European Exploration

Europeans Branch Out

Jan 1, 1400

The people of Europe starting looking out to the places beyond where they are. Lots of people wanted different things. Some searched for adventure. Others wanted to spread religion. But lots of people wanted the greens. As in money. That probably wasn't clear.

The search for new routes

Jan 2, 1400

Europeans started developing a taste for spices in their diets. Most of those spices came from islands in Asia. Because they had to be shipped halfway around the world on dangerous voyages, Spices were expensive. For many years, the Italian port city controlled this trade. Europeans began to look for ways to bypass Venice's hold on the spice trade.

Columbus' Expedition Begins

Jan 4, 1492

Columbus led his first expedition outward. He first landed in the Bahamas, what he believed was near Asia.

Vasco da Gama finds a way

Jan 3, 1497

He sailed all the way near India to the Spice Islands

Cabot's Voyage

Jan 7, 1497

King Henry VII sent Cabot on a voyage to the West. The English thought that there might be a water route through the Amercas that would lead north and west to Asia. They called this sought-for route the Northwest Passage. Cabot landed on th far northern Atlantic coast of North America. Like other explorers, he failed to find the Northwest Passage. Europeans eventually gave up their search for this route.

Columbus' Second Voyage

Jan 5, 1498

He reaches South America.

The Columbian Exchange

Jan 6, 1499

In the years following Columbus's voyages, a geat interaction between the "New World" and the "Old World" took place. This interaction is sometimes referred to as the Columbian Exchange. Plants, animals, and even diseases moved between the Western and Eastern Hemispheres. Ways of life changed forever for American Indians in the New World and Europeans and Africans in the Old World. Europeans enjoyed new American foods such as potatoes, tomatoes, beans, and corn.

Spain claims a lot of the New World lands.

Jan 9, 1500

In the early 1500s, Spain was taking control of much of the South and Central America and many Carribean islands, including Cuba and Hispaniola. Meanwhile, Spanish governors and explorers bgan to look northward.

Juan Ponce de Leon

Jan 10, 1508

A Spanish Official in the New World. In 1508-1509 He explored and settled in the island of Puerto Rico. King Ferdinand authorized Ponce de Leon to explore lands north of Cuba.

Juan's Expedition

Jan 11, 1513

He revealed more land lay to the north of the Caribbean islands.

Verrazano's expedition

Jan 8, 1524

King Francis I of France sent Italian navigator Giovanni da Verranzo westward. He first reached land at North Carolina's Outer Banks. He returned to France with a glowing report to the king. However, the French king was now occupied with military challenges at home. He did not sponsor anymore voyages to the Americas.

Spaniards come to North Carolina

Jul 12, 1526

Lucas Vazquez de Ayllon led a group of over 500 people to a river he called Jordan. Historians believe hat it was actually North Carolina's Cape Fear River. Lots of people of the colony died due to disease and starvation. So did Lucas.

Return to Hispaniola

Oct 13, 1526

The 150 remaining colonists of the group led by Ayllon returned to Hispaniola.

De Soto's Expedition

Jan 14, 1539

Hernando de Soto sailed with a military expedition from Havana, Cuba, to the west coast of Florida. De Soto and his men were the first people to see the lands of Tallahassee, Florida, Georgia and South Carolina. He died on the trip, but many of his Returned to Mexico. They also met the Cherokee Indians.