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Jan 1, 1346
The Black Death
In Europe, the Black Death, was a huge outbreak of plague. It was carried by fleas on rats that came onto land from trade ships. The plague was a direct result of the Mongol empires involvment in trade. After it crossed over Asia, it swept and ravaged Europe. -
Jan 1, 1406
Long Lost World Map
A long lost world map was rediscovered in western Europe. It was drwan in the second century by the geographer Ptolomey. It became the best existing map of the world. The map made Columbus think that Asia could be reached if he sailed west from Europe. -
Jan 1, 1420
First Caravels are Built
The first caravels were built at this time.Threre were several types of small, light sailing ships. Especially one with two or three masts and lateen sails. They were used by the Spanish and Portuguese in the 15th and 16th centuries. -
Jan 1, 1442
Slaves
The first auction of black slaves took place in Portugal. Slaves were people bound in servitude to a household or person. African men, women and children were taken against their will from their homes and families. They were then put on slave ships from Europe and got sold and traded. -
Jan 1, 1465
Navigation By Stars
During this time navigation by the stars was greatly improved over earlier eras. The stars helped sailors cross oceans without having to rely on estimated calculations. They could solely rely on them to determine their position and the direction they were headed. -
Jan 1, 1492
Many Changes
Many things happened in this year. Christopher Columbus discovered the West Indies in the New World. He also learned how a compass changes direction slightly as the longitude changes. After seven centuries the last Muslims were finally driven from Spain. Also, Leonardo Da Vinci drew a plan for a flying machine. -
Jan 1, 1514
Smallpox
When Europeans came to the New World they brought many deadly diseases with them. Smallpox was one of these terrible diseases. It started to wipe out the native populations of the Americas in 1514. Many of the native tribes were wiped out when the Europeans traded with them and gave them blankets infected with the disease. -
Jan 1, 1517
Protestant Reformation
Martin Luther started the Protestant Reformation in Germany in 1517. The Reformation was a 16th-century split within Western Christianity. It led to the creation of new national Protestant churches. It concluded in 1648 with the Treaty of Westphalia that ended years of European religious wars. -
Jan 1, 1521
Fall of the Aztecs
The Aztec Empire fell to Spanish forces in 1521. The Spaniards were terrified of the Aztecs and their religion and decided they needed to be destroyed, The Spanish leader Cortes was clever and used tactics that in combination with his native allies and the epidemics of disease, brought about the fall of the Aztec empire. He built the capital of New Spain (Mexico City) on the ruins of the Tenochitlan. -
Jan 1, 1533
Inca Empire Falls
The Spanish conquerer Pizzaro takes the Inca Empire. They hanged the native's leader, Atahualpa. However, the empire was already being destroyed by a smallpox epidemic and civil war. -
Jan 1, 1543
Science Breakthrough
The astronomer Nicolas Copernicus publishes a book that says the earth and other planets revolve around the sun. Before this time, people thought that everything revolved around the earth. Also, a biologist Andreas Vesalius published book on human anatomy. This was the first accurate book made in history of the subject. -
Jan 1, 1577
Sir Francis Drake
In 1577 he became the first Englishman to circumnavigate the globe. He traveled all over the world in his life; Africa, the West Indies, the Americas, Brazil, Europe, etc. He died on this way home from his last voyage in 1596. He was 55 years old. -
England Takes Over
The Spanish Armada was destroyed by the English navy led by Sir Francis Drake. Before this, Spain ruled the seas for years. England's Queen Elizabeth called for the battle. This victory made England the greatest sea power in the world. -
Jamestown, Virginia
The colony of Jamestown is established in Virginia. King James I granted a charter to a group of London entrepreneurs, the Virginia Company, to establish an English settlement in the Chesapeake region of North America. This became Jamestown. It was the first successful colony in the New World. -
More Settlements
The Spanish moved farther into the SW part of todays United States. They founded the city of Santa Fe in New Mexico. The French also made new settlements, but up north in Canada. They established the colony of Quebec. -
Today
I chose these dates becasue they seemed to be the most important ones that were on the worksheet. These are the dates that mostly influenced exploration and they are the events that people think of when they think of exploration.
