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1488
Expedition Around Cape of Good Hope
Beginning in 1420, Portugal took the lead in European exploration. There were reports of a route to India by going around the southern tip of Africa. In 1488, Portuguese explorer Bartholomew Dias led the first expedition to round the tip and called it the Cape of Good Hope. -
Oct 12, 1492
Discovery of America
The Italian explorer Christopher Columbus officially set foot in the Americas and claimed the land for Spain. -
1497
John Cabot Explores New England Coastline
After Columbus' discovery of the New World, many other countries raced to the Americas. Among them was England. In 1497, John Cabot was sent by England to explore the New England coastline of the Americas. -
1498
Da Gama Reaches India
Another Portuguese explorer, Vasco da Gama, took the route of Bartholomew Dias and went further around the Cape of Good Hope. In 1498, da Gama arrived at the port of Calicut, India, where he took back spices to Portugal. -
1499
Vespucci Lands in South America
Amerigo Vespucci from the Republic of Florence went on his third and most successful voyage in 1499. He landed in South America and discovered Rio de Janeiro and Rio de la Plata. America was later named after him. -
Sep 15, 1519
Magellan Sails Around the World
In 1519, Magellan set sail with five ships and 250 men. He believed that he could travel to Asia through the Western Hemisphere and therefore persuaded the King of Spain to fund his journey. In 1520, he passed through the Strait of Magellan and entered the Pacific Ocean. There, he sailed for weeks, finally landing in the Philippines before being killed by natives. Still, he is remembered as the first person to sail around the world. -
1521
Aztec Empire
Hernan Cortes conquered the Aztec Empire and claimed Mexico for Spain. -
Apr 17, 1524
New York Harbor
Giovanni Da Verrazzano was the first European to sight New York and Narragansett Bays. -
1531
Pizarro Conquers Peru
In 1531, Francisco Pizarro discovered Peru for Spain. He conquered the Incan Empire in the Peruvian Andes. Within 30 years, Spain had control of the western part of Latin America, including lands in Mexico, Central and Southern America. -
1534
French Claims to North America
French mariner Jacques Cartier was the first European to navigate the St. Lawrence River, and his explorations of the river and the Atlantic coast of Canada, on three expeditions from 1534 to 1542, laid the basis for later French claims to North America. -
1577
Sir Francis Drake Circumnavigates the Globe
In 1577, Queen Elizabeth the I of England sent Sir Francis Drake to South America. He became the first Englishman to circumnavigate the globe and was rewarded knighthood. Drake also participated in the victory against the Spanish Armada in 1588. -
Dutch East India company
It's main purpose was trade, exploration, and colonization throughout the 17th and 18th centuries.They also wanted Dutch war of independence from Spain. -
Samuel de Champlain
In 1608, Champlain founded Quebec which is now known as Canada. Quebec became a spot for fur-trading posts. -
Henry Hudson's third northeast voyage
Henry Hudson went on a third voyage funded by the Dutch East India Company that took him to the New World and the river that would be given his name. -
Discovery of the Hudson Bay
Henry Hudson discovered the Hudson Bay in 1611 during the search for the Northwest Passage. The bay played a crucial role in the early development of Canada as a direct route to the fur resources of the Northwest. -
King Charles I
King Charles I was beheaded for treason. The monarchy was abolished and the commonwealth of England became a republic until his son, Charles II restored monarchy in 1660. -
Discovery of Easter Island
Dutch explorer Jacob Roggeveen was sent to find terra australis, later named Australia. On Easter Day of 1722, Roggeveen began his voyage sponsored by the West Indian Company. Despite not finding terra australis, Roggevee discovered Easter Island. -
Samuel Wallis Lands in Tahiti
In 1766, Samuel Wallis was sent by the British Admiralty to go on a voyage to the Southern Pacific to find terra australis, a hypothetical continent. Though he did not find this continent, Wallis discovered Tahiti, marking their first contact with Europeans. -
James Cook's Three Voyages
British explorer James Cook was famous for his three voyages, which spanned from 1768 to 1779. On his first voyage, he circumnavigated New Zealand and explored the east coast of Australia. On his second, Cook discovered New Caledonia, the South Sandwich Islands, and South Georgia. On his final voyage, he discovered Hawaii. -
End of the Revolutionary War
In 1783, there was a Peace Treaty of Paris that ended the revolutionary War. The treaty gave the United States independence from Great Britain.