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The Ottoman Empire took control over Southwestern Europe after beheading the Byzantine emperor. They established a navy and restricted other European empires from using certain Afro Eurasian trade routes, this in turn influenced many Europeans to explore throughout the Iberian peninsula, initiating many voyages. -
In 1488, the country of Portugal was experiencing impoverished conditions, Bartolomeu Dias took his crew of sailors, the Cape of Storms, and sailed into the Indian Ocean, discovering that the Indian Ocean and the Atlantic Ocean are connected. This finding influenced Vasco Da Gama's discovery of India. -
Christopher Columbus was the first to reach the New World in 1492, but not the last, colonization spread up to the 19th century. Colonization spread diseases, plants, animals, species, spices, agriculture and other goods. It also led to the enslavement of thousands of natives and the death of thousands of indigenous tribes. Spain & Portugal went from being poor empires to controlling large quantities of land and wealth of the New World becoming one of the richest in the world. -
On October 12, 1492, Italian explorer, Christopher Columbus sailing for Spain, completed his journey across the Atlantic Ocean and landed on an Island (now known as the Bahamas.) This event is extremely significant because it is the event that marked the discovery of the New World which later led to colonization and the spread of cultures, plants, animals, and diseases around the world. -
The Treaty of Tordesillas was an agreement between Spain and Portugal, dividing the newly discovered land between them. The establishment of this treaty was important because it dictated which country could explore certain geographical lands and influenced the establishment of their empires in the New World. For instance, it allowed Spain to establish its empire in the Americas. -
In 1497, Vasco Da Gama, a Portuguese explorer, reached India by sea for the first time. This in turn opened up and established new and essential trade routes from Europe to Asia. -
In 1519, Ferdinand Magellan, a Portuguese explorer was sponsored by Spain in efforts to find westward route. He took 5 ships and a total of 237 men. Although Magellan himself didn't live to finish his travels around the world, his fellow sailors completed the first circumnavigation of the earth. -
In 1521, Spanish conquistador, Hernan Cortes and hundreds of his soldiers invaded Mexico. These Spanish invaders overthrew the Aztec Empire and all of its wealth. -
In 1521, Magellan's ships returned to Spain with only 18 out of the 237 original voyagers. This event marked an important shift in society in which empires all throughout the world were now globally trading and transporting goods (new plants, animals, foods), diseases, and slaves. -
In 1530, Spanish conquistador, Francisco Pizarro along with fellow Spaniards and help from rival indigenous communities took control over the Inca Empire. This marked Spain's invasion of two major indigenous communities. Spain later took control over all of Mexico, enslaving and killing thousands of natives.