1420-1460

Prince Henry the Navigator of Portugal directs his country's voyages of exploration.

1420

Portuguese reach the Madeira Islands.

1427

 Portuguese reach the Azores.

1437

 Henry of Portugal founds Portuguese Colonia Institute.

1456

Portuguese reach the Cape Verde Islands.

1487-1488

Bartholomew Diaz sails around Cape of Good Hope, South Africa.

1492

Christopher Columbus reaches the West Indies; he is the first European to reach Americas since Vikings.

1494

Treaty of Tordesilla. Pope divides Americas between Spain and Portugal - ignored by other European countries.

1496

Santo Domingo founded - it is the first European town in the Americas.

1497

John Cabot discovers Newfoundland .

1498

Vasco da Gama reaches India by sea by rounding Cape of Good Hope, South Africa.

1510

First African slaves taken to America.

1513

Vasco Nunez de Balboa reaches Pacific Ocean overland from the Atlantic.

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