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Oct 12, 1492
Christopher Columbus Lands In The Americas
Columbus set sail on August 3, 1492, with the ships Pinta, Niña, and Santa María. Sailing under the sponsorship of Ferdinand II and Isabella I, the king and queen of Spain. He landed in the Bahamas and this was the start of European involvement in the Americas. -
Jun 7, 1494
Treaty of Tordesillas
The Treaty of Tordesillas (1494) was an agreement between Spain and Portugal that divided newly discovered lands outside Europe to prevent conflict over exploration. It was brokered by Pope Alexander VI, who established a demarcation line approximately 370 leagues (about 1,770 km) west of the Cape Verde Islands. Lands west of this line belonged to Spain, while those east were Portugal’s. -
1550
Tobacco Introduced To Europe
Tobacco was introduced to Europe around 1550, primarily through Spanish explorers and diplomats who brought the plant from the Americas, with the French diplomat Jean Nicot playing a key role in popularizing its use in Europe around that time.