Key moments of great geographical discoveries made by the Europeans in the fifteenth century

Bartholomew Diaz

Nov 28, 1488

Bartholomew Diaz reached the Cape of Good Hope, the tip of Africa

The new Era

Period: Nov 28, 1488 to Nov 28, 1522

Columbus and the discovery of America

Oct 12, 1492

Columbus leaves from Genoa and reaches the American continent,sure to be in Asia

John and Sebastian Cabot

Nov 1, 1497

The Venetian brothers John and Sebastian Cabot discovered Canada

The circumnavigation of Africa

Sep 28, 1498

The Portuguese Vasco De Gama circumnavigated Africa and found a route to the Indies by sea

Amerigo Vespucci

Nov 28, 1499

The Florentine Amerigo Vespucci shows that the lands discovered by Columbus belong to a new continent, America, that he will name

Ferdinando Magellano

Dec 28, 1519

The Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan reaches Earth Fire, South America and discovers a new ocean: the Pacific