The Great Geographical Discoveries

Southern tip Africa.

1487

Portuguese explorer Bartholomew Diaz sailed reached the cape of Africa, proving the possibility of a sea route to India. This discovery, known as the Cape of Good Hope, opened up new trade routes and stimulated further exploration.

Discovery of America.

1492

Christopher Columbus was an Italian explorer who made four voyages across the Atlantic Ocean, opening the way for large-scale European exploration and colonization of the Americas. His travels, sponsored by the Catholic monarchs of Spain, led to the first lasting European contact with the Americas, ushering in a period of European exploration, conquest, and colonization of the Americas.

Consequences: division of Spain and Portugal.

1494

The Treaty of Tordesillas was an agreement to divide newly discovered lands outside Europe between Spain and Portugal. This treaty aimed to resolve conflicts over newly discovered territories and establish spheres of influence for each country's exploration and colonization efforts.

The discovery of India.

1497

In 1497-1498, Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama successfully made the first sea voyage from Europe to India, establishing a direct commercial route around the southern tip of Africa/ East.

The start of American slave trade. (Consequence)

1500

Millions of Africans were forcibly transported across the Atlantic Ocean to the Americas to work as slaves on plantations and in other industries. This transatlantic trade, which lasted from the 16th to the 19th centuries, was driven by European colonial powers seeking cheap labor for their colonies, primarily in the Americas. Hundreds of thousands of natives died, and additionally Native Americans were too weak.

America is a new continent.

1501

16th century, Amerigo Vespucci, an Italian explorer, recognized that the lands he encountered in the Americas were distinct from Asia. His writings popularized the idea, leading to the continents being named after him.

Vasco Núñez de Balboa

1513

Vasco Núñez de Balboa was a Spanish explorer who is best known for being the first European to lead an expedition to reach the Pacific Ocean from the New World, thus establishing Spain's claim to the Pacific coast of the Americas.

Circumnavigation of Earth.

Period: 1519 to 1522

Ferdinand Magellan was a Portuguese explorer who led the first expedition to circumnavigate the globe. Although Magellan himself died during the voyage, his expedition proved that the Earth was round and opened up new maritime routes for exploration and trade.

Consequences: division of Spain and Portugal.

1529

The Treaty of Zaragoza was signed between Spain and Portugal. It aimed to clarify and amend the terms of the Treaty of Tordesillas by establishing a new line of demarcation in the Pacific Ocean, to resolve disputes over territories and trade routes in Asia and the Pacific.

Nanban trade.

1543

The Nanban Trade refers to the trade relationships established between Japan and European countries, primarily Portugal and Spain, during the 16th and early 17th centuries. The term "Nanban" means "Southern Barbarians" in Japanese and was used to refer to Europeans. The Nanban Trade was characterized by the exchange of goods, including firearms, textiles, and luxury items, between Japan and Europe.