European Exploration

Ptolemy, a Greek mathematician, astronomer, and geographer, is credited with creating the first known flat map of the world. This map laid the foundation for future cartography and geographical understanding.

In 982, the Vikings started their exploration of the North Atlantic region.

Leif Ericson, a Norse explorer, is believed to have reached North America around the year 1000, making him one of the first Europeans to do so.

In 1400, Prince Henry of Portugal sponsored various exploration missions, leading to significant discoveries and advancements in navigation.

In the early 15th century, European explorers rounded the feared Cape Bojador, marking the beginning of the Age of Discovery.

European explorers reached the Americas for the first time in 1436, marking the beginning of a new era of exploration and colonization.

Prince Henry played a crucial role in kickstarting the Age of Exploration by advocating for expeditions to uncharted territories.

In 1460, Alvise Cadamosto and Diogo Gomes embarked on an exploration journey to the Cape Verde Islands, contributing to the European exploration of the Atlantic Ocean and West Africa.

In 1473, Fernão do Pó discovered Bioko, an island that played a crucial role in the early European exploration and colonization of the African continent.

In 1474, Lopo Gonçalves became the first person to cross the equator.

In 1485, Diogo Cão reached the Congo River and erected a 'padrão' (pillar of stone) there.

In 1487, Portuguese navigator Bartolomeu Dias successfully rounded the Cape of Storms, which is now known as the Cape of Good Hope. Despite bad weather, he confirmed that the coast was trending northeastward, marking a significant milestone in the Age of Discovery.

In 1488, Bartolomeu Dias, a Portuguese explorer, became the first European to round the Cape of Good Hope at the southern tip of Africa, opening up a new sea route to Asia.

In 1492, Christopher Columbus's voyage led to the discovery of the Americas, marking a significant turning point in world history as major European trade centers began to shift away from the Mediterranean.

Christopher Columbus embarked on his first voyage to find a western route to Asia but instead encountered the Americas, leading to the beginning of European exploration and colonization of the New World.

In 1497, Vasco da Gama embarked on a historic journey to India, establishing a sea route that connected Europe to Asia. This voyage played a significant role in the Age of Exploration and opened up lucrative trade opportunities.

On June 24th, 1498, John Cabot reached Labrador, which he claimed for England during his exploration of North America.

In 1499, Italian explorer Amerigo Vespucci reached the mouth of the Amazon River and ventured up to 6°S latitude in what is now northern Brazil.

Between 1502 and 1503, on his fourth voyage to the Americas, Christopher Columbus explored the North American mainland from Guanaja to the border of Panama and Colombia.

In 1506, Lourenço de Almeida successfully reached the Maldives and Sri Lanka during his exploration.

Between 1511 and 1512, João de Lisboa and Estevão de Fróis explored the Cape of Santa Maria (Punta Del Este) in the River Plate, traveling as far south as the Gulf of San Matias in present-day Uruguay and Argentina.

In 1513, Spanish explorer Vasco Nunez de Balboa crossed the jungles of Panama and became the first European to reach the Pacific Ocean from the Atlantic side.

Ferdinand Magellan and his crew embarked on a journey to sail around the world in 1519, which lasted until 1522.

In 1521, Francisco Gordillo and Pedro de Quexos discovered the mouth of a river which they named 'Rio de San Juan Bautista' in modern South Carolina.

Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama successfully sailed to India in 1524, finding an alternative sea route to Asia. This achievement led to Portuguese colonization in Africa and Asia, reshaping global trade routes.

Jacques Cartier explores and ascends the St. Lawrence River, reaching the village of Hochelaga, which is present-day Montreal.

In 1544, Jacques Cartier explored the St. Lawrence River and claimed Canada for France.

Dutch navigator Willem Janszoon discovers Australia at the mouth of the Pennefather River on the western coast of the Cape York Peninsula.

Jacob Le Maire and Willem Schouten discover and name several geographical landmarks including Le Maire Strait, Staten Island, and Cape Horn during their exploration.

António de Andrade became the first known European to cross the Himalayas, specifically through the Mana Pass, reaching Tibet.

Tasman maps the northern coast of Australia, connecting the Cape York Peninsula with Western Australia.

French-Canadian explorer Louis Jolliet and Jesuit missionary Jacques Marquette reach the upper Mississippi River, descending it to its confluence with the Arkansas River and becoming the first Europeans to map the surrounding river valley. They also discover the Missouri River.

In 1741, Vitus Bering sights Mount St. Elias, the entrance of Prince William Sound, the Alaska Peninsula, and several Aleutian Islands, making significant discoveries in the region.

The American Revolution was a war for independence fought by the American colonies against British rule. It was a significant event that marked the beginning of the end of European colonial dominance in the Americas.

In 1777, James Cook discovered Christmas Island and Hawaii during his exploration. He also explored the Alaskan coast, reaching as far north as Icy Cape and discovering Cook Inlet and Prince William Sound.

Scottish explorer Alexander Gordon Laing achieved the feat of becoming the first European to reach the legendary city of Timbuktu in 1826, although he tragically met his demise after leaving the city.

German missionary Johannes Rebmann becomes the first European to sight Mount Kilimanjaro.

In 1853, George Mecham discovered Prince Patrick and Eglinton Islands and charted the southwest corner of Melville Island, along with Francis Leopold McClintock. They also charted nearly the entire coast of Prince Patrick and the northwest coast of Melville Island.

In 1858, Richard Francis Burton and John Hanning Speke discovered Lake Tanganyika and Lake Victoria.

In 1862, Speke discovered the Nile flowing from the northern end of Lake Victoria.

From 1903 to 1906, Roald Amundsen led the first expedition to traverse the entire Northwest Passage in the sloop Gjøa, with his second-in-command Godfred Hansen charting the east coast of Victoria Island.