Age of Exploration and Globalization

  • 1415

    1415: Capture of Ceuta by Portugal

    Marked the beginning of European exploration along the African coast and paved the way for Portugal's dominance in maritime trade.
  • 1492

    1492: Christopher Columbus Reaches the Americas

    Initiated European colonization in the New World, connecting continents and sparking the Columbian Exchange.
  • 1498

    1498: Vasco de Gama Reaches India

    Portugal established a direct sea route to India, enhancing spice trade and European influence in Asia
  • Period: 1519 to 1522

    1519-1522: Ferdinand Magellan's Circumnavigation

    Demonstrated the possibility of global sea travel and underscored the Earth's roundness, marking a major navigational achievement
  • 1521

    1521: Hernan Cortes Conquers the Aztec Empire

    Symbolized the violent clash of civilizations and the beginning of Spanish dominance in the Americas
  • 1602: Founding of the Dutch East India Company

    A critical moment in the globalization of trade, the first multinational corporation set the stage for modern capitalism
  • 1619: Establishment of the First African Slaves in Virginia

    Highlighted the role of forced migration in the global economy and the darker consequences of globalization
  • 1763: The Treaty of Paris

    Marked the end of the Seven Years War. redrawing global colonial empires and influencing global power dynamics
  • 1770: Captain James Cook Claims Australia for Britain

    Expanded the scope of European exploration and colonization, reshaping indigenous cultures and territories
  • 1815: Congress of Vienna

    Stabilized post-Napoleonic Europe, influencing global order and setting the stage for continued trade and exploration