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15th Century

45 sourced events. Showing 25-45.

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15th Century Timeline

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1487

Military 15th Century Europe

Battle of Stoke Field Ends Wars of the Roses

In the late 15th century, England remained divided by the dynastic struggles known as the Wars of the Roses between the houses of Lancaster and York. Henry VII had seized the throne two years earlier at Bosworth Field, but Yorkist claimants continued to challenge his rule. On June 16, 1487, at East Stoke in Nottinghamshire, Henry VII's royal army confronted a rebel force nominally led by the pretender Lambert Simnel and commanded by John de la Pole, Earl of Lincoln. The battle lasted several hours on a hillside position favored by the Yorkists. Henry's forces ultimately prevailed in a decisive victory that crushed the last major organized Yorkist resistance. The engagement secured the Tudor dynasty's hold on the English throne.

Event Detail US Military Atlas

1488

Exploration 15th Century Sub-Saharan Africa

Bartolomeu Dias Reaches Mossel Bay

Portuguese explorers in the late 15th century sought a sea route around Africa to access Asian spices and markets, driven by competition with overland traders. Bartolomeu Dias's expedition endured storms that pushed his ships far offshore in early 1488. On February 3, the crew sighted land at what became known as Mossel Bay on South Africa's southern coast, marking the first European landing there after rounding the Cape. They interacted uneasily with local Khoikhoi people before continuing eastward briefly. The crew's reluctance to proceed farther led to a decision to return home with news of the discovery. This landing confirmed the viability of an ocean route past Africa's southern tip.

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1488

Exploration 15th Century Europe

Bartolomeu Dias Returns After Rounding Cape

Portuguese exploration in the late 15th century aimed to find a sea route around Africa to reach Asian spice markets and bypass existing overland trade monopolies controlled by Arab and Italian merchants. King John II sponsored Bartolomeu Dias to lead an expedition that departed in 1487 with the goal of charting the southern African coastline. After enduring storms and navigating unknown waters, Dias's crew became the first Europeans to sail past the southern tip of Africa in May 1488. On the return voyage, they confirmed the passage now known as the Cape of Good Hope. Dias arrived back in Lisbon on December 15, 1488, after roughly 16 months at sea, providing critical navigational knowledge that enabled later voyages such as...

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1492

Military 15th Century Europe

Granada Surrenders, Ending Reconquista

For nearly eight centuries, Christian kingdoms in the Iberian Peninsula had waged the Reconquista to reclaim territory from Muslim rule that began with the Umayyad conquest in the early 700s. By the late 15th century, the Emirate of Granada remained the final Muslim stronghold, weakened by internal divisions and tribute payments to Castile. In April 1491, the Catholic Monarchs Ferdinand II of Aragon and Isabella I of Castile began a decisive siege of Granada with a large army supported by advanced artillery. After months of negotiations following a provisional treaty in late 1491, Emir Muhammad XI (Boabdil) formally surrendered the city and the Alhambra palace on January 2, 1492, allowing Christian forces to enter without further bloodshed. The capitulation included...

Event Detail US Military Atlas

1492

Law 15th Century Europe

Spain Issues Alhambra Decree Expelling Jews

Following the completion of the Reconquista with the fall of Granada in January 1492, Catholic Monarchs Ferdinand II of Aragon and Isabella I of Castile sought to consolidate religious unity in their realms. Years of the Spanish Inquisition had already pressured many Jews to convert to Christianity, creating a large population of conversos suspected of secretly practicing Judaism. On March 31, 1492, the monarchs signed the Alhambra Decree in Granada, ordering all unconverted Jews to leave Castile and Aragon by the end of July or face severe penalties. The edict aimed to eliminate perceived Jewish influence on conversos and prevent crypto-Judaism. Thousands chose conversion to stay, while an estimated 40,000 to 100,000 departed, leading to the immediate dispersal of Spain's...

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1492

Exploration 15th Century Europe

Columbus Signs Capitulations with Spanish Monarchs

Following the completion of the Reconquista with Granada's fall in early 1492, the Catholic Monarchs Ferdinand and Isabella turned their attention to overseas ventures amid competition with Portugal. Genoese navigator Christopher Columbus had pitched a western route to Asia for years but faced initial skepticism over distances and feasibility from royal advisors. Courtiers including Luis de Santángel and others highlighted potential gains with minimal risk if the venture failed. On April 17, 1492, at the Santa Fe encampment near Granada, the Capitulations of Santa Fe were signed, granting Columbus titles of Admiral of the Ocean Sea, viceroy, and governor-general plus a tenth share of any riches discovered. The agreement followed established Catalan legal forms for maritime contracts and set the...

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1492

Exploration 15th Century Europe

Spain Grants Christopher Columbus Exploration Commission

In the late 15th century, European monarchs sought new trade routes to Asia amid competition with Portugal and the Ottoman Empire. Christopher Columbus, a Genoese navigator, had pitched his westward voyage idea for years. On April 30, 1492, in Granada, King Ferdinand II of Aragon and Queen Isabella I of Castile signed the royal commission and privileges document. This granted Columbus titles of admiral, viceroy, and governor over any lands he discovered, along with a share of profits. The agreement followed the recent fall of Granada and Spain's unification efforts. It set the stage for his first voyage later that year from Palos de la Frontera.

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1492

Exploration 15th Century Global

Columbus Sets Sail from Spain on First Voyage

In the late 15th century, European monarchs sought new trade routes to Asia amid competition for spices and wealth. Christopher Columbus, an Italian navigator backed by Spain's Ferdinand and Isabella, secured funding after years of proposals. On August 3, 1492, he departed Palos de la Frontera with the Santa María, Pinta, and Niña. The expedition aimed westward to reach the Indies. After weeks at sea with growing crew anxiety, land was sighted on October 12. This voyage opened sustained European contact with the Americas.

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1492

Exploration 15th Century Latin America & Caribbean

Columbus Reaches Caribbean Islands

After weeks at sea on his first voyage sponsored by Spain's monarchs Ferdinand and Isabella, Christopher Columbus commanded three ships—the Niña, Pinta, and Santa María—seeking a western route to Asia. On October 12, 1492, a lookout aboard the Pinta sighted land, likely San Salvador in the Bahamas. Columbus went ashore, claimed the territory for Spain, and encountered indigenous Taíno people. He noted their hospitality and potential for conversion and trade in his journal. The landing initiated sustained European exploration and colonization of the Americas, reshaping global trade, demographics, and power structures for centuries.

Event Detail Peopling Earth

1492

Exploration 15th Century Latin America & Caribbean

Columbus Lands on and Names Hispaniola

Christopher Columbus sailed westward across the Atlantic in 1492 seeking a route to Asia under the sponsorship of the Spanish monarchs Ferdinand and Isabella. After weeks at sea following his departure from the Canary Islands, his small fleet of three ships made landfall in the Bahamas in October. Continuing southward, on December 5 the expedition reached the large island that Columbus named Hispaniola, convinced it formed part of the Indies and possibly the gold-rich land of Ophir described in biblical texts. He went ashore, claimed the territory for Spain, and noted its lush landscapes and potential resources while interacting with the indigenous Taíno people. The landing established the first sustained European presence in the Caribbean and initiated centuries of colonization,...

Event Detail Peopling Earth

1493

Exploration 15th Century Europe

Columbus Writes Letter on First Voyage Discoveries

After returning from his 1492 expedition across the Atlantic, Christopher Columbus composed a detailed account while at sea near the Canary Islands. Addressed primarily to Luis de Santángel, treasurer of Aragon, the letter described the islands he encountered, their inhabitants, resources, and his claims of possession for the Spanish crown. Columbus emphasized the potential for trade and conversion to Christianity. The document was quickly printed and circulated widely in Europe, shaping public perception of the New World. It arrived in Spain around the same time as his physical return in March.

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1493

Exploration 15th Century Europe

Columbus Returns to Spain from First Voyage

After months of exploration in the Caribbean following his 1492 departure from Spain, Christopher Columbus faced storms and setbacks on the return journey with his remaining ships, the Niña and Pinta. He had established a small colony on Hispaniola and gathered evidence of new lands, including plants, gold samples, and Indigenous people. On March 15, 1493, Columbus arrived back at Palos de la Frontera in Spain, where he was received with honors. He promptly sent letters to Ferdinand and Isabella detailing his discoveries, which he believed were the outer reaches of Asia. The news spread rapidly across Europe, sparking further voyages and colonial ambitions.

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1493

Exploration 15th Century Global

Columbus Sets Sail on Second Voyage

In the wake of his groundbreaking 1492 discovery, Christopher Columbus prepared a much larger expedition under the sponsorship of Spain's Catholic Monarchs, Ferdinand and Isabella. The goal was to establish permanent settlements, convert indigenous peoples, and seek greater riches in the lands he believed were part of Asia. On September 24, 1493, Columbus departed from Cádiz, Spain, commanding a fleet of 17 ships carrying approximately 1,200 men, including settlers, soldiers, priests, and supplies. The armada included experienced vessels like the Niña and Pinta alongside larger carracks. The expedition reached the Caribbean by November, founding the settlement of La Isabela on Hispaniola after discovering the destruction of the earlier La Navidad outpost. This voyage expanded Spanish presence in the Americas significantly...

Event Detail Peopling Earth

1494

Exploration 15th Century Global

Treaty of Tordesillas Divides New World

In the late fifteenth century, Spain and Portugal competed fiercely for control of Atlantic trade routes and newly encountered territories following Columbus's voyages. Pope Alexander VI had previously issued bulls attempting to mediate by granting Spain rights to lands west of a certain meridian. On June 7, 1494, envoys from both kingdoms met in the Spanish town of Tordesillas and signed a treaty that shifted the line of demarcation 370 leagues west of the Cape Verde Islands. This agreement assigned all lands east of the line to Portugal and those to the west to Castile. The treaty received ratification from Spain later that summer and from Portugal in September, establishing a framework that guided colonial claims for generations.

Event Detail

1497

Science 15th Century Europe

Copernicus Records First Known Astronomical Observation

In the late 15th century, Nicolaus Copernicus, a Polish scholar studying in Italy, pursued interests in astronomy alongside his ecclesiastical education. While in Bologna, he collaborated with the astronomer Domenico Maria Novara da Ferrara. On the evening of March 9, 1497, the pair observed the Moon occulting the bright star Aldebaran in the constellation Taurus. This event provided data on lunar motion that later informed Copernicus's calculations. He recorded the precise timing and details of the occultation, marking his earliest documented astronomical work. The observation helped verify and refine existing tables while sowing seeds of doubt about Ptolemaic cosmology.

Event Detail Daily Earth View

1497

Exploration 15th Century North America

John Cabot Lands in North America

In the wake of Christopher Columbus's voyages, European monarchs raced to find western routes to Asia. Italian navigator Giovanni Caboto, sailing as John Cabot under English sponsorship from King Henry VII, departed Bristol aboard the small ship Matthew in May 1497. After weeks at sea, Cabot and his crew sighted land on June 24, 1497, likely at Newfoundland or nearby. Believing he had reached Asia, Cabot planted the English flag and claimed the territory. He returned to England in August with news of abundant fish stocks and potential riches. The expedition marked the first documented European landfall in North America since the Norse voyages centuries earlier.

Event Detail Peopling Earth

1497

Exploration 15th Century Global

Vasco da Gama Begins Voyage to India

In the closing years of the 15th century, Portuguese leaders sought a reliable sea route to the spice markets of Asia that would avoid the costly and dangerous overland paths controlled by Ottoman and other intermediaries. King Manuel I selected the experienced navigator Vasco da Gama to command a small fleet of four vessels carrying roughly 170 men. On July 8, 1497, the expedition departed Lisbon and followed a daring course across the South Atlantic to round the Cape of Good Hope. After months of hardship, the ships reached the Indian coast in 1498, establishing the first direct European maritime connection with Asia. The voyage returned with valuable cargo and detailed navigational knowledge that reshaped European understanding of global geography.

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1497

Exploration 15th Century Europe

Vasco da Gama Rounds Cape of Good Hope

In the late 15th century, Portugal sought a direct sea route to India to bypass Ottoman-controlled land paths and secure access to valuable spices and goods. King Manuel I commissioned Vasco da Gama to lead an expedition with four ships that departed Lisbon in July 1497. After months of navigating the Atlantic and battling storms and currents off southern Africa, da Gama's fleet successfully rounded the Cape of Good Hope on November 22. This achievement allowed the ships to enter the Indian Ocean for the first time from Europe. The crew then continued eastward, reaching India in 1498 and establishing direct maritime contact. The voyage returned to Portugal in 1499 with spices that yielded enormous profits.

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1498

Exploration 15th Century South Asia

Vasco da Gama Reaches India by Sea

In the late 15th century, Portugal sought a direct sea route to the spice markets of Asia to bypass Arab and Venetian intermediaries controlling overland trade. King Manuel I commissioned Vasco da Gama, a relatively inexperienced nobleman, to lead an expedition with four ships departing Lisbon in July 1497. After rounding the Cape of Good Hope and navigating the Indian Ocean with local pilots, da Gama's fleet anchored near Calicut on the Malabar Coast on May 20, 1498. Initial receptions by the Zamorin were courteous but soured over trade negotiations and cultural misunderstandings, yielding limited spices before departure. The voyage proved the feasibility of an all-sea route from Europe to India, returning to Portugal in 1499 with only 55 survivors...

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1498

Exploration 15th Century Latin America & Caribbean

Columbus Discovers Trinidad on Third Voyage

By the late 15th century, European monarchs sponsored voyages seeking new trade routes and territories after the fall of Constantinople closed eastern paths. Christopher Columbus, sailing for Spain on his third expedition, had already reached Caribbean islands but sought more lands. On July 31, 1498, his fleet sighted the island of Trinidad off the coast of South America. Crews landed, interacted with indigenous peoples, and noted the island's resources and strategic position. The discovery expanded Spanish claims in the region and provided a base for further exploration of the mainland.

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1500

Exploration 15th Century Latin America & Caribbean

Cabral Claims Brazil for Portugal

In the late 15th century, Portugal sought to establish direct trade routes to India following Vasco da Gama's successful voyage around the Cape of Good Hope in 1498. King Manuel I dispatched a large fleet of 13 ships under Pedro Álvares Cabral in March 1500 to strengthen commercial ties and secure spices. The expedition sailed westward into the Atlantic, possibly intentionally or due to navigational strategy known as the volta do mar, to avoid equatorial calms. On April 22, 1500, the fleet sighted land near Monte Pascoal on the eastern coast of what is now Brazil, which Cabral initially named the Island of Vera Cruz. He formally claimed the territory for Portugal, erected a cross, and held a religious service...

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