Emily Strothers Exploration Timeline

Black Death

Jan 1, 1346

The Black Death was a huge outbreak of plague. The main reason it came Europe was because it was carried by rats, killing millions of people. Specifically 1/3 of the population.

Geographer Ptolomey

Jan 1, 1406

The long lost map of the world created by Ptolomey is rediscovered in Western Europe. It becomes the best existing map of the world. Ptolomey's map makes Colombus believe that Asia can be reached by sailing west from Europe.

First Guttenberg bible is printed

Jan 1, 1440

The first Guttenberg Bible is printed on a printing press. This invention made it possible for books to be made inexoensivly. As a result of this, knowledge began to spread more rapidly than ever before in history.

The first auctions of black slaves take place in Portugal

Jan 1, 1442

Portugal began slave trade because of one person. Anton Gonsalves brings ten slaves from gold coast to Lisbon. He exchanges them for Muslim Moorish prisioners.

Colombus discovers West Indies

Jan 1, 1492

Colombus dicovers the west Indies in the New World. After seven centuries, the last Moslems are driven from Spanish soil. Leonardo Da Vinci draws a plan for a flying machine.

Treaty of Tordesillas

Jan 1, 1494

Treaty of Tordesillas divides the world's undiscovered lands between Spain and Portugal. On June 7, 1494 Spain and Portugal met at Tordesillas, Spain and signed a treaty moved the line 270 leagues west, to 370 leagues west of Cape Verde. The treaty was intended to resolve the dispute that had been created following the return of Christopher Columbus.

Colombus discovers American continent

Jan 1, 1498

Thanks to Potolomy Christopher Colombus discovered the American continent. Because of Potolomy's map, Colombus believes the American continent is part of Asia. He made colombus believe that by sailing west from Europe you can reach Asia also.

The last voyages of Colombus

Jan 1, 1502

Colombus dies

Jan 1, 1506

It was May 20, 1506, only 2 years since his final voyage that Christopher Columbus died. He was Fifty Four and his place of death was in Valladolid, Spain .

Balboa crosses the Isthmus

Jan 1, 1513

Balboa crosses the Isthmus of Panama. He discovers the Pacific Ocean. Ponce de Leon lands in Florida as well.

Smallpox brought by Europeans

Jan 1, 1514

Smallpox brought by Europeans. This begins to wipe out the native populations in the Americas.

Martin Luther

Jan 1, 1517

Martin Luther starts the Protestant Reformation in Germany.The Protestant Reformation was the 16th-century schism within Western Christianity initiated by Martin Luther, John Calvin and other early Protestants. The Reformation was precipitated by earlier events within Europe, such as the Black Death and the Western Schism, which eroded people's faith in the Catholic Church and the Papacy that governed it.

Atahualpa

Jan 1, 1533

Atahualpa, emperor of the Incas, is hanged by the Spanish conquorer Pizzaro. Spain conquors the Inca empire which was already being destroyed by a smallpox epidemic and civil war.

Hernando DeSoto

Jan 1, 1541

On May 8, 1541, south of present-day Memphis, Tennessee, Spanish conquistador Hernando de Soto reaches the Mississippi River, one of the first European explorers to ever do so. After building flatboats, de Soto and his 400 ragged troops crossed the great river under the cover of night, in order to avoid the armed Native Americans who patrolled the river daily in war canoes. From there the conquistadors headed into present-day Arkansas, continuing their fruitless two-year-old search for gold and

William Shakespeare

Jan 1, 1564

William Shakespeare was born to John Shakespeare and mother Mary Arden some time in late April 1564 in Stratford-upon-Avon. AlsoThe great artist Michelangelo dies.