First Global Age: Asia (Freeman 2015) by David Kawash

  • Period: Jan 1, 1400 to Jan 1, 1499

    Ming Dynasty Rulers Send Fleets Out into Water

    In 1405, Zheng He departed a fleet of 62 ships and lots of smaller ones. The largest ships were up to 400 feet. In folllowing years, Zheng He explored the coasts of Southeast Asia and India.
  • Period: Jan 1, 1400 to Jan 1, 1499

    Europeans Seek Sea Route to Asia

    Muslims and Italians are charging high prices for them to pass by. They seek to find a different route, and go around the coast of Africa.
  • Period: Jan 1, 1400 to Jan 1, 1499

    Prince Henry the Navigator Sends Expedition Past Cape Bojador

    He convinced Gil Eannes to try and sail past the Cape, and he agreed, eventually succeeding, and becoming the first to sail past that point.
  • Columbus Discovers America
    Jan 1, 1492

    Columbus Discovers America

    In 1492, Columbus and his three ships sailed westward. After a while of seeing no land at all, on October 12, Columbus had spotted land.
  • Line of Demarcation Created
    Jan 1, 1493

    Line of Demarcation Created

    In 1493, Pope Alexander VI created a line of demarcation because of Spain and Portugal's claims for Columbus' land. The line separated the non-European world into two sections.
  • Vasco da Gama Reaches port Calicut
    Jan 1, 1497

    Vasco da Gama Reaches port Calicut

    In 1497, da Gama and his four ships sailed around the Cape of Good Hope. After 10 months, the ships finally reached the spice port of Calicut.
  • Pedro Alvarez Cabral Discovers Brazil
    Jan 1, 1500

    Pedro Alvarez Cabral Discovers Brazil

    Pedro Alvarez Cabral becomes the first European to reach Brazil, and he names the country. Cabral and his men spotted a patch of land, and sailed for three days before reaching land.
  • De Gama Creates Trading Empire
    Jan 1, 1502

    De Gama Creates Trading Empire

    In 1502, De Gama left Portuguese merchants at the port of Calicut. Then, the Portuguese seized ports around the Indian Ocean, and created a large trading empire.
  • Afonso de Albuquerque Conquers Malacca
    Jan 1, 1511

    Afonso de Albuquerque Conquers Malacca

    In 1511, Afonso de Albuquerque organized an expedition to conquer Malacca. On July 25, 1511, his Portuguese attacked the town . It was a ferocious battle, and the Portuguese ended up capturing the port.
  • Ferdinand Magellan Sets Out from Spain
    Jan 1, 1519

    Ferdinand Magellan Sets Out from Spain

    On September 20, 1519, Ferdiand Magellan departed from Spain on five ships. Men in his crew were from Africa, Southeast Asia, and Europe.
  • Magellan Claims Land in the Philippines for the King of Spain
    Jan 1, 1521

    Magellan Claims Land in the Philippines for the King of Spain

    Magellan's crew finally lands in the Philippines. While there, he claimed land for the king of Spain, and was killed by a local chief.
  • Magellan's Fleet Circumnavigates the World
    Jan 1, 1522

    Magellan's Fleet Circumnavigates the World

    Magellan put together a fleet of ships to circle the world in one trip in 1520. Before they completed the voyage, Magellan was killed. In 1522, after nearly three years, one ship finally completed the trip.
  • Portuguese Arrive in Japan
    Jan 1, 1543

    Portuguese Arrive in Japan

    After being blown off course, Portuguese traders shipwrecked near a Japan island. The Portuguese became the first to start regularly trading with Japan.
  • The Happy Return

    The Happy Return

    After being gone for more than a year, a Dutch fleet came back from Asia. The cargo carried spices, pepper, and cloves.
  • Dutch East India Company Founded

    Dutch East India Company Founded

    Trading company was founded by the Dutch. It was founded so they could protect their trade in the Indian Ocean and to assist in the war of Indepence with Spain.
  • Japanese Becomes Isolated

    Japanese Becomes Isolated

    Japan bans western merchants, and becomes isolated in trading and more.