AOE

[PORTUGAL] Prince Henry the Navigators promotion of maritime exploration

1394

During his promotion of maritime exploration, Prince Henry the Navigator (1394-1460) funded expeditions, established a navigation school in Sagres, and encouraged the development of new ships and navigational tools, ultimately paving the way for the Age of Discovery

[SPAIN] the Reconquista’s end

1492

The Reconquista, the centuries-long Christian reconquest of the Iberian Peninsula from Muslim rule, officially ended in **1492 with the fall of the Nasrid kingdom of Granada to Ferdinand II of Aragon and Isabella I of Castile (the Catholic Monarchs

[SPAIN] the Alhambra Decree

1492

The Alhambra Decree, issued on March 31, 1492, by King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella of Spain, ordered the expulsion of practicing Jews from the Crowns of Castile and Aragon by July 31, 1492, aiming to eliminate their influence on the converso population.

[SPAIN] the Treaty of Tordesillas

1494

The Treaty of Tordesillas, signed in 1494, was an agreement between Spain and Portugal to divide newly discovered lands outside of Europe, establishing a line of demarcation roughly 370 leagues (about 1100 miles) west of the Cape Verde Islands, with Spain claiming lands west of the line and Portugal those to the east.

[PORTUGAL] Vasco da Gama’s voyage to India

1497

Vasco da Gama's voyage to India in 1497-1499, commanded by the Portuguese, established a direct sea route from Europe to India by sailing around the Cape of Good Hope, reaching Calicut (Kozhikode) in May 1498, and opening a new era of trade and exploration.

[ENGLAND] John Cabot 1497 voyage to NewFoundLand

1497

John Cabot's ship, the Matthew, sailed from Bristol with a crew of 18 in 1497. After a month at sea, he landed and took the area in the name of King Henry VII. Cabot had reached one of the northern capes of Newfoundland

[PORTUGAL] Pedro Álvares Cabral’s discovery of Brazil

1500

When Pedro Álvares Cabral "discovered" Brazil in 1500, he landed near present-day Bahia, claimed the land for Portugal, and his fleet continued on to India, establishing a Portuguese presence in the region and sparking the colonization of Brazil years later

[PORTUGAL] The establishment of a Portuguese trading empire in Asia

1500

The Portuguese trading empire in Asia was forged through a combination of military strength, strategic alliances, and the establishment of fortified trading posts, primarily focused on controlling the spice trade and challenging existing Arab and Muslim dominance in the Indian Ocean

[SPAIN] Christopher Columbus voyages

1503

Christopher Columbus made four transatlantic voyages between 1492 and 1504, exploring the Caribbean, Central, and South America, and initiating European exploration and colonization of the Americas.

[FRANCE] established a presence in North America

1534

France established a presence in North America starting in the 16th century, with explorers like Jacques Cartier laying the groundwork for the New France colony, which focused on the fur trade and later expanded to include settlements like Quebec and Montreal

[ENGLAND] Francis Drake’s circumnavigation of the globe

1577

Sir Francis Drake, an English mariner, privateer, and explorer, achieved the second circumnavigation of the globe, following the Ferdinand Magellan expedition, between 1577 and 1580, aboard the Golden Hind, a ship laden with treasure

[ENGLAND] the defeat of the Spanish Armada in 1588

1588

The English Royal Navy decisively defeated the Spanish Armada in 1588, primarily due to superior naval tactics, fireship attacks, and unfavorable weather conditions, ultimately ending Spain's hopes of invading England and marking a shift in European power dynamics

[ENGLAND] the establishment of the East India Company in 1600

1600

On December 31, 1600, the East India Company, formally named the Governor and Company of Merchants of London Trading into the East Indies, was established by a royal charter from Queen Elizabeth I, granting them the exclusive right to trade with the East Indies

[FRANCE] founded Quebec City

1608

Quebec City, the capital of the Canadian province of Quebec, is a UNESCO World Heritage site and the cradle of French civilization in North America, founded in 1608 by Samuel de Champlain

[FRANCE] explored the Mississippi River

1673

French explorers, notably Jacques Marquette and Louis Jolliet in 1673, and later René-Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle, explored the Mississippi River, with La Salle claiming the entire river basin for France in 1682

[FRANCE] expanded its colonial influence in Africa and Asia

1870

France expanded its colonial influence significantly in both Africa and Asia, establishing protectorates, colonies, and trading posts, particularly in the 19th and early 20th centuries, with key areas including French West Africa, French Indochina, and French North Africa