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Sponsored voyages of discovery and inspired the race among the European countries to discover new places.
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Cape Hope is the south tip of Africa, thus this is a huge maritime accomplishment and discovery. He reached the Indian ocean through this route.
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Columbus lands in the West Indies on a land uncharted by Europeans (Vikings discovered it 500 years ago).
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The Catholic Pope divides the "new territories" between Spain and Portugal for them to claim
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Replaced the Papal Bulls, and split new land between Portugal and Spain to prevent fighting.
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Discovers the first maritime trade route to India and the East (around Cape of Good Hope)
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Spanish conquistador Hernan Cortez conquers the capital of Tenochitlan.
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First successful circumnavigation of the globe.
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Established by the Spanish in St. Augustine, present day Florida.
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Francisco Pizarro took advantage of internal corruption within the empire to start a civil war and the spread of diseases caused it to fall.