Explorations-marianewswanger

The Black Death

Nov 11, 1346

Starting in 1346 to around 1500 there was a large pandemic in Eurasia, the Black Death. It started in central Asia and was carried to Europe by way of trade and exploration. Rats and fleas carried the plague. Devastated, Europe's population dropped drastically and the plague killed roughly 25 million people, approximately a third of the population.

The First Guns

Nov 11, 1347

Guns appeared in Europe in the fourteenth century and allowed Europe to become a great, powerful influence in history. With the discovery of guns, Europe was given advantages over other civilizations. Now they could conquer many civilizatons who had not been introduced or had access to the state of the art weaponry. As the innovation of the gun improved, the cannon was made as well as many other weapons used in warfare.

School of Navigation

Nov 11, 1418

Prince Henry the Navigator organizes a School of Navigation and basis for explorations. Located on Cape St. Vincent in Portugal, this school was the first established for oceanic navigation. Pupils were trained in navigation, map-making, and science in hopes that they would in turn use those studies for exploration. The goal was to sail down the coast of Africa.

The First Caravels

Nov 14, 1420

Caravels were designed at Sagres in 1420. These ships utilized lateen sails, triangular sails of Islamic origin that allowed for easier sailing. Caravels are small, fast, types of sailing ships that sat high in the water and that was used by most Spanish and Portuguese explorers in the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries. These ships greatly improved the sailing and exploration during those centuries.

The Gutenberg Bible is Printed

Nov 14, 1440

Johannes Gutenberg was a metalurgist who created and perfected the first printing press, based off of a wine press, in Germany. He was the first to introduce movable type which allowed for education to spread across Eurasia. Thus, previously handwritten scripts were printed, and Europeans flourished during the fifteenth century as information and knowledge was able to transport easily.

Navigation By Stars is Improved

Nov 14, 1465

Immense improvements were made for navigation by stars at this time.Since there was an increase in the need for exploration at the time, navigators improved their techniques. They used tools such as sextants and astrolobes to locate their positions at sea. Therefore, exploration was tremendously bettered and made easier.

Columbus Discovers America

Nov 14, 1498

Christopher Columbus was an Italian born explorer, who under the Catholic Monarchs of Spain, conducted voyages to colonize the New World. On his third voyage, Columbus explored the mainland of South America. However he believed it to be part of Asia. Specifically, he thought that it was India, referring to it as "Indies."

Amerigo Vespucchi Explores South America

Nov 14, 1499

Amerigo Vespucchi was an Italian explorer, navigator and cartographer who explored the coast of South America. He explored the east coast of the continent and from doing so he concluded that it extended much too far south to be Asia. He renounced the findings of Christopher Columbus. America's title has come from Vespucchi's name Amerigo.

Sebastion Cabot Explores the Coast of Greenland

Nov 14, 1509

Sebastian Cabot an Italian explorer, navigator, and cartographer was a descendent of the explorer John Cabot. Employed by England, Cabot sailed northward along the coast of Greenland. While doing so, he stumbled upon the entrance to the Hudson Bay. He thought that the Hudson's Bay was a water passage leading around North America to the Orient.

Balboa Crosses the Isthmus of Panama

Nov 14, 1513

Vasco Nunez de Balboa was a spanish conquistador and explorer. After crossing the Isthmus of Panama, Balboa was the first European to discover the eastern part of the Pacific Ocean. In order to do so, he crossed the Isthmus overland accompanied by many fellow Spaniards. Also at this time, Ponce de Leon lands in Florida.

Smallpox was Brought to the Americas

Nov 14, 1514

Consequently, contact with the New World caused the disastrous spread of disease throughout the Americas. Previously, Natives had not come into contact with the germs of Europeans and they had not built up immunity to diseases. Thus, most of the natives contracted smallpox which devastated their population.

Ferdinand Magellan Leaves Spain

Nov 14, 1519

Ferdinand Magellan was a Portugeuse explorer. During his exploration, Ferdinand Magellan wished sail from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean. Also, Hernan Cortez enters the Aztec Capital of Tenochtitlan to meet the Aztec emperor at this time.

The Spanish Explorer Coronado Explores the American Southwest

Sep 19, 1540

Francisco Vásquez de Coronado was a Spanish explorer and conquistador. Coronado was the first European to explore North America's Southwest. The reason for the exploration of Mexico was for treasure that was rumored to exist in northern Mexico. WHile their he killed many native americans and also had them convert to Christianity.

Giovanni Verranzo explores the coast of North America

Nov 14, 1542

Giovanni Verranzo was an Italian explorer who sailed for France. For France, he explored the coast of North America, sailing along it. He was the first European to explore the north coast of North America since the Norse expeditons. There is a bridge in New York named after him as well as a naval vessel of the Italian Navy.

Sir Francis Drake was the first Englishman to circumnavigate the globe

Period: Nov 17, 1577 to Nov 17, 1580

Sir Francis Drake was a British explorer. Magellan led the first voyage around the world, however Sir Francis led the second expedition to sail around the world in a voyage lasting from 1577 to 1580, being the first englishman to do so. He was comissioned by Queen Elizabeth the first with others, John Winter and Thomas Doughty, to complete the expedition.

Explanation

Nov 17, 2011

Exploration is defined as an act or instance of exploring or investigating or the investigation of unknown regions. Europe and Asia saw a period of flourishing exploration during the fourteenth to sixteenth century. On the timeline, the events chosen best exhibit the definition. Most explorers and navigators of the time were commisioned by rulers to accomplish expeditions that would investigate, or survey other lands. Most of the journeys were carried out for the spread of religion, fame,

Explanation Part 2

Nov 17, 2011

or the search for riches. Improvements made in tools and ships used in navigation were vital to the exploration of the time, and many expeditions may not have occured without them. Exploration was brought about by the search for new trade routes, new goods, new trading partners, and the yearning to learn more about the world.