9/28/2020 Age of Exploration Timeline

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Timeline Description: The Age of Exploration, which lasted roughly between 1450 and 1600, is a Handwriting
term given to the period of European exploration in Africa, Asia, and the Americas. Driven by a (https://www.softschools.com/handwriting/alphab
desire for inexpensive spices, gold, and other sources of wealth, Europeans sailed around the
world and sparked a global exchange of goods that changed the world forever. Portugal led the Spanish
way, followed by other major powers such as Spain, England, and the Netherlands. Sailors (https://www.softschools.com/spanish/)
capitalized on improvements in cartography, ship construction, and navigational tools to
Facts
facilitate their voyages.
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Age of Exploration Examples

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The Age of Exploration, which lasted roughly
between 1450 and 1600, is a term given to the Formulas
period of European exploration in Africa, Asia, and (https://www.softschools.com/formulas/)
the Americas. Driven by a desire for inexpensive
Difference Between
spices, gold, and other sources of wealth, 1415 (https://www.softschools.com/difference/)
Europeans sailed around the world and sparked a The Portuguese
global exchange of goods that changed the world seize Ceuta, Inventions
sparking interest
forever. Portugal led the way, followed by other in rounding (https://www.softschools.com/inventions/)
major powers such as Spain, England, and the Africa.

Netherlands. Sailors capitalized on improvements Literature

in cartography ship construction and navigational (https://www.softschools.com/literature/summary

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2020 Calendar
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The Portuguese seize
Ceuta, sparking interest in Online Calculators
rounding Africa.
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1410 1420 1430 1440 1450 1460 Multiplication

1400
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Date Event Educational Videos

1415 The Portuguese seize Ceuta, sparking interest in rounding Africa.

By the 1400s, Portugal is strong enough to expand into Muslim North

Africa, and they seize the coastal city of Ceuta in 1415. Their victory
inspires Prince Henry, later known as Henry the Navigator, to organize
voyages along the western coast of Africa.

October 12, Christopher Columbus lands in the Caribbean.

1492
Inspired by Portugal's early success in navigation, Spain finances
Christopher Columbus' voyage to find a western trade route to Asia.
Columbus lands in the Caribbean in 1492, convinced he has reached
East Asia. His voyage opens the Americas to later European explorers.

May 4, 1493 The Line of Demarcation divides the world between Spain and
Portugal.

Spain and Portugal press rival claims to the lands Columbus explores,
and in 1493 Pope Alexander VI steps in to keep the peace. He sets a
Line of Demarcation, which divides the non-European world into two
zones. Spain has trading and exploration rights in all lands west of the
line, while Portugal has the same rights east of the line.

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9/28/2020 Age of Exploration Timeline

June 7, 1494 Portugal claims Brazil.

Although Spain continues to claim land in South America, a large

region remains outside its empire. In the Treaty of Tordesillas,
Portugal claims Brazil and issues grants of land to Portuguese nobles.
European settlers move to Brazil to farm brazilwood and sugar.

June 24, 1497 John Cabot lands on the east coast of North America.

Hoping to find a northwest passage to Asia, explorer John Cabot sets

out on a voyage from England. When he lands on the east coast of
North America, he claims the land in the name of King Henry VII,
mistakenly believing he is in Asia.

May 20, 1498 Vasco da Gama reaches India after rounding Africa.

Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama reaches India after rounding the

southern tip of Africa. Although the Portuguese lose half their ships
and many sailors die on the voyage, the venture is highly profitable
and he returns with a cargo of spices. His voyage shows Portugal can
access Asian markets directly, instead of through indirect overland
routes.

1502 Da Gama forces a treaty on the ruler of Calicut and sets up a trading
post.

Thanks to his success in India, da Gama is able to outfit a new fleet,

and in 1502 he forces a treaty of cooperation on the ruler of Calicut. He
then leaves Portuguese merchants in Calicut to set up trade with
spice merchants.

April 25, 1507 A German mapmaker names the "New World" America.

A German mapmaker reads reports about Columbus' "New World,"

written by the Italian sailor Amerigo Vespucci. The mapmaker names
the region America, and the Caribbean islands Columbus initially
explored are named the West Indies.

August 24, 1511 Portugal seizes Malacca.

After da Gama's success in setting up a trading post, the Portuguese

begin to capture key ports around the Indian Ocean. In 1511 they seize
Malacca, which allows them to ally with Asian leaders and establish a
major foothold in Asian trade routes. Portugal continues to set up a
vast trading empire, but their brutality in Malacca makes them hated
and feared.

February 1519 Hernan Cortés lands in Mexico.

Spanish explorer and conquistador Hernan Cortés lands on the coast

of Mexico with 600 men, 16 horses, and a few cannons. While the
Spaniards are vastly outnumbered by the Aztecs, they capture and
demolish the capital city of Tenochtitlán in a brutal assault in 1521.
Their actions inspire other conquistadors to conquer regions in the
Americas.

September 8, The Vittoria completes its circumnavigation of the globe.

1522
The Vittoria completes the first circumnavigation of the globe, nearly
three years after first setting out. While Ferdinand Magellan leads the
initial expedition, he and four other ships do not survive the entire
voyage.

August 29, 1533 Francisco Pizarro executes the last Inca emperor.

Inspired by the success of Cortés in Mexico, Francisco Pizarro arrives in

Peru in 1532. He capitalizes on the unrest in the Incan empire and
quickly captures the Inca emperor, whom he executes in 1533. The
Spanish spread across Ecuador and Chile, adding much of South
America to Spain's empire.

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July 28, 1576 Martin Frobisher sights land in North America.

Determined to find the Northwest Passage between the Atlantic

Ocean and Asia, English explorer Martin Frobisher sets sail for North
America. In 1576 he sights the coast of what is now Labrador, Canada.
Despite three voyages, Frobisher is unsuccessful in finding the
Northwest Passage.

December 31, English merchants found the East India Company.

1600
Hoping to exploit trade in East and Southeast Asia and India, a group
of English merchants form the East India Company by royal charter.
With this company, the English break the Spanish and Portuguese
monopoly of the East Indian spice trade. The company later becomes
involved in politics and acts as an agent of British imperialism in India.

March 20, 1602 Dutch merchants found the Dutch East India Company.

In the late 1500s, the Dutch set up colonies and trading posts around
the world. A group of wealthy merchants found the Dutch East India
Company, which furthers their quest to be the major European
commercial power in the east. The company also comes into conflict
with the English East India Company.

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