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Nov 7, 1330
Aztecs found Tenochitlan
Tenochitlan is where Mexico City is located today. It was founded about 1325, on a little island in a lake. Tenochitlan was the capital of Aztec culture. It covered an area about 12 square kilometers, making it the largest of Mesoamerica. -
Nov 7, 1346
The Black Death
The Black Death, or bubonic plague, was carried by rat fleas, mainly by the Mongols through trade. Twenty five million people were killed; one third of the entire European population. This put a stop to trade production until the 1500s. -
Nov 12, 1420
Caravels
In 1420, the first caravels are built, and Asian ships can enter the Atlantic Ocean by rounding the Cape of Good Hope. A caravel is a small, highly maneuverable sailing ship. They were mostly used by the Portuguese. -
Nov 7, 1442
First Slave Auction
The first auction of black slaves took place in Portugal, in 1442. This wasn't a private affair, as others to follow would be, but incredibley public. Slavery skyrocketed, and by 1445, only 3 years later, 800 black slaves were being shipped to Portugal annually. -
Nov 7, 1492
Columbus discovers West Indies
Columbus accidentally discovered the West Indies in the New World in 1492, though he didn't realize it. He also encounters Native Americans, and discovers that compasses change direction as longitude changes. -
Jun 7, 1494
Treaty of Tordesillas
The Treaty of Tordesillas was created to help disperse land in the New World and sort out confusion between the Spanish and Portugese. It devided the mostly unknown land of the New World, and was signed in 1494. -
Nov 7, 1498
Columbus Discovers America
Columbus discovered the American continent in 1498, but at the time, he thought it was a part of Asia. It wasn't discovered until after his death that it was in fact its own continent. In fact, he called Native Americans indians because he thought he was on the tip of India. -
Nov 7, 1499
Amerigo Vespucchi's Discovery
In 1499, Amerigo Vepucchi explores the coast of South America and decides that Columbus's assumption was incorrect, and it is in fact an entirely seperate continent. Both of the Americas are named after him. -
Nov 7, 1514
Smallpox
Smallpox was brought by the Europeans to the New World, and it wiped out native populations drastically. -
Nov 12, 1517
Reformation
Martin Luther started the Protestant Reformation in Germany in 1517 A.D. He thought the popes were gready and doing everything wrong, and he wasn't alone in wanting change. -
Nov 12, 1521
Fall of the Aztecs
The great Aztec Empire was destroyed in 1521 by a Spanish conquest led by Hernán Cortés. It took a total of 8 months of battle and intrigue to overcome the diplomatic resistance of the Aztec Emperor Montezuma. -
Nov 12, 1533
Atahualpa Vs. Pizzaro
In 1533, the Spanish conqueror Pizzaro hung Atahualpa, emperor of the Incas. Spain then proceeded to conquer the Inca empire, which was already being destroyed by a smallpox epidemic and civil war. -
Nov 12, 1542
Verrazano Explores North America
Giovanni Verrazano explored North America for France in 1542. Although he was in service of the French crown, he himself was Italian. -
Discovery of Australia
The most significant exploration of Australia in the 17th century was by the Dutch. This was in 1606. The Dutch East India Company trading frequently with islands the currently form parts of Indonesia, and were therefore already fairly close to Australia. -
Jamestown
Jamestown was the first successful settlement of North America. It was named after King James I of England, and it was originally founded for monetary reasons. -
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The reason I chose these events are because I believe they have the greatest impact on exploration. All of these events are either impacted by exploration, or they themselves impact exploration.
