-
1460
Prince Henry the Navigator
First European monarch to sponsor seafaring expeditions, to search for an all-water route to the east as well as for African gold. -
1492
Columbian Exchange
Had far-reaching effects beyond dramatic changes in population and biodiversity. It also contributed to changing the global economy, sometimes with unintended consequences. For example, Spain successfully mined silver in the Americas. However, the silver sparked inflation in Spain, which contributed to the fall of the Spain Empire. -
1494
Treaty of Tordesillas
Spain and Portugal split the Americas between them. Spain reserved all lands to the West of the meridian that went through eastern South America. Portugal reserved all the land east of this line. This arrangement put Brazilunder Portugal's rule. while Spain claimed the rest of the Americas. -
1497
English Exploration
English King sent an explorer named John Cabot to look for a northwest passage. He claimed lands from Newfoundland south to the Chesapeake Bay but the English didn't have enough sea power to defend themselves against Spanish naval forces. -
1498
Vasco Da Gama
Landed in Indian nad claimed territory as part of Portugal's empire. Portugal's port were a key step in expanding Portugal's trade in the Indian Ocean. -
1500
French Exploration's
French government sponsored expeditions in search of a northwest passage. -
1526
The Atlantic System
Made up of the regions of Western Europe; Western Africa, and the Americas and involved the movement of goods and people among those regions. It also unleashed deadly diseases on populations that had no immunity to them. As people migrated or were forced to migrate within the Atlantic system, cultural changes occurred. For instance, religion spread and often created syncretic belief systems and practices. -
Dutch Exploration
Dutch sent Henry Hudson to explore the East coast of North America. He sailed up what is now known as the Hudson River, he did not find a northwest passage. The such did claim the Hudson River Valley and the island of Manhattan. -
Pueblo Revolt
The Pueblo and Apache, two indigenous groups, fought colonizers who were trying to force religious conversions. The indigenous people killed about 400 Spaniards, drove the rest out of the area, and destroyed churches. The Spanish reconquered the area in 1692. -
Commercial Revolution
Affected all regions of the world and resulted from four key factors: the development of overseas colonies; the opening of new trade routes; population growth; and inflation, caused partly by the pressure of the increasing population and party by the increased amount of gold and silver that was mined and put in circulation -
Maroon Wars
Spain colonized much of the Caribbean, English power there grew stronger. England defeated Spanish colonists and took control of much of Jamaica in 1655. Slaves in the Caribbean and former Spanish territories in the Americas fought to gain freedom.
