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Cabral landed in Brazil and claimed in for Portugal. This led to Portuguese colonization and the rise of sugar plantations. Over time, Brazil became a major center for the transatlantic slave trade, fueling its economy. -
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The Portuguese seized Malacca, a key trade hub in Southeast Asia. This gave Portugal control over the valuable spice trade. It also strengthened their dominance in the Indian Ocean, challenging Muslim and Chinese traders. -
Balboa crossed Panama and became the first European to see the Pacific Ocean. This expanded Spanish exploration toward Asia. His discovery encouraged further expeditions, including Magellan’s voyage around the world. -
Cortés defeated the Aztecs and claimed Mexico for Spain. This marked the rise of Spanish power in the Americas. The conquest also led to the spread of Spanish culture, language, and Catholicism in the region. -
Ferdinand Magellan, a Portuguese explorer, led the first expedition to circumnavigate the world. His expedition confirmed that the Earth is indeed round and not flat. It also helped to reveal new lands and sea routes as well as expanded European knowledge of the world. His discoveries led to the discovery of the Straight of Magellan. -
Verrazzano is known for exploring the east coast of North America. He made several discoveries during the journey, like New York Harbor, Block Island, Long Island, and Narragansett Bay. -
The execution of the last Inca emperor, Atahualpa, marked the end of the Inca empire. Pizarro captured him at Cajamarca, Peru. The death of Atahualpa weakened the Inca resistance and allowed the Spanish to conquer the empire faster. Pizarro’s actions left him to be viewed as a symbol of cruelty and treachery by the Spanish conquistadors. -
Cartier sailed up the St. Lawrence River, claiming land for France. This laid the foundation for future French colonization. His explorations opened the way for the fur trade, which became central to France’s North American economy. -
Drake attacked Spanish treasure ships off the Americas. This helped England challenge Spanish dominance at sea. His actions contributed to rising tensions between England and Spain, leading to the eventual Spanish Armada conflict. -
Sir Francis Drake becomes the first European to complete the second circumnavigation of the globe. It took three years for this expedition to be complete. His navigation made his way back to Plymouth, England. -
English merchants found the East India Company. It was formed to trade in the Indian Ocean region. The company gained control of large parts of the Indian subcontinent. -
The Dutch formed the Dutch East India Company and gradually pushed the Portuguese out of the spice trade in Southeast Asia. -
A monumental event of the first permanent English colony in VIrginia. Their colony was named after their king at the time, James I. -
The Hudson River was a famous checkpoint in Henry’s circumnavigation around the globe. The river primarily flows through New York. -
Peter Minuit, director-general of the Dutch West India Company, arrived in the New Netherland colony. He purchased the island of Manhattan from the Lenape Native Americans. The Dutch established New Amsterdam at the southern tip of Manhattan Island, where it became a bustling port and trading hub. -
Known as the largest English settlement in New England. It became one of the most successful colonies with their trading company and heavily influenced the colonization of the region. -
The English took over New Amsterdam, the capital of New Netherland, and renamed the colony New York in honor of the Duke of York. This seizure of New Netherland allowed the English to gain a vital harbor and trade center. The transition also brought changes in governance, trade, and social structures. -
King Charles II granted a Royal Charter to a company that eventually became the Hudson Bay Company. This establishment marked the beginning of a significant English fur trade in North America. It also granted the company a territory known as Rupert’s Land. The company played a significant role in the mapping and exploration of the Canadian interior. -
The expedition of Marquette and Joliet led to the construction of trading ports to exploit the region’s resources. These two explorers did not discover the Mississippi River; however, they did confirm its existence. This allowed French officials to claim the land on behalf of the French Crown. It also introduced Christianity to the Great Lakes region, thanks to Marquette’s preaching. -
The Massachusetts Bay Colony had developed significantly, reaching a population of around forty thousand settlers. Because of this, the British founded 13 colonies on the East Coast of North America. Each colony flourished in their economies through trade and agriculture. -
Vitus Bering was a Danish explorer in Russian service. He began his first Kamchatka expedition to determine whether Asia and North America were connected by land. When his boat passed through the Bering Strait, Vitus concluded that Asia was entirely separate from North America. -
After completing his astronomical observations in Tahiti, Cook set sail to explore the Pacific Ocean. He and his crew arrived on the Eastern Coast of Australia, where they documented their findings. James Cook then claimed the land by planting the British flag above the ground. -
During his third voyage to the Pacific, English explorer James Cook sighted the islands of Oahu, Kauai, and Niihau. The Hawaiians treated Cook and his crew with great hospitality, and there was a mutual exchange of goods and knowledge. -
Alexander von Humboldt embarked on an expedition across South America. He recorded the continent's plant and animal life, as well as its geographical features. Humboldt's journey enhanced the knowledge of South America's natural history and cemented his reputation as one of the era's most prominent scientists.