Age of Exploration Timeline By disneyprincesses Jan 1, 1200 Vikings first discover Greenland Jan 1, 1405 Zheng He begins his voyages in China Jan 1, 1488 Bartholomeu Dias rounds the tip of Africa Sep 1, 1493 Christopher Columbus discovers the West Indies Jan 1, 1497 John Cabot discovers Newfoundland Jan 1, 1498 Vasco de Gama reaches India after rounding Africa Jan 1, 1500 Pedro Alvarez Cabral discovers Brazil Jan 1, 1513 Magellan's ship the Vittora completes the first circumnavigation around the world