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Spain and Portugal initiated foreign exploration, marking the start of European global expansion and the search for new trade routes.
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Columbus’ voyage led to the discovery of the Americas, drastically changing world history by connecting Europe, Africa, and the Americas. -
The exchange of goods, plants, animals, and diseases between the Old and New Worlds reshaped ecosystems and societies globally. -
Hoping to find a northwest passage to Asia, Cabot sets out on a voyage from England. When he lands on the east coast of North America, he claims the land in the name of King Henry VII, mistakenly believing he is in Asia. -
The demand for labor in the Americas drove the brutal system of enslaving Africans, a key part of the global economy.
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a Portuguese explorer who sailed around the southernmost tip of Africa in 1488, the first European to do so, and later set up a road from Europe to Asia. Bartolomeu Dias rounded off the tip of Africa, also known as the Cape of Good Hope. -
Brazil became a major colony, known for its sugar plantations, which relied heavily on enslaved African labor. -
This system abused Native American labor, leading to severe population declines and paving the way for African slavery in the Americas. -
This trade system connected Europe, Africa, and the Americas, beginning with the arrival of enslaved Africans and later exchanging raw materials and manufactured goods. -
The painful journey of enslaved Africans to the Americas resulted in the death of millions, reflecting the cruelty of the transatlantic slave trade. -
Spanish explorer and conquistador Hernan Cortés lands on the coast of Mexico with 600 men, 16 horses, and a few cannons. While the Spaniards are vastly outnumbered by the Aztecs, they capture and demolish the capital city of Tenochtitlán in a brutal assault in 1521. Their actions inspire other conquistadors to conquer regions in the Americas. -
an Italian explorer of North America, in the service of King Francis I of France. He is renowned as the first European to explore the Atlantic coast of North America between Florida and New Brunswick in 1524, including New York Bay and Narragansett Bay. -
After sailing down the western coast of Africa and rounding the Cape of Good Hope, De Gama's expedition made numerous stops in Africa before reaching the trading post of Calicut, India, in May 1498. Da Gama was sent on a second expedition to India in 1502, during which he brutally clashed with Muslim traders in the region. Two decades later, da Gama again returned to India, this time as Portuguese viceroy -
Afonso’s letters highlighted the devastating impact of the slave trade on African societies, but his protests were largely ignored.
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a Breton explorer who claimed what is now Canada for France. Jacques Cartier was the first European to describe and map the Gulf of Saint Lawrence and the shores of the Saint Lawrence. was sent by King Francis I to the New World in search of riches and a new route to Asia in 1534. His exploration of the St. Lawrence River allowed France to lay claim to lands that would become Canada. -
Sugar became a major commodity, and enslaved Africans were integral to its production, fueling the Atlantic slave trade. -
English explorer who was chosen as the leader of an expedition intended to pass around South America, through the Strait of Magellan, and explore the coast that lay beyond. Drake successfully completed the journey and was knighted by Queen Elizabeth I upon his victorious return. -
The Dutch challenge Portuguese dominance in the Indian Ocean, establishing their influence in Asian trade. -
The English establish a foothold in India, setting the stage for British colonial dominance in the subcontinent. -
France’s attempt to control trade in India led to conflicts with Britain, shaping the colonial rivalry in the region. -
This company became a powerful colonial and trading entity, expanding Dutch influence in Asia and global trade. -
The Dutch ousted the Portuguese from Southeast Asia, becoming the dominant European power in the spice trade. -
In 1609, he embarked on a third voyage funded by the Dutch East India Company that took him to the New World. Hudson came upon the body of water that would later be called the Hudson Bay. Was originally hired by the Dutch East India Company to find a trade route through the Americas to India. But instead discovered the Hudson River, Hudson Bay, and Hudson Strait. -
This marks the beginning of British influence in India, eventually leading to British rule over the country. -
This global conflict solidified British control over India, displacing French influence and marking the rise of British imperialism. -
The Quakers were among the first to publicly denounce slavery, marking the beginning of anti-slavery movements in Europe. -
This event marked a turning point in the fight against slavery in Europe, influencing future abolitionist movements. -
Britain’s decision to abolish slavery in its colonies marked a significant victory for the global abolitionist movement.