1482★★★★★
Portugal builds Elmina Castle
The Portuguese built São Jorge da Mina on the Gold Coast (present-day Ghana), the first European post in sub-Saharan Africa, which later became a hub of the slave trade.
EconomyExploration· Ghana, Portugal
Timeline
7 events15th century
- 1488★★★★★
Bartolomeu Dias rounds the Cape of Good Hope
The Portuguese navigator Bartolomeu Dias became the first European to sail around the southern tip of Africa, proving the Indian Ocean could be reached by sea.
Exploration· South Africa, Portugal - June 7, 1494★★★★★
Treaty of Tordesillas
Spain and Portugal agree to divide newly found lands outside Europe along a meridian in the Atlantic.
TreatyExploration· Spain, Portugal - July 8, 1497 – May 20, 1498★★★★★
Vasco da Gama sails from Europe to India
Vasco da Gama's fleet left Lisbon, rounded the Cape of Good Hope, sailed up the East African coast and reached Calicut, opening a direct sea route between Europe and Asia.
ExplorationEconomy· Portugal, South Africa, Mozambique, Kenya, India - April 22, 1500★★★★★
Cabral reaches Brazil
A Portuguese fleet under Pedro Álvares Cabral reaches the coast of Brazil, beginning Portugal's claim to and colonization of the land.
Exploration· Brazil, Portugal
16th century
- April 27, 1521★★★★★
Battle of Mactan
Warriors led by the chieftain Lapulapu defeat Ferdinand Magellan's men on Mactan island; Magellan is killed.
WarExplorationDeath· Philippines, Spain, Portugal - September 6, 1522★★★★★
First circumnavigation completed
The ship Victoria under Juan Sebastián Elcano returns to Spain, completing the circumnavigation begun by Magellan.
Exploration· Spain, Portugal