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Nov 14, 1346
Black Death Epidemic
Known as the "Black Death," it was a huge outbreak of plague and was carried by rat fleas. This killed 25 million people (one-third of the world's population.) In some rare cases, people would have warts up to the size of an orange. Although it killed most of the population, people still lived through this horrific disease. -
Nov 14, 1347
First guns appear in Europe
During this time, Europe became high tech, and started to develop new technology that no one has seen before. The Europeans made the first gun out of new material such as iron, steel and started to work with metallurgy. After making the first gun, they started to inhance their weaponry and created swords, armor, battle transportation etc. This gave Europeans an advantage in situations such as war and conquest. -
Nov 14, 1400
Improvements in sailing ships
Improvements of sailing ships was one of the main factors in exploration. They started to create ships with better frame-working, and made ships bigger to transport goods for long-distance travels. Sails were also a key improvement, they were able to sail any which way for easier sailing. With all these improvements it helped explorers to move and travel faster. -
Nov 14, 1420
First Carvals are built
For the first time, Asian ships enter the Atlantic Ocean. These ships were the fastest in its time and were able to navigate easier because of its compact and small size. These ships were generally used buy merchants and used for trade. This was a first launch of exploration for the Chinese. -
Nov 14, 1431
First Chinese ships arrive in Africa
China sets out for its first exploration in order to find unique treasures and useful findings. Under the command of explorer/emperor Zheng He, they gave gifts to the country of Africa such as gold, porcelain, and silk. In return, the Africans would give ivory, myrrh, zebras and camels. This would be one of China's first explorations. -
Nov 14, 1442
Black slaves are auctioned in Portugal
Portuguese sailors enter the slave trade to make a big profit. They arrived in Africa and conquered part of Africa. They made forts on the coast in Africa and began the slave trade. The fist slaves in the New World was in Spain and Portugal. -
Nov 14, 1465
Navigation by stars is improved for traveling
Navigation by stars was one of the main technologies to help travel. Due to lack of technology to build a compass, astrolobe etc. explorers had to rely on their instincts. Eventually, they realized that stars could navigate their way into find locations and travels. Thus, they used the stars at night as their advantage to help find their ways. -
Nov 14, 1507
A new map of the world is called "America" to honor Amerigo Vespucchi
Amerigo Vespucchi was one of the most notable explorers in his time. In honor of him, other explorers have honored him and created a new map of the world called, "America." Amerigo Vespucchi would not only lead the way to exploration due to his findings of central america but also contributed and expanded exploration. Which helps people understand more about geography. -
Nov 14, 1533
Emperor Atthualpa is conquered and hanged by Pizzaro and the Spainards
When the Spainards arrived in South/Central America, they conquered the Inca Empire. Unaware of this, Atahualpa believed that they were kind foreigners and accepted them. Little did he know that the Spainards were only there to conquer and spread Christianity. In the end, it was the fall of the Inca Empire due to war and smallpox epidemic. -
Nov 14, 1535
Spainards discover Lima, Peru
After conquering the Inca Empire, the Spanish conquerors began their exploration and found the city of Lima in Peru. Pizzaro believed the city of Lima was one of his most important findings in his life. There he would establish Lima as the capital in Peru. Spainards would find gold and riches here in Lima. -
Nov 14, 1543
Astronomer Nicholas Copernicus publishes a book about earth and how planets revolve around the sun
Nicholas Copernicus was an astronomer who published a book about the earth and other planets that revolved around the sun. This would be one of the earliest books that would teach people on earth and space science.This would be the start of not only just exploration but about the world. Thus, it would lead us to new discoveries in the world. -
Period: Nov 14, 1577 to Nov 14, 1580
Sir Francis Drake becomes the first Englishman to circumnavigate the globe
Sir Francis Drake, another famous explorer was known to find the colony of Roanoke in Virgina. He also became the first Englishman to circumnavigate the globe. Most explorers did not succeeded in traveling around the world and was quite difficult to do so. Out of all the explorers that tried, Francis Drake was the one that had the most information about how to travel around the world. -
Dutch explorers discover Australia
During this time, the Dutch traded with islands close within in range of Indonesia (close to Australia.) At one point, explorer Willem Janszoon and other explorers landed on the coast of Australia. Dutch explorers began to settle and established a new colony named, "New Holland." This marked a new territory in European conquest. -
Jamestown in Virgina is established by the English
Jamestown, Virgina was established in 1607. Founded by the Virgina Company of London, it would later be the first permant English settlement. Jamestown was also famous for its first but failed attempts such as the infamous lost colony of Roanoke. It served as the capital of the town for 83 years. -
Galileo builds his first telescope
Galileo built his first telescope in order to study more about the exploration in travel and in space. He believed there was more out there in the world and wanted to know more about the stars, earth and other planets. To understand more of his findings, he began the study of motion science and combined them into experiment and mathematics. This would lead up to the greatest discoveries in the world. -
Why these 15 events are important?
These 15 events define/explain exploration because it symbolizes how far we come through technology and exploration. For example, exploration started through curoisty and began to evolve indepth in traveling. It started the evolution of new technology such as guns, swords, armors etc. Also the way we use natrual resources and created our own man-made resources. Today, we come a long way from just using our instincts and creating technology in our own environment and used what we had.
