European Exploration

  • The Vikings
    Jan 1, 1000

    The Vikings

    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

    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

    The Turks Take Over

    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

    Dias

    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

    Martin Behaim

    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

    Da Gama

    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

    Martin Waldseemuller

    In 1507 America appearsd on a map for the first time. He decided to name the land for Amerigo Vespucci.
  • Balboa
    Dec 9, 1513

    Balboa

    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

    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

    Cortes

    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

    Pizarro

    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.