The Age of Exploration and Globalization

Peace of Westphalia ends Thirty Years’ War

1648 BCE

It reshaped European politics, supporting nation-states and international trade networks that spurred later globalization.

Founding of Jamestown, Virginia

1607 BCE

The first permanent English settlement in North America marked the beginning of English colonization.

Formation of the British East India Company

1600 BCE

The company symbolized early globalization and imperial trade, dominating commerce between Europe and Asia.

Pizarro conquers the Inca Empire

1533 BCE

This extended Spain’s power into South America and marked another major step in the European colonization of the Americas.

Cortes conquers the Aztec Empire

1521 BCE

The conquest opened vast new territories to Spanish colonization and began European dominance in the Americas.

Magellan’s expedition circumnavigates the globe

1519 BCE

This proved that the Earth was round and revealed the vast scale of global geography and trade potential.

Vasco da Gama reaches India by sea

1498 BCE

His voyage established a direct maritime route from Europe to Asia, boosting trade in spices and goods.

Treaty of Tordesillas signed

1494 BCE

Spain and Portugal divided the newly discovered lands outside Europe, shaping future colonial boundaries and rivalries.

Christopher Columbus reaches the Americas

1492 BCE

This voyage linked the Old and New Worlds for the first time, initiating global exchange of goods, people, and ideas.

Prince Henry the Navigator establishes a navigation school in Portugal

1419 BCE

This marked the beginning of systematic exploration by Europeans and the training of sailors who would later explore Africa and Asia.