Age of exploration timeline

  • 1341

    First Launched Expeditions (Portugal)

    First Launched Expeditions (Portugal)
    This marked the beginning of the Age of Exploration
  • Period: 1341 to

    Age of Exploration

  • 1418

    Prince Henry Commissioned Expeditions To Explore Africa’s Coast (Portugal)

    Prince Henry Commissioned Expeditions To Explore Africa’s Coast (Portugal)
    Him doing this led to expeditions from Africa to Asia and more exploration.
  • 1492

    Searching for the East Indies (Spain)

    Searching for the East Indies (Spain)
    Christopher Columbus started his voyage in 1492 searching for the East Indies
  • 1492

    Gaining Valuables (Spain)

    Gaining Valuables (Spain)
    They began to send voyages regularly to gain valuables like gold and silver, which would boost the Spanish economy.
  • 1497

    Looking For Trading Routes (Great Britain)

    Looking For Trading Routes (Great Britain)
    in 1497 the British started to look for a western route for trading to Asia
  • 1497

    John Cabot Voyages (Great Britain)

    John Cabot Voyages (Great Britain)
    John Cabot founded modern day Canada and New England. Which is some of the earliest European explorations of the continent.
  • May 20, 1498

    The Portuguese Reach India (Portugal)

    The Portuguese Reach India (Portugal)
    This was the first confirmed expedition to reach India, which set way for other countries to explore India and other places.
  • Oct 12, 1498

    Discovering the Caribbean (Spain)

    Discovering the Caribbean (Spain)
    Though they discovered the Caribbean, they thought they were in Asia and that’s why Native Americans are often referred to as “Indians”.
  • 1500

    Portuguese Discover Brazil (Portugal)

    Portuguese Discover Brazil (Portugal)
    Brazil was very rich in many natural resources and this marked a big expansion in Portugals empire. This also helped Portugal trade resources and impacted the trades.
  • 1513

    Claimed Puerto Rico and Florida (Spain)

    Claimed Puerto Rico and Florida (Spain)
    Juan Ponce de Leon went to explore Puerto Rico and wanted to conquer the land and he also claimed “La Florida” as well as Puerto Rico for Spain.
  • 1534

    France Joins In Late (France)

    France Joins In Late (France)
    The French joined in the Age of Exploration in 1534, later than the other countries.
  • 1534

    Jacques Cartier’s Voyages (France)

    Jacques Cartier’s Voyages (France)
    Commissioned by King Francis I, Cartier started to explore and claim North America.
  • 1535

    Claimed Canada (France)

    Claimed Canada (France)
    In 1535 France claimed most of modern day Canada.
  • British Start To Establish Colonies (Great Britain)

    British Start To Establish Colonies (Great Britain)
    From 1585-1607 Great Britain started to establish colonies in the eastern part of North America
  • Established the Virginia Colony (Great Britain)

    Established the Virginia Colony (Great Britain)
    The English founded Jamestown, Virginia, which is the first permanent English settlement in North America. This began the British colonial expansion.
  • Samuel de Champlain Founded Quebec (France)

    Samuel de Champlain Founded Quebec (France)
    This was the first permanent French settlement in North America, it marked the beginning of France’s colonial expansion in Canada.