The age of Discovery (1418-1497)

Introduction

1400

The Age of Discovery is the foundation that sets the path for various explorations. The Age of Discovery started with the Portuguese ruler Pince Herny the Navigator. It created new trade routes in Africa and the Middle East, allow for the expansion of land and power.
Source:
http://famous-explorers.org/the-age-of-discovery/

Prince Henry the Navigator

1418

This is a photo of Prince Henry the Navigator who has been credited with creating the Age of Discovery.
Source:
https://www.biography.com/explorer/henry-the-navigator

Prince Henry the Navigator

1418

Henry's first sponsored trip for the Portuguese explorers was to the Atlantic islands of Madeira Islands, Azores, and travel across the West Africa coast to Sierra Leone (1418-1419). Henry eventually dies in 1460 after the completion of his colonization sponsored voyages.
Source:
https://www.encyclopedia.com/people/history/spanish-and-portuguese-history-biographies/henry-navigator#:~:text=Henry's%20first%20sponsored%20voyages%20of,the%20Portuguese%20(the%20Azores%20ca.

Cape Bojador

1434

Gil Eannes was a Portugues sailer who was sponsored by Prince Herny who sailed to Cape Bojador and returned to Portugal.
Source:
https://www.britannica.com/topic/European-exploration/The-land-routes-of-Central-Asia
ttps://www.britannica.com/topic/European-exploration/The-Age-of-Discovery#/media/1/196140/2703

Slave Trade Rt

1446

Slave trade route
Source:
https://www.britannica.com/topic/European-exploration/The-land-routes-of-Central-Asia

Slave Trade Rt

1446

This is the slave trade route.
Source:
https://www.britannica.com/topic/European-exploration/The-Age-of-Discovery#/media/1/196140/2703

Slave Trade

1446

Antam Goncalvez is a Portuguese explore who sailed down to the western coast of Africa and to the south of the Rio De Oro. The voyage in 1446 across the Rio De Oro it marked the start of the Trans- Atlantic Slave Trade.
Source:
https://ldhi.library.cofc.edu/exhibits/show/african_laborers_for_a_new_emp/pope_nicolas_v_and_the_portugu
https://www.britannica.com/topic/European-exploration/The-land-routes-of-Central-Asia

Gambia and Cape Verde Islands

1455

Alvise Cademosto was an Italian explorer who was hired by Prince Henry the Navigator to explore the unknowns in West Africa. He discovered Cape Verde Islands and Gambia along his journey in 1455 and 1456.
Sources:
https://www.encyclopedia.com/history/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/alvise-da-cadamosto
https://www.britannica.com/topic/European-exploration/The-land-routes-of-Central-Asia

Fernando Po

1471

Fernao do Po was a Portuguese explorer who discovered the island of Fernando Po, which is known as Bioko.
Sources:
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-13317615
https://www.britannica.com/topic/European-exploration/The-Age-of-Discovery
https://visitguineaecuatorial.com/en/cities/bioko/

Elmina Castle

1482

In 1482, Prince Henry the Navigator sent Portuguese traders out to explore West Africa. The explorer's built the Elina Castle to be the first European slave- trading post. At first, it was built as a protector to secure the gold trade.
Sources:
http://www.pbs.org/wonders/Episodes/Epi3/elmina.htm
https://www.britannica.com/topic/European-exploration/The-Age-of-Discovery
https://www.britannica.com/topic/European-exploration/The-Age-of-Discovery#/media/1/196140/2703

Congo River

1483

Digo Cao was a Portuguese explorer who thought he had explored the Congo River. The Congo River was predicted to be great for trading with the riverine people, and the coast was projecting eastward. Instead, the head of the gulf was reached, and the coastal stretch was southwards. He founded two large kingdoms long his journey called Loango and Bakongo.
Source:
https://www.timewisetraveller.co.uk/diogocao.html
https://www.britannica.com/topic/European-exploration/The-Age-of-Discovery

Congo River Rt

1483

This is the Congo River route.
Source:
https://www.britannica.com/topic/European-exploration/The-Age-of-Discovery#/media/1/196140/2703

Diogo Cao Second Voyage

1484

From 1484 to 1486 Diogo Cao completed his second voyage where he visited African coast and up to Cape Cross in Namibia.
Sources:
ww.famous-explorers.com/famous-portuguese-explorers/diogo-cao/
https://www.britannica.com/topic/European-exploration/The-Age-of-Discovery
https://www.britannica.com/topic/European-exploration/The-Age-of-Discovery#/media/1/196140/2703

Bartolomeu Dias

1487

Bartolomeu Dias arrives at the Sr. Barbara on Dec, 4th, 1487, then on Dec 8th he arrives at Walvis Bay, and the Gulf of St. Stephen on Dec 26. On Feb 3, 1488, he sailed north where he spotted the spot Angra de Sao Bras. He had to sail north because there were massive sea storms down south.
Sources:
https://www.britannica.com/biography/Bartolomeu-Dias#ref326102
https://www.britannica.com/topic/European-exploration/The-Age-of-Discovery

Bartolomeu Dias Rt

1487

This is the route that Bartolomeu Dias took.
Source:
https://www.britannica.com/topic/European-exploration/The-Age-of-Discovery#/media/1/196140/2703

Calicut

1497

On July 8, 1497, Vasco da Gama and his crew sailed from Lisbon. On November 22 he arrives at the southern tip of Africa at the Cape of Good Hope. He arrived at Calicut on May 20, 1498. Eventually, he had an issue with trading with locales. The trip to Calicut needed a quicker trade route.
Sources:
https://www.ducksters.com/biography/explorers/vasco_da_gama.php
https://www.britannica.com/topic/European-exploration/The-Age-of-Discovery
https://gohighbrow.com/vasco-da-gama-1469-1524/

Conclusion

1500

The Age of Discovery is an important period in world history. Before the 15th century parts of the world were unknown. With the advancement of mapping and navigation travel was possible. The Portuguese paved the way for many future explorations as they discovered many trading routes, colonized in Africa, and expanded power and land.

Work Cited

1501

Mitchell, Jean Brown. “The Age of Discovery.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., 30 May 2018, www.britannica.com/topic/European-exploration/The-Age-of-Discovery.
https://www.encyclopedia.com/people/history/spanish-and-portuguese-history-biographies/henry-navigator#:~:text=Henry's%20first%20sponsored%20voyages%20of,the%20Portuguese%20(the%20Azores%20ca.

Work Cited

1501

Wise, Carl, and David Wheat. “Pope Nicolas V and the Portuguese Slave Trade · African Laborers for a New Empire: Iberia, Slavery, and the Atlantic World · Lowcountry Digital History Initiative.” Omeka RSS, ldhi.library.cofc.edu/exhibits/show/african_laborers_for_a_new_emp/pope_nicolas_v_and_the_portugu.
"Alvise da Cadamosto ." Encyclopedia of World Biography. . Encyclopedia.com. 17 Jul. 2020 https://www.encyclopedia.com.

Work Cited

1501

Waldie, Dr Derek J.P. “ DIOGO CÃO (or CAM) DISCOVERS THE RIVER CONGO - 1482.” DIOGO CÃO (or CAM) DISCOVERS THE RIVER CONGO - 1482 (E4), www.timewisetraveller.co.uk/diogocao.html.
White, Jamila. “Wonders of the African World - Slave Kingdoms - Elmina.” PBS, Public Broadcasting Service, www.pbs.org/wonders/Episodes/Epi3/elmina.htm.
“Vasco Da Gama.” Ducksters Educational Site, www.ducksters.com/biography/explorers/vasco_da_gama.php.