Important events in Europe during 1400-1800

Prince Henry The Navigator

Jan 1, 1400

Prince Henry the Navigator sailed to the Madeiras and Azores, and south, along the coast of Africa, to the western bulge of Africa.He sailed from Portugal

Bartolomew Dias

Jan 1, 1486

set sail in 1486 and discovered the Cape of Good Hope in 1487, rounding the southernmost point of Africa and continued sailing north along the African coast, a long distance, until a mutiny caused him to return to Portugal. He arrived in Portugal in December of 1488. The Portuguese had discovered a sea route to India.

Christopher Columbus

Jan 1, 1486

set sail from port of Palos, in southern Spain on August 3, 1492. Sighted land in the Bahamas on October 12, 1492, discovered Cuba, Española, and other islands in West Indies. Returned March 4, 1493.

Giovanni Caboto

Nov 30, 1497

Giovanni Caboto born in Genoa, citizen of Venice, sailed for England from Bristol, England, in May 20, 1497. Reached Belle Island on the northern coast of Newfoundland, on June 24, 1497. He sailed down the east coast of Newfoundland, to the southern corner, Landing only on Newfoundland, at Belle Island. He never landed again on the coast, before he returned to England on July 30, 1497

Vicente Yañez Pinzon

Jan 1, 1499

set sail from Palos, Spain in December, 1499. Landed on the southern coast of Brazil on January 20, 1500, and sailed north along the coast. Returned on September 30, 1500.

Amerigo Vespucci

Jan 1, 1501

sailed from Lisbon, Portugal on May 13, 1501. He sighted the coast of Brazil on August 15, 1501, heading south, he explored the coast of Brazil. He returned to Lisbon in June, 1502

Vicente Yañez Pinzon

Jan 1, 1508

In 1508, he made two expeditions to the New World looking for the path to the Spice Islands. It is not known, where they went, but it is suspected that they sailed to Honduras and the Yucatan. Returned in 1509.

Juan de la Cosa

Jan 1, 1509

he sailed from Spain to the northern coast of South America, He was killed by Indians in Colombia.

Juan Diaz de Solis

Jan 1, 1515

sailed in October 8, 1515, and was instructed to sail around the southern tip of South America, and up the coast, until he reached Panama. He reached the coast of Brazil, and in February of 1516, reached Uruguay and entered the Plate River. Seeing a group of Indians, he went ashore with 7 men, and the Indians attacked them, killing everybody in the landing party, cutting to pieces, and eating them in plain view of the ship. The ship with the survivors returned to Sevilla in September of 1516.

Giovanni da Verrazzano

Jan 1, 1524

sailed from Dieppe, France on January 17, 1524. He made landfall on March 1st, 1524 at Cape Fear, southernmost of North Carolina's three capes. They sailed south for about 110 miles, and turned north, to avoid running into any Spaniards, he sailed another 250 miles north, along the coast. He explored the coasts of Georgia, North and South Carolina, and as far north as New York Bay and Arcadia. He returned and anchored at Dieppe on July 8, 1524.