prince henry also wanted to find a route to the orient and had a hope of finding gold, due to Prince Henry’s early development of Portuguese exploration and maritime trade with other continents, he was said to be responsible for the exploration around Africa. -
1419
Prince Henry's School of Navigation
This year Prince Henry founded a navigation school on the southwestern coast of Portugal, more specifically in Sagres, the goal of this school was to train multiple people as instrument makers, mapmakers, shipbuilders, scientists, and captains so they could gather there to improve their trade. -
1488
The Cape of Good Hope
Bartolomeu Diaz sailed close to Southern Africa, this was also known as “the Cape of Good Hope”. Due to a geographer named Ptolemy, it was believed that the Indian Ocean was surrounded by land. However, this exploration led Diaz to prove that the Atlantic and Indian oceans flow into each other. -
1493
Beginnings of the Colombian Exchange
Columbus brought nearly 1,200 settlers and a variety of animals and plants from Europe. Europeans also found new foods and transported them back to the Old World. Plants from Europe were also taken to the New World. This was an important event because the Columbian Exchange changed the world by introducing completely new things and ideas to both the new and old world, basically a revolution. -
1495
Christopher Columbus discovered the Bahamas
Christopher Columbus discovered a big piece of land that is currently known as the Bahamas, however, he named the land San Salvador. Columbus claimed the island for the monarchy of Spain even though the land already had people living there. Columbus began to establish settlements at the beginning of 1493. -
1497
John Cabot Across the Atlantic Ocean
John Cabot wanted to reach Asia by sailing toward the West. Cabot wanted to establish trade in “the New World”, however, he had mistaken Canada for Asia. However, Cabot’s exploration did help by providing a shorter route across the Northern Atlantic Ocean. -
1498
Da Gama's Sailing Route to India
Da Gama went around Africa and cut across the Indian Ocean to the coast of India, he arrived off the port of Calicut. When da Gama returned to Portugal, he made a large profit from the cargo of spices he had obtained in India, da Gama is also known because he was the first European to discover a sailing route in India. -
1519
Ferdinand Magellan Circumnavigates the Globe
Ferdinand Magellan was sponsored by Spain to travel west across the Atlantic in search of the East Indies in 1519. His expedition became the first from Europe to cross the Pacific Ocean and circumnavigate the world. It established commercial contacts between East and West. It also promoted the exchange of scientific, cultural, and religious experiences. Huge areas of America and Asia were known and visited afterward by Europeans thanks to the maps made during this voyage which ended in 1522 -
1521
Hernán Cortés Defeats the Aztecs
Battle of Tenochtitlán was a 93-day siege against the Aztecs by Spanish conquistadores commanded by Hernán Cortés allied with local tribes. A combination of superior weaponry and a devastating smallpox outbreak enabled the Spanish to conquer the city. Cortés’s victory destroyed the Aztec empire, and the Spanish began to consolidate control over the colony of New Spain. -
1523
Florentine Giovanni da Verrazzano Explores Coast of North Carolina
While carrying out a reconnaissance of North America for the king of France in 1524, Florentine Giovanni da Verrazzano explored the southern and central coast of what became North Carolina. Verrazzano was probably the first European to sail the coast of North America. His map and account of his findings comprise the earliest description of the land and people of North Carolina and pioneered the way toward the eventual French settlement of North America after his return in 1524. -
1534
Jacques Cartier Explores Eastern Canada
Jacques Cartier had set sail under a commission from the king, hoping to discover a western passage to the wealthy markets of Asia. He explored parts of Newfoundland, the Strait of Belle Isle and the Labrador Peninsula, the Gulf of St. Lawrence, and some parts of the Gulf's main islands, including Prince Edward Island, Anticosti Island, and the Magdalen Islands. After claiming Gaspé Bay for France, Cartier returned, sure that he had reached an Asian land. -
1578
Francis Drake Circumnavigates the Globe
English sea captain and privateer, Francis Drake, sailed around South America to raid Spanish ships and ports in 1578. He sailed into San Francisco Bay and claimed it for Queen Elizabeth. The records returned to England in 1580 were kept which led to more explorations and new trade links established further away. Drake was the second to circumnavigate the world. -
Sameuel de Champlain Founds New France
This was important because Samuel was the key to expansion in the New World. Samuel established New France in 1609 and was known as the “Father of New France” because he played a major role in establishing New France. He founded Quebec, New France, modern day Canada, and consolidated French colonies. -
Henry Hudson Explores the Coast of North America
Hudson started his exploration with the intention of finding a northern passage to India. He ended up exploring the region which is modern-day New York and eventually discovered a river. This river was eventually named after him and there, he laid Dutch colonization. His exploration contributed to our understanding of North America’s geography and waterways. -
Thomas Button Explores Hudson Bay
Thomas Button was the first to explore the western shores of Hudson Bay. Hudson Bay is named after Henry Hudson. He sailed from England in 1612 in search of the Northern East Passage that led to China. Thomas’s discovery revealed a direct path from England to the heart of North America when he returned in 1613. -
Dutch Founded New Amsterdam
The Dutch founded New Amsterdam on Manhattan Island. This was founded to protect the Dutch West India company’s beaver trade on the Hudson River. New Amsterdam later became an enslaved population and they were used to protect the early settlements from Native American attacks, work on local farms, and help build forts. -
King Philip Wages War Against Puritan colonies
King Philip wages war against Puritan colonies in 1675. The war started due to long building conflicts between the Native Americans and the English. This was the Native Americans' last ditch effort to stop English settlement on their land. Native Americans originally had the upper hand due to their knowledge of the land but were quickly defeated by the superior weaponry of the English. King Philip’s war ended Native American dominance in the region and started a period of colonial expansion. -
The Beginning of the French and Indian War
The French and Indian War or also known as the Seven Years' War was the result of the ongoing frontier tensions in North America. This war began with George Washington’s surprise attack on a small French army at Jumonville Glen. -
Treaty of Paris
The Treaty of Paris ended the war between the British and the French. It also guaranteed British dominance in North America. France was forced to give Britain Canada and its lands east of the Mississippi River, and to give Spain the Louisiana Territory. France reclaimed control of its sugar-producing Caribbean islands and slave-trading outposts. The treaty of Paris is important because it brought an end to a long war and helped America grow. -
Jacob Roggeveen Discovers Easter Island
Jacob Roggeveen was a Dutch explorer who was sent to find Terra Australis but instead discovered Easter Island. He also discovered Bora Bora and Maupiti of the Society Islands and Samoa. He planned the expedition along with his brother Jan Roggeveen, who stayed in the Netherlands. -
Mungo Park
Mungo Park was a Scottish explorer of West Africa. After an exploration of the upper Niger River around 1796, he wrote a popular and influential travel book titled, 'Travels in the Interior Districts of Africa' in which he theorized the Niger and Congo merged to become the same river. -
The Dutch East India Company Discontinues
Most of the Dutch East India Company’s labor that had built its colonies were people it had enslaved. The company had harsh trading terms and was corrupt. The company's trading was so significant that it drastically depleted Britain's silver reserves. The tremendous new money that its executives brought back to England upset the established hierarchy of British society.