Age of Exploration Timeline (World History)

By lolol432
  • 1488

    Bartolomeu Diaz (Cape of Good Hope) Found Sea Route

    Bartolomeu Diaz (Cape of Good Hope) Found Sea Route
    Diaz was the first European explorer so sail around the southern coast of Africa successfully. He was sent by Portuguese King John and opened the way for a sea route from Europe to Asia.
  • 1492

    Christopher Columbus Discovered the "New World"

    Christopher Columbus Discovered the "New World"
    Christopher Columbus wanted to reach Asia by sailing westward. Instead, he reached the Americas.
  • 1497

    Da Gama Discovered Water Route

    Da Gama Discovered Water Route
    Da Gama discovered an all-water route from Europe to India. This made it possible for Europeans to obtain goods without relying on overland routes.
  • 1497

    Cabot Claimed Canada for Europe

    Cabot Claimed Canada for Europe
    John Cabot, a Venetian explorer and navigator sailed to North America. There, he claimed land in Canada for Europe.
  • 1519

    Magellan Led First Expedition of Ships

    Magellan Led First Expedition of Ships
    Magellan, and others sailed around South America and across the Pacific, proving the Earth was round
  • 1519

    Hernan Cortes sailed from Cuba to Mexico.

    Hernan Cortes sailed from Cuba to Mexico.
    During his journey, Cortes befriended the Aztec Emperor, Montezuma.
  • 1521

    Cortes attack Tenochtitlan

    Cortes attack Tenochtitlan
    After gaining their trust, Cortes conquered the Aztecs and claimed Mexico on behalf of Spain.
  • 1524

    Giovanni de Verrazano Discovered the Entrance to the Hudson River

    Giovanni de Verrazano Discovered the Entrance to the Hudson River
    Verrazano was not the first to discover the river, but he went further and went all the way to to modern day Albany, New York.
  • 1533

    Pizzaro Conquered the Inca Capital

    Pizzaro Conquered the Inca Capital
    The Spanish forced the conquered Indians to accept the Christian religion and to labor for their new rulers.
  • 1534

    Jacques Cartier Encounters the St. Lawrence River

    Jacques Cartier Encounters the St. Lawrence River
    He was the first European to encounter the St. Lawrence River in present-day Quebec
  • 1543

    3 Portuguese merchants become first Europeans to land in Japan

    3 Portuguese merchants become first Europeans to land in Japan
    The merchants landed in the southern archipelago of Japan after their ship went off course.
  • 1577

    Sir Francis Drake Found Tierra del Fuego

    Sir Francis Drake Found Tierra del Fuego
    Leader of an expedition. Drake discovered that the land south of Magellan Strait was not a continent as the Europeans believed but a group of islands.

  • Founding of The Spice Islands

    After being sent out by the East India Company, Jacob van Neek and his fleet found the Spice Islands.

  • First Colony Established

    First Colony Established
    English men arrived in North America at Jamestown, Virginia to start a settlement.

  • Henry Hudson in New York

    On behalf of the Dutch East India Company, he lands and explores modern day New York.

  • New Netherland Founded

    The Dutch had founded New Netherland the Dutch West India Company gained control over the land.

  • Puritans Arrive in Massachusetts Bay

    Puritans Arrive in Massachusetts Bay
    The Puritans came to practice their own beliefs and avoid persecution.

  • Vitus Bering on Voyages

    Vitus Bering was sent on voyages by the Russian Navy in order to map Russia's coast and the North Pacific.

  • James Bruce Follows the Blue Nile

    James Bruce Follows the Blue Nile
    He introduced Ethiopia to the Western World and found the source of the Blue Nile.

  • Mungo Park Located the Niger River

    He followed the river 1000 miles through the African interior, and his description of Africa from his travels made Europe interested in the continent.