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Timeline Events for the Age of Exploration and Globalization

  • 1415

    Portuguese Capture of Ceuta

    The Portuguese capture of Ceuta marked the beginning of Europe's expansion into overseas exploration, opening new routes into Africa and beyond.
  • 1492

    Columbus Reaches the Americas

    Columbus's voyage in 1492 connected Europe and the Americas for the first time, launching a wave of exploration, colonization, and global change.
  • 1494

    Treaty of Tordesillas

    This treaty between Spain and Portugal divided newly discovered lands, shaping how the Americas and parts of the world were colonized for centuries.
  • 1497

    Vasco da Gama Reaches India

    Vasco da Gama’s successful voyage to India established a direct sea route from Europe to Asia, dramatically boosting global trade.
  • 1519

    Magellan’s Circumnavigation Begins

    Magellan’s expedition set out to sail around the world, proving not just that the Earth was round, but how interconnected distant lands truly were.
  • 1521

    Fall of Tenochtitlán

    The fall of the Aztec capital to Spanish conquistadors reshaped the Americas forever, bringing profound cultural, political, and demographic changes.
  • 1555

    Peace of Augsburg Signed

    By recognizing religious division across Europe, this treaty fueled new waves of migration and exploration as groups sought freedom elsewhere.
  • Founding of the British East India Company

    The founding of the British East India Company marked a turning point, as global trade became increasingly dominated by powerful corporations.
  • First African Slaves Arrive in Virginia

    The arrival of the first enslaved Africans in English North America began a tragic and lasting chapter of forced migration and racial inequality.
  • Expansion of the Columbian Exchange

    The Columbian Exchange spread crops, animals, people, and diseases between continents, permanently transforming economies, diets, and societies.