-
Period: Jan 1, 1400 to Jan 1, 1499
Ming Dynasty Rulers Send Fleets Out into Water
In 1405, Zheng He departed a fleet of 62 ships and lots of smaller ones. The largest ships were up to 400 feet. In folllowing years, Zheng He explored the coasts of Southeast Asia and India. -
Period: Jan 1, 1400 to Jan 1, 1499
Europeans Seek Sea Route to Asia
Muslims and Italians are charging high prices for them to pass by. They seek to find a different route, and go around the coast of Africa. -
Period: Jan 1, 1400 to Jan 1, 1499
Prince Henry the Navigator Sends Expedition Past Cape Bojador
He convinced Gil Eannes to try and sail past the Cape, and he agreed, eventually succeeding, and becoming the first to sail past that point. -
Jan 1, 1492
Columbus Discovers America
In 1492, Columbus and his three ships sailed westward. After a while of seeing no land at all, on October 12, Columbus had spotted land. -
Jan 1, 1493
Line of Demarcation Created
In 1493, Pope Alexander VI created a line of demarcation because of Spain and Portugal's claims for Columbus' land. The line separated the non-European world into two sections. -
Jan 1, 1497
Vasco da Gama Reaches port Calicut
In 1497, da Gama and his four ships sailed around the Cape of Good Hope. After 10 months, the ships finally reached the spice port of Calicut. -
Jan 1, 1500
Pedro Alvarez Cabral Discovers Brazil
Pedro Alvarez Cabral becomes the first European to reach Brazil, and he names the country. Cabral and his men spotted a patch of land, and sailed for three days before reaching land. -
Jan 1, 1502
De Gama Creates Trading Empire
In 1502, De Gama left Portuguese merchants at the port of Calicut. Then, the Portuguese seized ports around the Indian Ocean, and created a large trading empire. -
Jan 1, 1511
Afonso de Albuquerque Conquers Malacca
In 1511, Afonso de Albuquerque organized an expedition to conquer Malacca. On July 25, 1511, his Portuguese attacked the town . It was a ferocious battle, and the Portuguese ended up capturing the port. -
Jan 1, 1519
Ferdinand Magellan Sets Out from Spain
On September 20, 1519, Ferdiand Magellan departed from Spain on five ships. Men in his crew were from Africa, Southeast Asia, and Europe. -
Jan 1, 1521
Magellan Claims Land in the Philippines for the King of Spain
Magellan's crew finally lands in the Philippines. While there, he claimed land for the king of Spain, and was killed by a local chief. -
Jan 1, 1522
Magellan's Fleet Circumnavigates the World
Magellan put together a fleet of ships to circle the world in one trip in 1520. Before they completed the voyage, Magellan was killed. In 1522, after nearly three years, one ship finally completed the trip. -
Jan 1, 1543
Portuguese Arrive in Japan
After being blown off course, Portuguese traders shipwrecked near a Japan island. The Portuguese became the first to start regularly trading with Japan. -
The Happy Return
After being gone for more than a year, a Dutch fleet came back from Asia. The cargo carried spices, pepper, and cloves. -
Dutch East India Company Founded
Trading company was founded by the Dutch. It was founded so they could protect their trade in the Indian Ocean and to assist in the war of Indepence with Spain. -
Japanese Becomes Isolated
Japan bans western merchants, and becomes isolated in trading and more.
