The Age of Exploration Timeline By Justine.Sandoval Period: Jan 1, 1480 to Jan 1, 1770 The Age of Exploration Jan 1, 1492 Christopher Columbus reaches the Americas Jan 1, 1497 John Cabot and Amerigo Vespucci explore the Americas Jan 1, 1518 First boatload of slaves brought directly from Africa to the Americas Jan 1, 1519 Spanish begin conquest of Mexico Jan 1, 1520 Magellan sails into Pacific Ocean Jan 1, 1595 First Dutch fleet arrives in India Jan 1, 1630 English found Massachusetts Bay Colony Jan 1, 1650 Dutch occupy Portuguese forts in Indian Ocean trading areas Jan 1, 1700 English establish colonial empire in North America Jan 1, 1767 Burmese sack Thai capital