The Age of Exploration

Portuguese Explorers

Nov 29, 1488

Portuguese captians heard of a route to India around the Southern tip of Africa. Bartholomeu Dias succeded the trip around the tip. He named it the Cape of Good Hope.

Christopher Colombus

Oct 29, 1492

After determining the Earth was round and not flat, Christopher Colombus decided to set sail. He wanted to figure out the Earths circumference. Colombus reached the Americas, where he explored the coastline of Cuba and the island of Hispaniola.

The Race

Nov 30, 1500

John Cabot was a Veterain seaman, he had explored the New England coast line of The Americas for England. The Portuguese sea captain landed in South america in 1500. The government sponsored explorers from many countries to join the race to The Americas.

The Return

Nov 29, 1509

Portuguese fleet returned to the area to take cantrol of the spice trade. Portuguese warships defeated a combined fleet of Turkish and Indian ships off the coast of India. Admiral Afonso de Albuquerque takes credit for the defeat of the Muslims. Soon after they took control of the spice trade a tready was made. This tready gave part control to the Portuguese and divided the land between them and Asia.

Growth of The Slave Trade

Feb 15, 1518

in 1518, the Spanish the sailed away with the first enaslaved Africans. The African Kings gave up their own people to the Spanish. This trade of enslaved people grew dramatically and became part of the Triangle Trade. This conected Europe, Africa, and the American continents.

Aztec Civilization Destroyed

Nov 16, 1519

A Spanish force under the comand of Hernan Cortes landed at Veracruz, on the Golf of Mexico. When he arrived he made allies with those who opposed the Aztecs rule. At his arrival he was welcomed by the Aztecs because they had never seen such men and their unique weapons.

The Straight of Magellan

Nov 28, 1519

Ferdinand Magellan made his way through a water way into the Pacific Ocean. Magellan is credited to be the first to circumnavigate the globe. Besids the fact that 17 men returned from the voyage not including Magellan himself.

The Aztec Take Over

Aug 31, 1520

In the fall of 1520, one year after Cortez had first arrived, the local population revolted and drove the invaders from the city. IT took four months for the city to surender. With the Aztecs dying of disease, the Spaniarsds recieved 50,000 worriors from other allies.

Prince Henry

Nov 29, 1520

Prince Henry was the navigator for Portuguese, he sent fleets to probe Southward. In the Southern cost of West Africa he discovered gold! Thus it became known as the Gold Cost.