Exploration Timeline

By hiyou
  • Europeans Seek New Trade Routes
    Jan 1, 1400

    Europeans Seek New Trade Routes

  • The Portuguese Explore Africa
    Jan 1, 1419

    The Portuguese Explore Africa

    Prince Henry supports exploration. He founds a navigation school on the coast
  • Portuguese have trading posts along west coast of Africa
    Jan 1, 1460

    Portuguese have trading posts along west coast of Africa

  • Dias sails around southern tip of Africa
    Jan 1, 1488

    Dias sails around southern tip of Africa

  • A Rival Power
    Jan 1, 1492

    A Rival Power

    Christopher Columbus sails for Spain
  • pope divides these lands between Spain and Portugal
    Jan 1, 1493

    pope divides these lands between Spain and Portugal

  • Treaty of Tordesillas was signed
    Jan 1, 1494

    Treaty of Tordesillas was signed

  • Vasco da Gama sails to India
    Jan 1, 1498

    Vasco da Gama sails to India

  • Vasco da Gama returns to Portugal with valuable cargo
    Jan 1, 1499

    Vasco da Gama returns to Portugal with valuable cargo

  • Portugal takes over Indian Ocean trade
    Jan 1, 1509

    Portugal takes over Indian Ocean trade

    by defeating Muslims
  • Portugal captures Goa, port city
    Jan 1, 1510

    Portugal captures Goa, port city

    in western India
  • Portugal seizes Malacca, on Malay Peninsula
    Jan 1, 1511

    Portugal seizes Malacca, on Malay Peninsula

  • Dutch set up trade headquarters at Batavia, on Java

    Dutch set up trade headquarters at Batavia, on Java

  • Japan Returns to Isolation

    Japan Returns to Isolation

    The Tokugawa regime unifies Japan and begins 250 years of isolation, autocracy, and economic growth.
  • China Limits European Contacts

    China Limits European Contacts

    Advances under the Ming and Qing dynasties leave China uninterested in European contact.