Exploration and Contact

Zhang He takes first voyage

Sep 17, 1405

Zhange He hoped that the first of seven voyages would impress the world with the power, respect, and splendor of Ming China.

Prince Henry founds first navigation school

Sep 17, 1419

Mapmakers, instrument makers , shipbuilders, scientists, and sea captains gathered at the navigation schools to perfect their trade.

Ming China adopts isolationist policy following Zheng He’s seventh voyage

Sep 17, 1433

In order to keep the influence of foreigners to a minimum, the only solution was for the government to conduct foreign trade. These foreign trades were conducted in only three coastal ports, Canton, Macao, and Ningbo.

Christopher Columbus lands in Hispaniola

Sep 17, 1492

The immediate impact of Colombus's arrival increased the tension between Spain and Portugal.

Spain and Portugal sign the Treaty of Tordesillas

Sep 17, 1494

To keep peace between Spain and Portugal, Pope Alxander VI drew an imaginary line from north to south. This line gave both Spain and Portugal a good amount of land.

Vasco da Gama reaches India

Sep 17, 1498

Da Gama and his crew find a variety of spices, rare silks, and precious gems. Landing in India also gave Portugal a direct sea route to India.

Tokugawa Ieyasu becomes shogun of Japan

Sep 17, 1603

Tokugawa unifies Japan but the daiymo still governed at the local level. To stop Daiymos from rebelling, Tokugawa places an alternate attendance policy. All of this lead toward restoring centralized government.

Manchus establish Qing Dynasty in China

Sep 17, 1644

The Qing Dynasty would rule for more than 260 years and the borders would include Taiwan, Chinese Central Asia, Mongolia, and Tibet