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Ojeda discovers the coast of Venezuela

Type Event Region South America Time 1499–1500

In 1499 Spanish explorer Alonso de Ojeda sailed four ships along the northern edge of South America suggested by Columbus's third voyage, landing nea…

Timeline

  1. 1499Southern Spanish ports · SpainOjeda and navigators such as Juan de la Cosa left Spain with four ships, aiming to survey the northern coast of the South American mainland discovered on Columbus's third voyage and to find coasts suitable for colonization and trade.
  2. 1499Gulf of Paria · VenezuelaThe fleet reached the Gulf of Paria and saw Indians building stilt villages on piles and huts; the explorers called it 'Little Venice' in Italian, rendered in Spanish as Venezuela, a name later extended to the whole coast and eventually the modern country.
  3. 1499–1500Caribbean Sea to Spain · CaribbeanThe expedition continued west along the mainland coast, drawing early coastal charts, collecting pearls, gold and other goods, and capturing natives; they returned to Spain in 1500, providing direct basis for subsequent colonization and chartered exploration of the northern South American coast.

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