Age of Exploration

By BigFatFatty
  • Oct 12, 1492

    Christopher Columbus lands in the Caribbean

    In 1492, Spain funded Columbus' expedition to India, though he actually landed in the Caribbean.
  • Jul 7, 1494

    Portugal claims Brazil

    On June 7th 1494, Portugal claims Brazil and gave land to Portuguese nobles. Afterword, Europeans moved their to farm brazilwood and sugar.
  • Jun 24, 1497

    John Cabot lands on the east coast of North America

    June 24th, 1497 John Cabot set out from England in an attempt to find a northwest path to Asia. He landed in the east coast of North America, claiming the land for King Henry VII believing it was Asia.
  • May 20, 1498

    Vasco da Gama reaches India after rounding Africa

    On May 20th 1598, Vasco da Gama set foot on India after traveling along the southern end of Africa. Though he lost half his ships and many of his men, the voyage did yield profit when he returned home with a cargo of spices to sell.
  • 1502

    Da Gama forces a treaty on the ruler of Calicut and sets up a trading post

    With help from his success in India, Da Gama was able to outfit a new fleet of sailors and forcefully establishes a treaty of cooperation on Calicut.
  • Apr 25, 1507

    A German mapmaker names the "New World" America

    After reading about Columbus' find of the "New World" written by Amerigo Vespucci, a german mapmaker names the continent America, and the Caribbean where Columbus originally landed the West Indies.
  • Aug 24, 1511

    Portugal seizes Malacca

    Portugal started taking control of key ports around the Indian Ocean after Da Gama's successes. They'd capture Malacca in 1511, allying with Asian rulers and becoming established in their trade routes.
  • 1519

    Hernan Cortés lands in Mexico

    In February of 1519, Hernan Cortés, a Spanish conquistador lands in Mexico with few men and supplies. Although severely outnumbered by the Aztecs, they managed to capture the capital city known as Tenochtitlán.
  • Sep 8, 1522

    The Vittoria completes its circumnavigation of the globe

    Ferdinant Maggelan led an expedition to circumnavigate the globe. It was completed in 1522 although four ships fell along with him.
  • Jul 28, 1576

    Martin Frobisher sights land in North America

    on July 28th, 1576, Martin Frobisher set out to America to find a northwest passage between the Atlantic and Asia. During the voyage he spots what's now Labrador, Canada.