Exploration-Slicktonton-Anthony Johnson. By slicktonton Period: Jan 1, 1400 to Jan 1, 1800 Exploration Timespan. Jan 1, 1405 Zheng He takes first voyage Jan 1, 1419 Prince Henry founds navigation school. Jan 1, 1494 Spain and Portugal sign Treaty of Tordesillas. Jan 1, 1511 In 1511 Afonso de Albuquerque conquered Malacca In 1511 Afonso de Albuquerque conquered Malacca to Portugal,. then the center of Asian trade. Jan 1, 1603 Tokugawa shoguns rule Japan. Jan 1, 1619 Dutch open trade with Java. Jan 1, 1644 Manchus establish Qing Dynasty in China. Jan 1, 1793 Britain seeks to trade with China