Unit 6 Assignment Two: Globalization and Exploration Assignment

  • 1415

    1415 – Portuguese Capture of Ceuta

    This marks the beginning of European overseas expansion. Portugal’s conquest of the North African city opened the door to future exploration down the African coast.
  • 1451

    1453 – Fall of Constantinople

    When the Ottoman Empire conquered Constantinople, land routes to Asia became more difficult for Europeans. This pushed Western European nations to seek ocean routes to the East.
  • 1491

    1494 – Treaty of Tordesillas

    Spain and Portugal divided the non-European world between them. This treaty shaped early colonial patterns in the Americas, Africa, and Asia.
  • 1492

    1492 – Columbus Reaches the Americas

    Columbus’s voyage connected the Eastern and Western Hemispheres for the first time in history. This launched the Columbian Exchange and accelerated global interaction.
  • 1521

    1521 – Fall of the Aztec Empire

    Spanish conquest reshaped political and cultural systems in the Americas. This event symbolized the rapid expansion of European power and the decline of indigenous civilizations.
  • 1522

    1522 – Magellan’s Crew Completes the First Circumnavigation

    Although Magellan died during the voyage, his crew proved that oceans connected the world. This event expanded global navigation and confirmed the world’s true size.
  • 1600 – Founding of the British East India Company

    This trading corporation became a global power, eventually controlling large parts of India. It demonstrates how exploration shifted toward economic imperialism and multinational companies.
  • 1607 – Establishment of Jamestown

    Jamestown was the first permanent English settlement in North America. It marked the beginning of English colonization, the Atlantic economy, and long-term globalization in the Western Hemisphere.