Theme
History of Exploration
Pivotal moments in exploration across human history.
ExplorationLapita Expansion into the Bismarck Archipelagoc. 1500 BCE · Bismarck Archipelago, Papua New GuineaLapita people migrate from Island Melanesia into the Bismarck Archipelago, establishing distinct pottery traditions.
ExplorationEnd of Zheng He's Voyages and Ming Isolationism1433 CE · East Africa / China CoastThe Ming Dynasty halts the great naval expeditions and restricts maritime trade.
ExplorationGreat Zimbabwe Dominates Gold Trade with Kilwac. 1400 CE · Great Zimbabwe, ZimbabweArchaeological evidence confirms extensive gold trade between Great Zimbabwe and Swahili coastal cities.
ExplorationFounding of Tenochtitlán on Lake Texcococ. 1325 CE · Lake Texcoco, Mexico City, MexicoThe Mexica establish their capital on an island in Lake Texcoco.
ExplorationMāori Settlement of Aotearoa (New Zealand)c. 1280 CE · North Island, New ZealandPolynesian voyagers from East Polynesia arrive in Aotearoa, marking the last major human migration.
ExplorationLapita Settlement in Western Samoac. 1000 BCE · Western SamoaLapita voyagers reach the Samoan archipelago, marking the first entry into Remote Oceania.
ExplorationHiram I of Tyre Supplies Cedar for Solomon's Templec. 960 BCE · Jerusalem / Tyre (Lebanon)King Hiram of Tyre provides cedar and craftsmen for the construction of Solomon's Temple.
ExplorationFoundation of Kilwa Kisiwani as a Major Trade Hubc. 900 CE · Kilwa Kisiwani, TanzaniaKilwa emerges as a dominant Swahili city-state controlling gold trade from Great Zimbabwe to the Indian Ocean.
ExplorationFoundation of Carthage by Phoenician Colonistsc. 814 BCE · Carthage (Tunis), TunisiaPhoenician settlers from Tyre establish the city of Carthage in North Africa.
ExplorationSettlement of Rapa Nui (Easter Island)c. 800 CE · Rapa Nui (Easter Island), ChilePolynesian navigators reach the remote Rapa Nui and establish a unique island society.
ExplorationEstablishment of Malaca (Malaga) by Phoeniciansc. 770 BCE · Malaga (Malaca), SpainPhoenician traders establish a major colony on the Iberian Peninsula for salt and metal trade.
ExplorationSettlement of the Hawaiian Islandsc. 400 BCE to 800 CE · Hawaii (Big Island), USAPolynesian voyagers from the Marquesas and Society Islands settle the isolated Hawaiian archipelago.
ExplorationPolynesian Expansion into the Society Islandsc. 300 BCE · Society Islands, French PolynesiaPolynesian voyagers colonize the Society Islands, establishing a central hub for further eastward expansion.
ExplorationOpening of the Silk Road by Zhang Qian138 BCE · Dunhuang, China (Departure)Emperor Wu sends Zhang Qian westward to ally with the Xiongnu, inadvertently opening trade routes connecting East and West.
ExplorationViking Settlement of Iceland874 CE · Reykjavik, IcelandNorse explorers led by Ingólfr Arnarson settle Iceland, establishing the first permanent European community in the North Atlantic.
ExplorationKorean Tribute Trade with China918 CE · Sungnyemun Gate (Kaesong), KoreaGoryeo establishes formal tributary relations with the Song Dynasty.
ExplorationLeif Erikson's Voyage to Vinlandc. 1000 CE · L'Anse aux Meadows, Newfoundland, CanadaLeif Erikson establishes a short-lived Norse settlement in North America, five centuries before Columbus.
ExplorationChola Naval Expedition to Southeast Asia1025 CE · Java and Sumatra (Modern Indonesia)Chola fleet raids coastal cities across the archipelago.
ExplorationChola Naval Expedition Against Srivijaya1025 CE · Palembang, Sumatra, IndonesiaRajaraja Chola I's navy raids Srivijaya to secure Indian Ocean trade routes.
ExplorationPolynesian Settlement of New Zealand (Aotearoa)c. 1280 CE · Canterbury, New Zealand (South Island)Polynesian navigators arrive in New Zealand, founding the Māori culture and adapting to a temperate environment.
ExplorationPolynesian Voyaging to New Zealandc. 1280 CE · South Island, New ZealandPolynesian navigators arrive in Aotearoa using double-hulled canoes and celestial navigation.
ExplorationPeak of the Silk Road Trade via Central Asiac. 1300 CE · Samarkand (modern Uzbekistan)The Silk Road reaches a peak of connectivity under the Mongol Pax Mongolica, facilitating trade between China and Europe.
ExplorationZheng He's First Voyage BeginsJuly 11, 1405 CE · Nanjing, ChinaChinese admiral leads massive fleet to Southeast Asia and Africa projecting Ming power.
ExplorationColumbus Reaches the AmericasOctober 12, 1492 CE · San Salvador, BahamasEuropean explorer lands in Caribbean initiating permanent contact between Old and New Worlds.
ExplorationVasco da Gama Reaches India via Sea RouteMay 20, 1498 · Kozhikode (Calicut), IndiaPortuguese explorer Vasco da Gama arrives in India, bypassing Ottoman land routes.
ExplorationMagellan's Circumnavigation CompletedSeptember 6, 1522 CE · Seville, SpainFirst expedition sails around the globe proving Earth is round and vast.
ExplorationApollo 11 Moon LandingJuly 20, 1969 CE · Cape Canaveral, USAHumans first walk on the lunar surface during the Space Race.