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Under Prince Henry the Navigator, Portugal begins to sponsor voyages down the coast of Africa, seeking new trade routes and resources. -
The Portuguese explorer is the
first European to sail around
the southern tip of Africa,
proving a sea route to India is
possible. -
Funded by Spain, the Italian
explorer crosses the Atlantic
and makes landfall in the
Caribbean. Though seeking a
westward route to Asia, he
begins the European
colonization of the "New World". -
Spain and Portugal, with the
Pope's approval, divide all
newly discovered lands
outside Europe between them,
attempting to solidify their
colonial and trade monopoly. -
Sailing for the English king, the
Italian explorer reaches the
coast of North America, laying
the groundwork for future
English claims in the region. -
The Portuguese explorer
successfully follows Dias's
route around Africa to reach
Calicut, India, establishing a
direct sea trade route for
spices. -
The Portuguese explorer, on a
voyage to India, makes a
diversion and claims Brazil for
Portugal. -
The Spanish conquistador leads
an expedition that, with the help
of native allies and disease,
overthrows the Aztec Empire in
modern-day Mexico, greatly
expanding Spain's territory and
wealth. -
Though killed during the voyage,
this Portuguese explorer sailing for
Spain commands the first
expedition to sail completely
around the world, proving the
earth's spherical shape and the
vastness of the Pacific Ocean. -
An Italian navigator, hired by
France, explores the Atlantic
coast from present-day North
Carolina to Newfoundland,
charting a vast new coastline. -
The French explorer makes
three voyages into present-day
Canada, exploring the St.
Lawrence River and founding
French claims in the region. -
The English privateer and
explorer successfully sails
around the world, plundering
Spanish settlements and ships
along the way, challenging
Spain's dominance. -
The English navy defeats a
massive Spanish invasion
fleet, severely weakening
Spain's naval power and
opening the way for English
and Dutch global expansion. -
The Dutch form a powerful
commercial corporation to
conduct trade in Asia. It
becomes a major rival to
Portuguese and English
trading interests. -
The first permanent English
settlement in North America is
founded in Virginia, marking
the beginning of significant
English colonization. -
The French explorer founds a
settlement on the St.
Lawrence River, which serves
as the capital of New France
and becomes a center for the
fur trade. -
The English sea captain, hired
by the Dutch, explores the
river that now bears his name
in present-day New York,
leading to the establishment
of the colony of New
Netherland. -
The Dutch charter a second
corporation to manage trade
and colonization in the
Americas, Africa, and the
Atlantic, competing with
English and French colonial
efforts. -
The Dutch East India
Company establishes a
trading post in South Africa,
which is later seized by the
British in 1815. -
The Royal African
Company is chartered
by England -
Following the Battle of
Plassey, the company
solidifies its power in India,
setting the stage for direct
British rule. -
The United States gains
independence from Great
Britain, signaling a major
setback for the British Empire
and a challenge to the
mercantilist colonial system. -
This Scottish economist's
work critiques mercantilism
and champions the idea of
free markets, influencing a
shift toward new economic
theories. -
Following the Napoleonic
Wars, the transfer is
formalized, expanding the
British Empire in Africa. -
The conflicts redraw the map
of Europe and disrupt colonial
possessions, with Britain
seizing control of Dutch and
French colonies.