| 1271–1295 | Marco Polo travels to China |
| 1443 | Portuguese establish first African trading post at Arguin |
| 1492 | Columbus lands in the Americas |
| 1511 | Portuguese capture Malacca from Muslims |
| 1518 | Spanish king authorizes slave trade to New World colonies |
| 1519–1522 | Magellan’s expedition circumnavigates the world |
| 1521 | Cortés conquers the Mexica Empire |
| 1533 | Pizarro conquers the Inca Empire |
| 1602 | Dutch East India Company established |