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Period: Jan 1, 1500 to
Early European explorers in the Pacific islands
The Pacific islands were among the last places on earth to be charted by European explorers. The explorers were captivated by the beauty of the islands and the generosity of the people. By the beginning of the 20th century, every island in the Pacific had been brought under the 'protection' or colonial rule of Britain, France, Spain, Germany and America. Most islands had gained their independence by 1980. This timeline shows the arrival of some of the early European explorers in the Pacific. -
Sep 26, 1519
Ferdinand Magellan
Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan (1480–1521) was the first known European to sail into the Pacific Ocean. He sailed
through the Straits of Magellan at the tip of South America and across to the Philippines, making contact with the people of
Guam and the Marianas Islands. -
Aug 21, 1526
Alonso de Salazar
Spanish explorer Alonso de Salazar was the first European to see the Marshall Islands. -
Nov 15, 1577
Francis Drake
Francis Drake set sail -
Period: Nov 15, 1577 to Jul 22, 1580
Francis Drake
Francis Drake<br>
English explorer Francis Drake (1540–1596) sailed across the Pacific Ocean from 1577–1580, but he did not have any
contact with Pacific islanders. -
Abel Tasman
Abel Tasman set sail -
Period: to
Abel Tasman
Dutch explorer Abel Tasman (1603–1659) visited the islands of Tasmania, New Zealand, Fiji and Tonga. -
Period: to
Louis-Antoine de Bougainville
French explorer Louis-Antoine de Bougainville (1729–1811) circumnavigated the world between these years. On his way
across the Pacific Ocean, he passed Tahiti, Samoa, Vanuatu and the Solomon Islands. The Pacific journey ended at the Bismarck Archipelago. The island of Bougainville, off Papua New Guinea, is named after him. -
Samuel Wallis
British Captain Samuel Wallis landed in Tahiti. -
Period: to
James Cook
British explorer and cartographer James Cook (1728–1779) made three Pacific voyages mapping Tahiti, New Zealand and the east coast of Australia from 1768–1771. On his 1772–1775 voyage he landed at Easter Island (Rapa Nui), New Caledonia and Vanuatu. Cook mapped Hawaii on his third voyage.