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First to launch exploratory expeditions.
After multiple attempts they reach India via this route.
Would go on to lead missions to South America establishing colonies there (Modern day Brazil). -
Rounded the Cape of Good Hope, Africa's southern tip. -
Christoper Columbus searching for the East Indies he embarked on a voyage in 1492.
Discovered the Caribbean instead, but still thought I was Asian.
Began to send voyages regularly, to acquire gold and silver. -
Columbus sent two copies of a probanza de mérito (proof of merit) describing his “discovery” of a New World did much to inspire excitement in Europe. -
British sought a Westear rout to Asia for trade.
John Cabot found present day Canada and New England. -
Duarte Pacheco Pereira explores the South Atlantic and the South American Coast North of the Amazon River. -
The Magellan expedition was the first voyage around the world. It was a 16th-century Spanish expedition planned and led by Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan to the Moluccas. -
The Philippines was claiming the islands from Spain for Ferdinand Magellan -
Joined the race later than the others.
Would explore North America at great length. -
Francis sent Jacques Cartier on the first of three voyages to explore the coast of Newfoundland and the St. Lawrence River. Cartier founded New France by planting a cross on the shore of the Gaspé Peninsula. -
French troops were left on Parris Island, South Carolina in 1562 to build Charlesfort, but left after a year when they were not resupplied by France. -
In 1585, the famous explorer Sir Walter Raleigh tried and failed to build an English settlement at a place called Roanoke in Virginia. -
After relations with Spain deteriorated, however, territorial claims were ignored: English buccaneers, such as Francis Drake, preyed on Spanish ships and seized their cargo in a literal trade war. These raiders also helped to pave the way for English colonization of the West Indies in the 1620s by undermining Spanish control of the region. -
After the Dutch won the struggle for the East Indies and their spices, the English shifted their focus to China and India. Their presence on the subcontinent allowed them to increase their presence in India when the ruling Mughal Empire began to collapse in 1707.