1497 English sailor John Cabot reaches North America. Portuguese sea captain, Vasco da Gama, sails to India. 1500 Portuguese sea captain Pedro Cabral reaches Brazil. European monarchs heavily finance exploration hoping to become richer. Columbus departs Spain on his fourth voyage and reaches Central America.
Portuguese ships attack key African ports and try to control trade.
Columbus dies in Valladolld. 1513 Thirty Africans accompany Balboa to Pacific Ocean. 1518 Las Casas suggests importing Africans for slave labor. Atlantic Slave Trade begins. Spanish Conquistador Hernando Cortez defeats the Aztec Kingdom.