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Portugal was one of the first countries to influence and sanction maritime exploration along Africa’s west coast. Portugal went on to even establish centers for exploration and navigation.
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Dias becomes the first European to sail around the southern tip of Africa; opening the sea route to Asia, bypassing land travel.
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Columbus, attempting to find an easier way to Asia, lands in the Caribbean, leading to the start of the Columbian exchange and the exploration of the new world.
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Spain and Portugal divide the exploration of the new world to avoid reduce conflict between the two powers, leading to the creation of imperial zones.
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Da Gama completes the first sea voyage from Europe to India, securing Portugal’s role and influence in the spice trade.
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Magellan leads the first full circumnavigation of the globe, proving the earth was larger than thought, and also advancing trade routes.
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Hernán Cortés leads the conquest of the Aztec empire in the Americas, bring upon the destruction of the Aztec empire as well as Spain's dominance in the Americas
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Spain establishes Manila as a trade hub, linking Asia and the Americas, creating a direct trade route between the 3 continents
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As the growth and rise of people populating the Americas, the millions of Africans forcibly transported to the Americas were used for the economic profit. Leading to human consequences and being a major factor in the growth of global capitalism.
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Hudson furthered European power into North America, as well as establishing English and Dutch colonization in the Americas.