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1488
Bartolomeu Dias
Bartolomeu Dias becomes the first European mariner to sail around the southern tip of Africa, discovering a route from Europe to Asia. -
1492
Christopher Columbus
Christopher Columbus, sponsored by the Spanish monarchs, sets off on his first voyage in search of a sea route to Asia and ends up reaching the Americas, where he lands on San Salvador Island and explores the Caribbean. -
1497
John Cabot
John Cabot sets sail on his second voyage and reaches North America, where he discovers what is now Newfoundland, and claims land in Canada for King Henry VII of England. -
1498
Vasco da Gama
Portuguese explorer, Vasco da Gama, becomes the first European to sail from Europe to India, discovering a route around the southern tip of Africa and across the Indian Ocean. -
1519
Hernán Cortés
Spanish conquistador, Hernán Cortés, reaches Mexico and conquers the Aztec empire in 1521 -
1520
Ferdinand Magellan
Portuguese explorer, Ferdinand Magellan, discovers a sea route along the tip of South America that connects the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, now known as the Strait of Magellan. -
1524
Giovanni da Verrazzano
Under the commission of France, Giovanni da Verrazzano explores the Atlantic coast of North America, from Florida to Newfoundland, and makes many discoveries, including New York Harbor, Block Island, and Narragansett Bay. -
1532
Francisco Pizarro
Francisco Pizarro of Spain explores the west coast of South America and conquers the Incas. -
1534
Jacques Cartier
Jacques Cartier navigates the Gulf of Saint Lawrence and St. Lawrence River, exploring the Atlantic coast of Canada and discovering Prince Edward Island under France. -
1577
Francis Drake
English explorer, Francis Drake explores around South America through the Strait of Magellan, discovering Tierra del Fuego and becoming the first Englishman to circumnavigate the world. He continues exploring further up the west coast of South America and claims New Albion for England. -
The East India Company
The East India Company is found by John Watts. -
The Dutch East India Company
The Dutch East India Company is found by Johan van Oldenbarnevelt. -
Jamestown, Virginia
English settlers establish Jamestown, Virginia, which became the first successful English settlement in North America. -
Samuel de Champlain
Samuel de Champlain founds Quebec, the first permanent French settlement in the Americas. -
Henry Hudson
Henry Hudson discovers the Hudson River, Hudson Strait, and Hudson Bay, and New York City in his search for a Northeast passage to Asia -
The Dutch West India Company
Dutch forms the West India Company to open trading opportunities in the Americas and challenge the Spanish and Portuguese for colonial dominance. -
Massachusetts Bay Colony
A group of Puritans from England establish the Massachusetts Bay Colony in North America. -
The English Civil War
The English Civil War begins between the Parliamentarians and Royalists, fighting over England’s governance and religious freedom issues. -
The Industrial Revolution Begins
The period of Europe and the United States transitioning from agriculture and handicrafts to manufacturing processes and factory systems. -
The French Revolution Begins
Period of political and social change in France. -
The French Abolish Slavery
The National Convention decrees that slavery is abolished throughout all of France and its colonies.