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Period: Jan 1, 1400 to Jan 1, 1499
Muslim and Italian merchants control trade between Europe and Asia
The overland route is controlled by Muslims and the Europeans take to the seas to try to find a sea route to trade with Asia. -
Period: Jan 1, 1400 to Jan 1, 1499
Prince Henry the Navigator
Portuguese prince responsible for early development of exploration and the son of the Portuguese King. He funds major explorations. -
Period: Jan 1, 1400 to Jan 1, 1499
Ming Dynasty and exploration
After Zheng He died China stopped funding exploration and trade. Allowed Portuguese, Dutch, English, and other European countries to trade in their land under heavy regulation. -
Jan 1, 1492
Christopher Columbus
Italian explorer, sailed for Spain, sailed the ocean in 1492, discovered North American “New World.” His expeditions were sponsored by King Ferdinand of Spain. -
Jan 1, 1493
Line of Demarcation
The Line of Demarcation was an imaginary longitude, drawn by Pope Alexander VI to divide new lands claimed by Portugal from those of Spain. His line was drawn in 1493 after Christopher Columbus returned from his maiden voyage to the Americas. -
Jan 1, 1497
Vasco da Gama
Portuguese explorer, sailed for Portugal, was the first person to sail from Europe to India by sea. He gave Portugal a water route to Asia. -
Jan 1, 1500
Pedro Alvarez Cabral
Portuguese explorer, sailed for discovered Brazil, Cabral conducted the first substantial exploration of the northeast coast of South America and claimed it for Portugal. Also, the first European to reach Brazil. -
Jan 1, 1502
Vaso de Gama
Sailed from Portugal bound for Mozambique and Sofala. There, he obtained some gold. He established trading rights, and forced the new Sultan of Mozambique to pay homage to the King of Portugal with an annual tribute of gold. -
Jan 1, 1511
Afonso de Albuquerque
Albuquerque captured Malacca, from this base he could control the trade from the East Indies and the coast of China. During his governorship Portuguese vessels touched on the coast of China and sailed to some of the islands of the East Indies, gaining naval ascendancy in the Far East. -
Jan 1, 1519
Ferdinand Magellan
Magellan set sail from Spain in an effort to find a western sea route to the rich Spice Islands of Indonesia. he expedition set up winter quarters at Port St. Julian. On Easter day, the Spanish captains mutinied against their Portuguese captain, but Magellan crushed the revolt. -
Jan 1, 1521
Spain and the Philippines
Spain Concqured the Philippines. Spread Catholicism throughout and establased a trading empire. -
Jan 1, 1522
Magellan’s Expedition
One of Ferdinand Magellan’s five ships, the Vittoria, arrives at SanlÚcar de Barrameda in Spain. Thus completing the first circumnavigation of the world. -
Jan 1, 1543
Portuguese and Japan
Japan first met Europe in 1543, when a storm blew a Chinese ship with Portuguese traders on board. The Portuguese introuduced firearms to Japanese. -
The Happy Return
A Dutch fleet returned to Amsterdam from Asia after more than a year's absence. It carried a cargo of pepper, cloves, and other spices. Church bells rang to celebrate this "Happy Return." overseas activity. -
The Dutch East India Company
The trading company founded by the Dutch in 1602 to protect their trade in the Indian Ocean and to assist in their war of independence from Spain. In the next decades, the Dutch strove to make themselves the major European power in the east. -
Japanese ban western merchants
Japan use to welcome western merchants. After leanring about the Philippines Japenese shotguns became supicious of Europeans. Evenually Japan fordid western merchants.
