| 127 | 151 |
| – Marco Polo travels to China | – Magellan’s expedition circumnavigates the world |
| 1443 | 1521 |
| – Portuguese establish first African trading post at Arguin | – Cortés conquers the Mexica Empire |
| 1492 | 1533 |
| – Columbus lands in the Americas | – Pizarro conquers the Inca Empire |
| 1511 | 1602 |
| – Portuguese capture Malacca from Muslims | – Dutch East India Company established |
| 1518 | |
| – Spanish king authorizes slave trade to New World colonies |