European Exploration

1000 CE

Nov 11, 1000

A Viking named Leif Erikson hired a crew and sailed from Greenland to part of Canada, and the crew named that spot Vinland for the grapevines that grew there. The Viking saw a knoll on the shore and found nine people sleeping the Vikings killed all of them but one. A big fight broke out and later Leif Erikson's brother got wounded and died.

1271 CE

Jan 11, 1271

Nearly 500 years past until Europeans sailed back to the America's. The Europeans did not sail because they thought the world outside was too dangerous. Until the 1400's Europe did not have strong central governmants.

1453

Mar 20, 1453

The Europeans started to plan explorations to get gold, silver, silk, but their main prioraty was to get spices, but a group called the Ottoman Turks conquered Constantinople cutting off all trade routes between Europe and Asia.

1488

May 20, 1488

In 1488 a portuguese man named Bartholomeu Dias became the first to sail all the way around the southern tip of Africa, today that is called the Cape Of Good Hope.However a big storm came, and the sailers grew hungry. Dias wanted to finish his journey by sailing to India, but he was forced to go bach to Portugal.

1492

Oct 21, 1492

In 1492 Christopher Columbus asked king Ferdinand, and queen Isabella to support his exploration. Finally, the king and queen said "yes". On August 3,1492, Columbus went on his voyage with 89 passengers in 3 ships the Nina, the Pinta, and the Santa Maria. Instead of landing in Japan he landed in the Bahamas.

1498

Dec 31, 1498

In 1498 Christopher Columbus came back to king Ferdinand, and queen Isabella. when he talked to them he was put in jail.

1507

Dec 13, 1507

In 1507 a man named Amerigo Vespucci discovered that columbus had not reached Asia but he reached a ``new world". Soon a German cartographer named Martin Waldseemuller named ``the new world" America based on Amrigo Vespucci (for his discoveries).

1513

Sep 25, 1513

On September 25, 1513 a man named Vasco Nunez de Balboa and Spanish, and African soldiers climed a mountain that was on the west coast of what is now known as the``Isthmus Of Panama" and eventually when Balboa reached the top there was a big ocean and Balboa named it the Pacific ocean.

1521

Dec 13, 1521

In 1521 a man named Hernando Cortes was sent by the Spanish government to look for gold with him were 500 soldiers, 14 cannons, 16 horses, and several dogs. Cortes later conquered the Aztecs and received all of their riches.

1519-1522

Dec 13, 1522

Magellan circled the globe. In 1519, Ferdinand Magellan wanted to find a way to Asia by sailing west around the Americas. First, Magellan sailed to what is now Brazil. He then sailed south along South America's eastern coast. In 1520 three of Magellan's ships went through what is now called the Strait of Magellan, near the southern tip of South America. In March of 1521 Magellan stayed in the Phillipines.

1533

Dec 13, 1533

In 1533 a conquistador named Francisco Pizarro heard stories about a tribe that were far more richer than the Aztecs they were called the Incas. When Pizarro sailed to the Incas Pizarro told the king to convert to Christianity but the king refused. Pizarro then captured him and for freedom the king offered him enough riches to fill a room but Pizarro killed him anyways.