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King John I of Portugal orders the capture of Ceuta, a strategic city in North Africa. This marks the beginning of Portugal's expansion into exploration and trade routes. -
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Portuguese explorer Bartolomeu Dias becomes the first European to sail around the southern tip of Africa, opening the sea route to Asia and paving the way for future voyages. -
Ordered by Queen Isabella and King Ferdinand of Spain, Christopher Columbus sails westward across the Atlantic Ocean, hoping to reach Asia. Instead, he discovers the islands of the Caribbean, which is considered the first European encounter with the Americas. -
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English explorer John Cabot, under the commission of King Henry VII, sails to the coast of North America, becoming one of the first Europeans to explore the region. This opens the door for English exploration of the New World. -
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Vasco da Gama successfully sails to India, establishing a direct sea route to Asia and securing Portugal’s dominance in the lucrative spice trade. -
Juan Ponce de León, a Spanish explorer, lands on the east coast of which is now, present-day Florida, becoming the first European to explore the region. He names it "La Florida" which means the (land of flowers). -
Led by Hernán Cortés, Spanish conquistadors defeat the Aztec Empire in which is now, modern-day Mexico. Cortés captures the Aztec capital, Tenochtitlan, and claims the region for Spain. -
Giovanni da Verrazzano, an Italian navigator sailing under the French flag, explores the eastern coast of North America, from present-day North Carolina to Newfoundland. -
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Francisco Pizarro and his forces conquer the Inca Empire in which is now present-day Peru. The Inca Emperor Atahualpa is captured and executed, leading to the fall of one of the largest and wealthiest civilizations in the Americas. -
1534 – Jacques Cartier claims Canada for France -
Portugal is united with Spain under King Philip II, ending its independence for a time. This marks the end of Portugal’s Age of Exploration as the country loses its maritime power to Spain. -
England, under Queen Elizabeth I, successfully defeats the Spanish Armada, a turning point in establishing England as a major maritime power and paving the way for future exploration and colonization. -
England establishes its first permanent settlement in the New World with the founding of Jamestown in Virginia. This marks the beginning of English colonization in North America. -
Samuel de Champlain establishes the French settlement of Quebec in Canada, becoming the first permanent French colony in North America and a crucial base for further French exploration and fur trading. -
The French West India Company is founded to oversee French colonial expansion in the Caribbean, particularly in the sugar trade, establishing a stronger French presence in the Americas. -
The Treaty of Paris marks the end of the Seven Years' War, where England gains vast territories in North America, the Caribbean, and India, establishing the foundation for the British Empire and signaling the end of the Age of Exploration.