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1488
Bartholomeu Dias reaches the Cape of Good Hope
Portuguese captains were informed of a route to India around the southern tip of Africa. -
1494
Spain and Portugal sign the Treaty of Tordesillas
Called for a line that determined the territories belonging to either Spain or Portugal. -
1495
Christopher Columbus reaches the Americas
Unlike Portuguese sailors, Columbus believed he could reach Asia by sailing west instead of east around Africa. He discovered the Americas, rather than the desired location, Asia. After reaching the Americas, he explored the coastline of Cuba, as well as the island of Hispaniola. He would eventually reach all the major Caribbean islands and Honduras in Central America—all of which he called the Indies. -
1497
John Cabot’s Voyage to North America
John Cabot, sailing for England, reached Newfoundland in 1497. This was the first English claim in North America and marked the beginning of England’s interest in exploring the New World. -
1498
Vasco de Gama travels around Africa, cutting across the Indian Ocean to the coast of India
He would later arrive off the port of Calicut, and after returning to Portugal, he would make a large profit from the cargo of spices he obtained in India. -
1500
Plantations are established along the coast of Brazil and on Caribbean islands to grow sugarcane
This would eventually lead to the shipment of enslaved Africans to the Americas, as the surviving population of Native Americans could not supply the labor required. -
1513
Ponce de León Explores Florida
Spanish explorer Ponce de León reached Florida, claiming it for Spain and becoming one of the first Europeans to explore the southeastern United States. -
1518
A Spanish shop carries the first enslaved Africans directly from West Africa to the Americas
The trade of enslaved people later grew dramatically and eventually became part of the triangle trade that connected Europe, Africa, and the American continents. -
1519
Ferdinand Magellan sets sail from Spain in search of a passage through the Americas
This journey was also funded by Spain -
1519
Hernan Cortes lands at Veracruz
Cortes, along with a small number of troops, would later march to Tenochtitlan. They were welcomed by the Aztec ruler, and Cortes would also make alliances with city-states within the region. Tensions between the Spaniards and the Aztec would soon arise, and contact with the Europeans would prove disastrous for the Aztec Empire -
1520
Magellan passes through the Strait of Magellan into the Pacific Ocean
Would later be regarded as the first person to sail completely around the globe. -
1524
Giovanni da Verrazzano
Verrazzano was an Italian navigator and explorer of France. He persuaded King Francis I to promote an expedition aimed at finding a passage west from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean. He was the first to explore the east coast of the current United States of America. In 1524, he reached the New York Bay -
1531
Francisco Pizarro lands on the Pacific coast of South America
Pizzaro and his companions would eventually conquer the Incas. -
1565
The Founding of St. Augustine
The Spanish established St. Augustine in Florida, the oldest continuously inhabited European-established settlement in the Americas, marking Spain’s enduring presence in North America. -
1567
Slave-Trading in Spanish Colonies
In 1567, Sir Francis Drake went on an illicit slaving voyage led by his cousin, John Hawkins. They sailed to New Spain to sell their captives to the settlers there. Since this was against Spanish law, the English ships were attacked by the Spanish, killing many crewmates. Drake and his cousin Hawkins were able to escape and sail back to England. This event led to Spain being a lifelong enemy for Drake and the Spanish considering him a pirate. -
1572
Privateering for Queen Elizabeth I
In 1572, Sir Francis Drake sailed from Plymouth, set for Panama to explore what he could find there. Drake was given a license to act as a privateer, taking whatever of Spain's treasure he came across. He was motivated by Queen Elizabeth I's desire to hurt Philip II of Spain and Spain's exclusion of English merchants from trade with New Spain. Drake's expedition was a success, and he returned to England with a significant amount of treasure, setting stage for his future privateering expeditions. -
Period: 1577 to 1580
Sir Francis Drake's Voyage around the Globe
In 1577, Queen Elizabeth I commissioned Sir Francis Drake to explore new trade routes. He departed with five ships, including the Golden Hind, reaching South America by April 1578. Drake navigated the Straits of Magellan in August and continued north, capturing treasure ships like the Nuestra Senora de la Concepcion in March 1579. The Golden Hind returned to England in September 1580, becoming the second person to sail around the world and enhancing English trade and navigation. -
Raiding the Spanish West Indies
In 1585 CE, Sir Francis Drake sailed with a fleet of nearly 30 ships and 2,000 men to raid the Spanish West Indies. He freed many English ships that Philip II of Spain had embargoed in Spanish-controlled ports and captured a significant haul of Spanish arms, causing havoc with Philip's supplies meant for the Armada. The important ports of San Domingo on Cuba and Cartagena, the capital of the Spanish Main, were sacked. This raid was a significant blow to the Spanish Empire. -
The Spanish Armada
In 1588 CE, Sir Francis Drake played a key role in the defeat of the Spanish Armada, Spanish ships commanded by the Duke of Medina Sidonia, sent by Philip II of Spain to invade England. Drake was the vice-admiral to Charles Howard in a fleet of English ships that sailed from the coast of Plymouth to attack Spanish invaders. The attacks continued off of Eddystone, Portland, and the Isle of Wight. The Armada was eventually forced to retreat, and the Spanish invasion of England was thwarted. -
The Dutch East India Company
The Dutch East India Company was created to control the spice trade in Asia. Over time, it gained power to make treaties, build forts, and use military force, becoming a colonial power. -
The Establishment of Quebec
Samuel de Champlain founded Quebec, establishing the first permanent French colony in North America, which became big in fur trading. -
Hudson's Third Voyage
Hired by the Dutch East India Company, Hudson again failed to find a Northeast Passage and instead crossed the Atlantic. He explored the east coast of North America and sailed up the river that now bears his name, reaching present-day Albany, New York. His discoveries led to Dutch colonization in the area. -
The British also establish several trading posts in India
The British East India Company would eventually expand and gain complete control of India. -
Dutch form the West India Company
English seize the colony of New Netherland from the Dutch and the Dutch West India Company soon goes bankrupt -
The First French Expedition to the Mississippi River
French explorers Marquette and Joliet explored the Mississippi River, making for French colonization and trade in the Mississippi Valley. -
English established colonial empire
The English established a colonial empire in North America after the Massachusetts Bay Colony grew to forty-thousand settlers. -
Period: to
The Seven Years War
French expansion into the Ohio River valley brought France into armed conflict with British colonies. In 1756, the British suffered defeats against the French and their network of Native American alliances. It ended with the signing of the treaties of Hubertusburg and Paris in February 1763.