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1490
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This timeline was created by Tiffany Nguyen, Adolfo Vasquez, Chelsy Say, and Marco Nava. -
1492
Christopher Columbus discovers America
While sailing routes east, in an attempt to bring back a ton of spices and silk, Columbus sailed WEST and discovered America for the first time! -
1497
Vasco Da Gama discovers the sea route to India.
in 1497, Vasco Da Gama, a Portuguese explorer sailed to India and back. He is credited with finding the sea route to Asia. This discovery also allowed Portugal to create an empire along Africa all the way to Asia. -
1497
John Cabot discovers Newfoundland.
In 1497, an Italian navigator, John Cabot set off from Bristol by sail and discovered Newfoundland. This discovery was fundamental in the first steps of the creation of the Transatlantic Slave Trade, an event that took place from the 16th to the 19th centuries. Millions of slaves died and even more endured hardships and torture. -
1498
Vasco Da Gama discovers a trade route
Vasco Da Gama sailed around Africa and found a trade route to India. -
1513
Jorge Alvarez
In 1513, Jorge Alvarez became the first explorer to reach China by sea. He made contact near Guangzhou. -
1514
Antonio Fernandes
In 1514-1515, Antonio Fernandes, a Portuguese explorer, reached present-day Zimbabwe. It is estimated that he was the first explorer to reach Zimbabwe. -
1520
Herman Cortes
in around 1519-1521, Hernan Cortes conquered the Aztec Empire. This event is significant because this territory eventually became New Spain, which Cortes governed. -
1522
Ferdinand Magellan becomes the first to circumnavigate the earth
In 1519-1522 he organized a Spanish Expedition to the East Indies resulting in the first circumnavigation of the Earth. -
1524
Giovanni da Verrazzano
in 1524, Giovanni da Verrazzano became the first European to explore the Atlantic coast
of North America between Florida and News Brunswick. -
1526
King Afonso writes a letter
King Afonso of Congo wrote a letter saying the corruption was so great, it was depopulating their country. Afonso I attempts to restrict the slave trade. -
1526
Jorge De Menezes
in 1526, Jorge De Menezes reached New Guinea. He was the first Portuguese explorer to sail here. -
1531
first Spanish expeditions arrived in the central Andes of South America
During this they encountered an empire that was ruled by the Inca. Francisco Pizarro, a Spanish conquistador, landed on the Pacific coast of South America with only a small band of about 180 men. The Europeans would have a huge impact on the Inca Empire. -
1532
Francisco Pizarro
Francisco Pizarro executed the last Inca Emperor when he arrived in Peru in 1532 the success of Cortés in Mexico inspired him. -
1534
Jacques Cartier
Jacques Cartier was a Breton explorer who claimed what is now present-day Canada for France in 1534. -
1535
Francisco Pizarro established a new capital
Francisco Pizarro established a new capital at Lima for a new colony of the Spanish Empire. Towards the end of the sixteenth century, many new European rivals began to challenge the Portuguese and the Spanish for colonial dominance. These countries sent explorers to the Americas to search for new sources of wealth and trade opportunities. -
Dutch East India Company
in 1602, the Dutch East India Company was formed by the States General of the Netherlands and was granted a 21-year monopoly to carry out trade. -
Dutch explorers in Australia
in 1606, Dutch explorers stepped foot in Australia. They were one of the first explorers to explore this continent. Willem Janszoon was the first to record his trip. -
English seized the colony of New Netherland from the Dutch and renamed it New York
In 1664, the English seized the colony of New Netherland from the Dutch and renamed it New York. During the seventeenth century, the French colonized parts of what is now Canada, then named New France, and Louisiana -
Quakers began to condemn slavery
By the 1770s, the Society of Friends, known as the Quakers, began to condemn slavery. Soon, feelings against slavery begin to build in Europe. By the time the French Revolution hit in the 1790s soon led the French to abolish slavery -
The British abolished slavery throughout the empire
Around 1833 - 1860s, the British abolished slavery throughout the empire. This caused slavery to continue throughout the United States until the Civil War of the 1860s.