-
1488
The Cape of Good Hope
Bartolomeu Dias sails around the southernmost tip of Africa (the Cape of Good Hope), becoming the first European to do so, setting up the route from Europe to Asia later on. -
Oct 12, 1492
Christopher Columbus lands in the Caribbean
Inspired by Portugal's early success in navigation, Spain finances Christopher Columbus' voyage to find a western trade route to Asia. Columbus lands in the Caribbean in 1492, convinced he has reached East Asia. His voyage opens the Americas to later European explorers. -
May 4, 1493
The Line of Demarcation
Spain and Portugal press rival claims to the lands Columbus explores, and in 1493 Pope Alexander VI steps in to keep the peace. He sets a Line of Demarcation, which divides the non-European world into two zones. Spain gets west of the line, while Portugal gets east of the line. -
Jun 7, 1494
Portugal claims Brazil
Although Spain continues to claim land in South America, a large region remains outside its empire. In the Treaty of Tordesillas, Portugal claims Brazil and issues grants of land to Portuguese nobles. -
Jun 24, 1497
John Cabot lands in America
Explorer John Cabot sets out on a voyage from England commissioned by King Henry VII. When he lands on the east coast of North America, he makes an English presence and lays the groundwork for the later British to claim Canada. -
May 20, 1498
Vasco da Gama reaches India
Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama reaches India after rounding the southern tip of Africa. The venture is highly profitable and he returns with a cargo of spices. His voyage shows Portugal can access Asian markets directly, instead of through indirect overland routes. -
Apr 25, 1507
The Naming of America
A German mapmaker reads reports about Columbus' "New World," written by the Italian sailor Amerigo Vespucci. The mapmaker names the region America, and the Caribbean islands Columbus initially explored are named the West Indies. -
Aug 24, 1511
Portugal seizes Malacca
After da Gama's success in setting up a trading post, the Portuguese begin to capture key ports around the Indian Ocean. In 1511 they seize Malacca, which allows them to ally with Asian leaders and establish a major foothold in Asian trade routes. -
1516
Rio de la Plata
The Spanish crown requested navigator Juan Diaz de Solis to find a route to the Pacific. What he found, however, was the River Plate, which he named Mar Dulce – Freshwater Sea. Hostile Indians killed Solis and few others. Their attempt at establishing a European settlement failed miserably. -
1516
Da Nang
Portuguese traders sailing from Malacca landed in Da Nang, Đại Việt, and established a presence there. They named the area "Cochin-China" (modern Vietnam). -
1519
Hernan Cortés lands in Mexico
Spanish explorer and conquistador Hernan Cortés lands on the coast of Mexico. Though vastly outnumbered by the Aztecs, they capture and demolish the capital city of Tenochtitlán in a brutal assault in 1521. Their actions inspire other conquistadors to conquer regions in the Americas. -
Sep 8, 1522
The Vittoria
The Vittoria completes the first circumnavigation of the globe, nearly three years after first setting out. While Ferdinand Magellan leads the initial expedition, he and four other ships do not survive the entire voyage. -
1524
Giovanni da Verrazzano
Under the commission of Francis I of France, Italian explorer Giovanni da Verrazzano explores the eastern seaboard of the present-day United States from Cape Fear to Maine in search of a Northwest Passage to Asia. He also explores the mouth of the Hudson River. -
Aug 29, 1533
The last Inca emperor
Pizarro capitalizes on the unrest in the Incan empire and quickly captures their emperor, whom he executes in 1533. The Spanish spread across Ecuador and Chile, adding much of South America to Spain's empire. -
1534
Canada is Founded
Jacques Cartier was the first European to travel inland in North America. He explores the Gulf of St. Lawrence, discovering Anticosti Island and Prince Edward Island, and claimed what is now known as Canada for the Kingdom of France. -
1539
The American Southeast
An expedition led by Hernando de Soto explores much of the present-day Southern United States, becoming the first to cross the Appalachians (over the Blue Ridge Mountains) and find the Mississippi River. -
1540
The American Southwest
Spanish explorer Francisco Vázquez de Coronado y Luján becomes the first European to explore the North American Southwest, leading to the discovery of many physical landmarks. -
1580
Second Circumnavigation
English naval officer Francis Drake completes the second circumnavigation of the globe. -
East India Company
Hoping to exploit trade in East and Southeast Asia and India, a group of English merchants form the East India Company by royal charter. With this company, the English break the Spanish and Portuguese monopoly of the East Indian spice trade. The company later becomes involved in politics and acts as an agent of British imperialism in India -
Dutch East India Company
In the late 1500s, the Dutch set up colonies and trading posts around the world. A group of wealthy merchants found the Dutch East India Company, which furthers their quest to be the major European commercial power in the east. The company also comes into conflict with the English East India Company. -
Australia is discovered
Dutch navigator Willem Janszoon discovers Australia at the mouth of the Pennefather River on the western coast of the Cape York Peninsula, exploring its coast from Badu Island south to Cape Keerweer. -
Quebec is founded
Samuel de Champlain was a French colonist and navigator, among other things, and made between 21 and 29 trips across the Atlantic Ocean, founding Quebec and New France. -
Henry Hudson
Hudson originally hired by the Dutch East India Company to find a trade route through the Americas to India. He failed at this but instead discovered the Hudson River, Hudson Bay, and Hudson Strait. -
Tibet
António de Andrade becomes the first known European to cross the Himalayas (through the Mana Pass), reaching Tibet. He establishes the first Catholic mission on Tibetan soil. -
The Expedition of Marquette and Jolliet
French-Canadian explorer Louis Jolliet and Jesuit missionary Jacques Marquette reach the upper Mississippi River, becoming the first Europeans to map the surrounding river valley. They also discovered the Missouri River. -
Louisiana
French explorer Robert de La Salle leads an expedition down the Illinois and Mississippi rivers, claiming all the region watered by the Mississippi and its tributaries for Louis XIV of France, naming the region “Louisiana.” -
The Arctic Circle
Captain James Cook makes the first recorded crossing of the Antarctic Circle, reaching 71° 10’ S, thus finally disproving the existence of Terra Australis Incognita. -
The Australian Coastline
James Grant discovers the Australian coastline from Cape Banks to Cape Otway. He becomes the first to map parts of the south coast of Australia.