Age of Exploration

Before 1400 Leif Erikson

1400

Around 1000 Leif Erikson lands in a place he called Vinland. It is believed to be in the northern tip of Newfoundland. However Leif had heard of the place prior to being blown off course when traveling to Greenland to Christianize the people there. Accounts suggest he rescued to Europeans who had also been blown off course and shipwrecked. Leif is now credited with discoving the America's.

Age of Exploration

Period: 1400 to 1750

In search for a passage to the Indies to bi-pass the Muslem controlled trade, Europeans would discover more than they imagined. While at the time most of the discoveries did not produce the results intended, they would set the stage for the future of mercantilism and colonialism. The indigenous people who faced the Europeans would have their culture forever changed.

Portugal: Henry The Navigator

1419

Prince Henry/Henry the Navigator establishes first school of navigation. Ships soon to begin exploration of the west coast of Africa. Regarded as kicking off the age of exploration. Prince Henry passes in 1460.

Madeiras Islands and Azores discovered

1420

1420 Portugese captains discover Madeiras islands 400 miles off the northwest coast of Africa. 1427 they discover the Azores 800 miles west of Portugal.

Cape Bojador

1434

Gil Eanes, a captain of Prince Henry rounds the northwest coast of Africa. This event percipitates what will become the slave trade.

Slave Trade Beings

1441

Captains are ordered by Prince Henry to capture native Africans to be sold in Europe. These profits fund the Age of Exploration for Portugal. First slaves are taken to work as domestic servants. Children are separated from their mothers and wife's from husbands. This was the beginning of the slave trade. When trade begins in the Americas the journey would come to be known as the Middle Passage. The slave trade lasted up to 1800.

Constantinople Captured

1453

Muslem Turks now control overland trade of spices and silk and prices soar. It becomes clear that a new route to the Indies is needed as business fall due to the soaring prices.

Equator Passed

1474

Portuguese captains pass the equator on the west coast of Africa.

Bartolomeu Dias

1488

Credited with the opening sea routes to India cutting out Arab traders. Born about 1450 in Portugal. First European to sail around the south coast of Africa and up east coast. Sets sail Aug. 1487. Jan. 1488 blown off course for 13 days. Discovers has sailed southern tip of Africa. Knew headed to India. Promised crew they would return. On way home discovers Cape of Good Hope aka Cape of Storms. 1497 Diaz designs ships for Vasco Da Gama and sails with as far as Senegal.

Christopher Columbus

1492

Born in Genoa, Italy1451. Moves to Lisbon, Portugal working in brothers map store. King John II of Portugal won't finance a voyage across Atlantic (Ocean Sea) to find Indies. Goes to Spain. Queen Isabella and King Ferdinand of Cordoba say when war with the Musleum Moors is finished.1492 given permission. Sets sail with the Nina, Pinta and Sana Marie. Thinks he finds Indies. Discovers San Salvador, Cuba islands of Hispaniola (now Haiti and Dominican Republic.) 1st Voyage

Columbian Exchange

1492

Begins with the voyages of Christopher Columbus. Global exchange of plants, animals and disease.

Columbus 2nd Voyage

1494

Sets up colony of Isabela on Hispaniola. Discovers what will be Jamaica. Takes two more voyages to colonize and convert natives to Christianity. Natives attack and kill settlers at Fort Navidad. Treatment of natives is brutal: sent back to Europe as slaves or to mine gold. Ends up hanging many Spaniards for disobdience. Columbus is relieved of Governorship in Hispaniola and told he can not return. Granted one more voyage, that does not end well. Never discovers he had not reached Indies.

Treaty of Tordesillas

Jun 7, 1494

Pope Alexander VI established a line in 1493 that he believed would stop the fighting between Spain and Portugal. It established a line running north and sough on a map in the Atlantic Ocean giving all lands and seas west of the lin to Spain and everything east to Portugal. It is signed in Tordesillas in 1494.

John Cabot

1497

Born same year and place as Columbus. Italy. Explores for England to find a shorter route in the Atlantic as Treaty of Tordesillas only gives rights to Spain and Portugal. Discovers Newfoundland on North American continent. Fails in finding passage. While Norweigans have landed there in past, his landing will become important with Englands claim to North America (hint: colonies). Takes a second unsuccessful voyage in 1498, but gets all the way to 38th parallel.

Vasco Da Gama

1497

Born in Portugal in small coastal town. Noted as a pilot and fighting enemy Muslems. Manual I approves and backs voyages. 1st voyage maps eastern coast of Africa gets to Calicut, India in 1498, but they will not trade. Musleums don't want Christians taking over trade. Da Gama loses many men including his brother. Back Sept. 1949. Tells King Manuel I, must take trade by force. Sails 1502. Returns 1503 fully loaded with spices. Portugal now controls European Indies trade.

Amerigo Vespucci

1499

1497, 1499 or 1501? Historians not certain. He may have landed before Columbus and Cabot in Americas, but he was the best propagandist. Born in Italy, naturalized citizen of Spain 1505. First to realize Columbus did not discover Indies, but new continent. New World receives name America, feminine version of Amerigo. Met Columbus and his financiers. Leaves failing business for fame and discovery. First two voyages for Spain. Third voyage under Portugese flag. Studied indiginous people.

Juan Ponce de Leon

1513

Spanish explorer who went in search of the Fountain of Youth, and riches. Instead discovers Florida. He names it "Pascua de FLorida" feast of flowers and claims it for Spain.

Hernan Cortes

1519

Between 1519 and 1521 Hernan Cortes, Spanish Conquistador conquers the Aztec Empire in Mexico. It is becomes Mexico City. In 1504 sailed for Santo Domingo (Dominican Republic). In 1511 moves to Cuba assisting Diego Velázquez in conquest of the island. Gains reputation for courage and daring. 1518 persuades now Governor Velazquez to make him commander of an expedition to Mexico where there was said to be great weath. Velazquez gives the okay then changes his mind and Cortes leaves anyway.

Ferdinand Magellan First to sail around the world

Sep 20, 1519

Born in Portugal Magellan served the crown as a proven warrior and trained in Lisban in navigation. Portugal was the richest nation in the world due to control of Indies. Magallen believed until a western route to the Indies was found the Treaty of Tordesillas couldn't be enforced as the true circumference of the world was not known. The King of Portugal didn't like Magallen, so Magallen went to Spain and was given a fleet of ships. He discovered Magellan's Straight. He was killed on way home.

Francisco Pizarro

1524

Spanish conquistador follows Pacific coast of America along Peru in the first of three expeditions. Pizarro had been a part of the expedition discovering the Ismuth of Panama earlier. By accounts he conquers Incan Empire in 1532 and the deal is sealed by Spain in 1533. Massive amounts of gold, silver and other treasures are secured. Known for his explorations of South America. HIs expeditions lead to the greatest finds of silver at Potosi.

Giovanni Verrazano

Jan 2, 1524

Originally from France, becomes an Italian Explorer who discovers and charts more than 200 miles of N. American Atlantic coastline as unbroken contintent. By 1518 Portugal controlled trade of spices and silk driving prices up. Verrazano's family was in silk business and he knew importance of finding a passage to the Indies going west. Brings home brazilwood form Brazil financing expeditiion. He dies on second voyage in pursuit of passage. In 1900's acknowledged for discovery of New York Harbor.

Henry Hudson

1607

Hudson was English: Great grandfather was John Cabot; grandfather was Sebastian Cabot. Worked for Muscovy Company on ships trading furs and timber w/Russia. Given command of his own ship to find NE passage to China. When his efforts didn't pay the Dutch East India Company stepped up. Hudson explored the Northern most portion of N. America: Hudson River. Thought he reached NW passage, but was inland sea (aka Hudson Bay). Dutch and English fought three wars over the areas he explored. Brits win.

Middle Passage

1619

By 1619 the triangular trade patterns were well established for the shipment of millions of Africans to the New World. This is also refered to as the Atlantic slave trade.