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Nov 11, 1400
Improvements in Sailing Ships
During the 1400's, many improvements were made to sailing ships. To improve steering, better rudders were made. Sails were also improved for better sailing. In the late 1400's, the caravel was introduced. The caravel was a lighter, faster sailing ship developed by the Portugese. -
Nov 11, 1406
Long Lost Map Recovered
Ptolemy first made his map in the 1300's. His long lost map was rediscovered in Western Europe in 1406. It bacame the best existing map of the world. Ptolemy's map made Christopher Columbus believe that Asia could be reached by sailing west from Europe. -
Nov 11, 1420
Entering the Atlantic
In 1420, the caravel was introduced by the Portugese. The caravel was a revolutionary sailing ship. Also in 1420, the first Asian ships entered the Atlantic Ocean. They entered by rounding the Cape of Good Hope on the southern tip of Africa. -
Nov 11, 1431
First Chinese In Africa
The Chinese made many voyages by sea, making them among some of the first to reach several areas by sea. The first fleet sailed in 1405-1407 with sixty-two vessels carrying 28,000 men, and reached India, as did the second and third. Chinese vessels visited far down the east coast of Africa and seven Chinese reached Mecca. -
Nov 11, 1487
First European In Southern Africa
In 1486, Bartholomeu Dias and his crew became the first Portuguese sailors to reach the southern tip of Africa. The landed in the Cape of Good Hope. He then turned back because his crew was unwilling to travel any further. Ten years later, Dias helped another Portuguese sailor, Vasco da Gama, plan a voyage around Africa to India. -
Period: Nov 11, 1496 to Nov 11, 1497
Exploring The North Atlantic Region
In 1496, John Cabot sets sail from England to explore the North Atlantic region. On June 24, 1497, John Cabot laid claim on behalf of England's King Henry VII to an island he had landed on. This land would come to be known as Newfoundland. -
Period: Nov 11, 1497 to Nov 11, 1498
Potuguese Reach India
Vasco da Gama, a Portuguese explorer, sailed from Lisbon, Portugal, in July 1497, rounded the Cape of Good Hop. He anchored at Malindi on the east coast of Africa. With the aid of an Indian merchant he met there, he then set off across the Indian Ocean. He landed in India in 1498. -
Nov 11, 1498
Columbus Discovers The Americas
Columbus led his three ships, the Nina, the Pinta and the Santa Maria, out of the Spanish port of Palos on August 3, 1492. His objective was to sail west until he reached Asia (the Indies) where the riches of gold, pearls and spice awaited. He discovers the American Continent in 1498. He belives that it is part of Asia. -
Period: Nov 11, 1502 to Nov 11, 1504
Columbus' Last Voyage
In 1502, Christopher Columbus set out on his fourth and final voyage to the New World. He had four ships and was going to explore uncharted areas to the west of the Caribbean. Columbus did explore parts of southern Central America, but his ships, damaged by a hurricane and termites, fell apart while he was exploring. Columbus and his men were stranded on Jamaica for about a year before being rescued. They returned to Spain in late 1504. -
Nov 11, 1507
New Map Names "America"
In 1507, America is first named on a map. America was named in honor of Amerigo Vespucchi. Vespucchi was the first to dicover the sothern continent of the Americas. He first explored the Northern coast of South America around 1499. -
Nov 11, 1513
Discovering the Pacific
Vasco Nuñez de Balboa was the first to discover the Pacific Ocean in 1513. Balboa was a European explorer and a leading figure among the Spanish. Balboa discovered it by marching through the isthmus of Panama. He claimed all countries Mexico below for Spain. -
Period: Nov 11, 1519 to Nov 11, 1522
Voyage Around the World
Ferdinand Magellan's voyage began on September 20, 1519. His first destination was southern Spain. From his ship Magellan commanded a total of 241 men and a fleet of five ships. The fleet sailed across the Atlantic Ocean to South America. The last ship remaining after their voyage, the Victoria, returned to Spain in 1522. -
Nov 11, 1540
Exploring The American Southwest
in February 1540, Francisco Vazquez de Coronado began his exploration of south-western North America in search of the Seven Cities of Gold. Coronado lead an expedition that consist of 340 Spanish, 300 Indians, 1000 horses, and 1000 slaves. Upon his return he brought stories of seven magnificent cities of the Native Americans. He described the main city of Cibola as “the best and largest of all those that have been discovered. -
Period: Nov 11, 1577 to Nov 11, 1580
Circumnavigating The Globe
Sir Francis Drake was born in 1540. He helped defeat the Spanish Armada. In 1577 he left England to travel around the world. When he returned in 1580, he became the first Englishman to circumnavigate the globe. He died in 1596. -
Discovering Australia
Willem Janszoon was born in 1560. He was a Dutch navigator and colonial governo, He was European known to have seen the coast of Australia. He died in 1630. -
The Reasons Why
Most of the events on this timeline have to do with discovering something new, and that's what exploration is all about. Other events have to do with maps, which was also another important factor of exploration. Improvements in sailing was really important to exploration because most explorers were sailors. Faster and easier sailing increased exploration. Another really important event was the first trip around the world. This opened up more possibilities for exploration.
