Historical Events tagged with "trading routes"

Turns out history loves a label—battles, breakthroughs, and the occasional disaster, all neatly tagged for your browsing pleasure. Because sometimes you just need every weird invention in one place.

Exploration & Discovery

Marquette and Jolliet Discover the Mississippi River

June 17th, 1673 351 years ago

French explorers Jacques Marquette and Louis Jolliet navigated the Mississippi River, marking the first detailed European account of its course. Departing from St. Ignace, they journeyed south and explored the river’s fertile lands and indigenous territories, gathering crucial information about the regions and peoples they encountered. Their expedition was motivated by the search for a water route to the Pacific Ocean and the potential for trade, leading to significant insights into the geography and ecology of North America.

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Exploration & Discovery

Victoria Completes First Circumnavigation Journey

September 8th, 1522 502 years ago

The ship Victoria, part of Ferdinand Magellan's expedition, returned to Seville after completing the first circumnavigation of the Earth. Out of five ships, Victoria was the only one to survive the arduous journey which began in 1519. Upon her arrival in Seville, the expedition offered unprecedented proof of the vastness of the Earth and the possibility of global navigation. Commanded by Juan Sebastián Elcano, Victoria carried 18 crew members who had endured significant hardships, including scurvy and conflicts with indigenous populations. This remarkable journey drastically altered European perceptions of geography and trade routes.

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