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Bartolomeu was a Portuguese explorer, who was the first to reach the southern tip of Africa.
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Christopher Columbus began his voyages in 1492, eventually discovering the Americas. Many native Americans were killed off by Columbus and the various diseases they brought.
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Magellan's circumnavigation of the globe proved that the earth was round. He also opened up new trade routes between Asia and Europe.
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Giovanni da Verrazzano, an Italian explorer, sailed from the eastern coast of North America to Canada. He was the first explorer to travel across that part of the continent, and discovered what would become modern day New York Harbor.
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Cabeza de Vaca was a Spanish explorer, who was also the first European to travel through Texas. He and his crew shipwrecked on the coast of Florida, and spent 8 years wandering the American Southwest.
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Shortly upon capturing the emperor, Pizarro took over the rest of the Incan Empire.
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Jacques Cartier, a French explorer, traveled up the St. Lawrence river into Eastern Canada. He claimed the land under French control and created a territory in present day Quebec.
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The Portuguese reached Japan, who were wealthy and powerful, marking a major milestone in European exploration.
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Martin Frobisher, in search of gold, sailed to Northern Canada. He discovered samples of what he thought were of gold, but they turned out to be fool's gold.
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Francis Drake embarked on his second circumnavigation of the globe. He sailed around the tip of South America, through the Pacific Ocean, past the Spice Islands, and returned to England in 1580.
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The East India Company was the first joint-stock company in England. It held a monopoly on trade with India, quickly becoming one of the most powerful companies in the world.
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The Dutch East India Company was also granted a monopoly on trade with India, which naturally led it to become fierce rivals against the East India Company. The Dutch East India Company played a major role in the spice trade.
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Henry Hudson, sponsored by the Dutch East India Company, explored the area around present day metropolitan New York.
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Henry Hudson embarked on his third expedition which was funded by the Dutch Eastern Indian company. Him and his crew spent a harsh winter on this bay, and hence decided it to name it the Hudson Bay.
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These colonies were established to produce money for the motherland. This is known as mercantilism.
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Anne Hutchinson was a very famous Puritan, opposing religious codes and female limitations. After being exiled, she established this settlement.
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Founded by Jan Van, the colony was built to serve as a resupply point and way station for United East India Company vessels.
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An English Quaker by the name of William Penn founded Pennsylvania upon being granted a charter of 45,000 square miles of land. This charter was given to him by no other tan King Charles II.
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The American Indians fought the French in an effort to maintain their land and cultural future.
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The American Revolution was the battle between the 13 colonies and Britain. After declaring enough of Britain's taxations and unfair treatment, the colonies decided to rebel.
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The Treaty of Paris signified the end of the American Revolution, as Britain recognized U.S. independence.