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Portuguese sailors began exploring the coast of Africa in 1419, leveraging the latest developements in navigation, cartography, and maritime technology such as the caravel, in order that they might find a sea route to the source of the lucrative spice trade.
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In 1488 Bartholomeu Dias rounded the tip, called the Cape of Good Hope. The voyage opened sea routes between Europe and Asia.
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The explorer Christopher Columbus became the first European to arrive at the islands. Christopher called these islands the indies because he thought he had finally reached Asia.
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The Treaty of Tordesillas was agreed upon by the Spanish and the Portuguese to clear up confusion on the newly claimed land in the New World.
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Vasco da Gama began exploring the east african coast in 1497. He reached southwestern India in 1498.Vasco da Gama and his crew were amazed at the spices and other resources found in India.
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Sailed from Portugal to S. America in 1500, then continued to India by way of S. Africa.
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Albuquerque sailed into Melaka, a thriving spice port, on the Malay Peninsula. Having Melaka would destroy Arab control of the spice trade and provide the Portuguese with a way station on the route to the Moluccas, then known as the Spice Islands.
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The first Spanish ship carried enslaved Africans from Africa to America.
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Led by Hernando Cortes, was a landmark victory for the European settlers.
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Spain finally gains control of all of Mexico.
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First permanent legal basis for the existence of Lutheranism as well as Catholicism in Germany, promulgated byt the Diet of the Holy Roman Empire assembled earlier that year at Ausburg.
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In 1595 the first Dutch fleet arrives in India, soon they created the East India Company.
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The first English colony of Jamestown was established.
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Samuel de Champlain founded first permanent French settlement, Quebec.
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Searching for gold and precious goods, an English fleet sails to the N.W coast of India.
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Dutch setlements in New Netherland from the Hudson River, North to New York.
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Hudson's forth voyage, abord Discovery (1610-11), was financed by English merchants seeking the Northwest Passage across America to the Far East. He made it as far as Hudson's Bay before mutineers put him and eight others (including his son) adrift on a small boat in the bay in June of 1611.
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In 1664, the English seized the colony of New Netherland and renamed it New York.
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When England won the 7 years war, they took control of Canada.
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The American Revolution ends English rule of the American colonies.
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Slavery continued in the U.S. until the Civil War.
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The Spanish Civil War ended Spains' control over Mexico.
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The Statute of Westminster officially started the separation of Canada and Britain.
