Great discoveries

Cantino planisphere realized in 1502 is the oldest representation of Christopher Columbus trips to the Caribbean, Gaspar Corte-Real in Newfoundland, Pedro Alvares Cabral in Brazil and Vasco da Gama in India. The meridian of the Treaty of Tordesillas is shown.
The Great discoveries are the historical period that extends from the early fifteenth century to the early seventeenth century. During this period, the Europeans engaged in intensive exploration of Earth, map the planet and establish direct contact with Africa, America, Asia and Oceania. The expression of discoveries Age is also used by historians.

The Portuguese began to explore the Atlantic coast of Africa in 1418 under the leadership of Prince Henry. They reach the Indian Ocean in 1488 around the Cape of Good Hope. In seeking a new route to Asia, the Italian navigator Christopher Columbus - funded by the Spanish monarchy - crossed the Atlantic Ocean and reached in 1492 a "New World" America. To avoid a conflict between Spain and Portugal, the Treaty of Tordesillas (1494) divides the world into two exploration areas in which each of the protagonists will have exclusive rights to these discoveries. In 1498, a Portuguese expedition led by Vasco da Gama finally realizes the dream of establishing a maritime link with India by navigating around Africa. Soon after they reach the "Spice Islands" in 1512 and China, a year later. The explorations westward and eastward overlap Ferdinand Magellan when the Portuguese made the first circumnavigation of the Earth in 1522. At the same time, the Spanish conquistadors explored within US land and destroy Native American empires. From the fifteenth century the French, English and Dutch are getting into the race and challenge the Iberian monopoly on maritime trade. They participate in the exploration of the Americas but more especially that of Oceania. In parallel to the maritime explorations, Russians explore and conquer almost all of Siberia.