| A MAP OF TIME |
|---|
| Early 15th century | Beginning of Portuguese voyages along the coast of West Africa |
| 1440s | First European export of slaves from West Africa |
| 1492 | Columbus reaches the Americas |
| 1497 | Vasco da Gama reaches India |
| 1545 | Founding of Potosí as silver mining town in Bolivia |
| 1565 | Beginning of Spanish takeover of the Philippines |
| 1570s | Beginning of silver shipments from Mexico to Manila |
| 17th century | Russian conquest of Siberia |
| 1601–1602 | British and Dutch East India companies established in Asia |
| 18th century | Peak of the transatlantic slave trade |
| 1750s | British begin military conquest of India |