1001 Space Earth Nature History First Civilisations Ancient Egypt Biblical Times Ancient Greece Ancient Rome Chinese, Japanese Civilisations Indian Civilisation African Civilisation The Early Americas The Rise of Islam The Middle Ages The Renaissance Civil War and Revolution The Industrial Revolution Two World Wars 20th-century Achievements Human World Science and Technology

Who were the great explorers of the age? Early in the 15th century, explorers from Europe went to look for new opportunities for trade. The Portuguese, including Vasco da Gama, sailed east, exploring the west coast of Africa and then rounding the southern tip of Africa on route to India. The Spanish, or those in the employment of Spain, sailed west to America: Christopher Columbus in 1492 and Amerigo Vespucci in 1499. The Italian navigator John Cabot sailed from England in 1497 and reached Newfoundland. The first circumnavigation of the earth was made by a Portuguese, Ferdinand Magellan, in the service of Spain (1519-21). In 1497 John and Sebastian Cabot set sail from England in the Matthew and landed in Newfoundland, North America.   Previous: Back Book: 1001 Section: History Chapter: The Renaissance