-
1492
Columbus Discovers the Americas
Columbus's voyage marked the beginning of sustained European contact with the Americas, initiating the Columbian Exchange and global interaction. -
1498
Vasco da Gama Reaches India
This opened the first sea route from Europe to Asia, revolutionizing global trade routes. -
Period: 1519 to 1522
Magellan's Circumnavigation
The first voyage around the world demonstrated the true scale of the Earth, advancing global navigation and exploration. -
1521
Fall of the Aztec Empire
The Spanish conquest of the Aztecs led to the colonization of Mexico and expanded European influence in the Americas. -
Founding of Jamestown
Jamestown was the first permanent English settlement in North America, signifying European expansion and colonization. -
Beginning of Transatlantic Slave Trade
The first enslaved Africans arrived in Virginia, starting a dark chapter in globalization driven by labor demands in the colonies. -
The Treaty of Westphalia
This treaty ended the Thirty Years' War and helped establish the modern nation-state, facilitating global diplomacy and trade. -
Period: to
Captain Cook’s Pacific Voyages
Cook mapped previously uncharted territories, expanding European knowledge of the Pacific and encouraging further exploration. -
Lewis and Clark Expedition
Their exploration of the American West expanded the U.S. territory and promoted westward expansion. -
Opening of the Suez Canal
This event revolutionized global trade by creating a direct route between Europe and Asia, reducing travel time significantly.