European Exploration

The Vikings

Jan 1, 1000

In the year 1000 C.E Leif Eriksson traveled to Greenland. It is important to know this because he was the first Eurpean to land in the Americas.

Marco Polo

Nov 18, 1271

Marco Polo left his home in Venice, Italy to go to Asia with his father and uncle. He was 17 when he left. 4 years later he reached China. Marco Polo's storys influenced people to go to Asia 200 years later.

The Turks Take Over

Nov 18, 1453

In 1453 The Turks took over the Middle East and Constantinople. They blocked them from getting spices, gold, silk. They were motivated to find a water route to Asia.

Dias

Aug 21, 1488

In 1488 Dias was the first to sail around the southern tip of Africa. Today the call it Cape of Good Hope. He wanted to go to India, but his sailors got hungry and sick, so they made him go back to Portugal.

Martin Behaim

Jan 7, 1492

In 1492 a group of people paid Martin Behaim to make a new kind of map. This map was shaped in a ball so they called it Earth Apple.This was the first globe made in Europe. There were a few problems. One problem, was the world looked to small. There was no North and South America, Australia,or Antarctica.Also Africa was to small and in the wrong shape.

Da Gama

Jul 3, 1498

In 1498 Da Gama finally found a sea route to Asia showing the way for the future explorations. Soon afterwards he came back with a full ship of spices.

Martin Waldseemuller

Dec 9, 1507

In 1507 America appearsd on a map for the first time. He decided to name the land for Amerigo Vespucci.

Balboa

Dec 9, 1513

In 1513 Balboa descovered the Pacific Ocean. A few days later Balboa had reached the ocean and explored the coast.

Magellan

Dec 9, 1519

Magellan's expedition lasted for 3 years, from 1519-1522.Magellan's expedition was to find away to reach Asia by sailing west around the Americas.Magellan was the first to ever sail around the world

Cortes

Dec 9, 1521

In 1521 Cortes had conquered the Aztecs.They conquered the Aztecs by taking Morecuhzoma, the Aztecs ruler. After 2 years he died and his capital city was ruined. Spanish weapons and European diseases, which were new to the Indians had almost destroyed the Aztecs civilization.

Pizarro

Dec 9, 1531

In 1531 Pizarro sailed from Panama and landed in the west coast of South America. He stole a lot of gold and riches. When he got to the Inca camp their was a civil war. Pizarro tried to persuade Atahuallpa to convert to Christianity. He said no. Pizarro put him in prison. Atahallpa promised gold and silver to fill up a room for his freedom. Pizarro accepted the treasure, but he killed him anyway.In 1533 Atahuallpa died and the Spanish conquered the Inca empire.