Year by year · 15th century

1497

1497 in world history: 6 events, 5 births, 3 deaths, 1 work and 1 state founded. 906 recorded states existed that year.

Events

  1. 24 June

    John Cabot makes landfall in North America

    Sailing for Henry VII, the Venetian navigator John Cabot landed on the coast, probably of Newfoundland or Cape Breton. His voyage became the basis of later English claims in North America.

    North AmericaNewfoundland

  2. 8 July

    Vasco da Gama sails from Lisbon for India

    Vasco da Gama left Lisbon with four ships on a voyage that rounded the Cape of Good Hope and reached Calicut in 1498. The sea route to India launched Portugal's maritime empire in Asia.

    Portuguese EmpireCape of Good HopeVasco da GamaCalicut

  3. 22 November

    Vasco da Gama rounds the Cape of Good Hope

    Vasco da Gama's Portuguese fleet rounded the southern tip of Africa on its way to India. The voyage opened a direct sea route from Europe to Asia and the rise of a Portuguese trading empire.

    Portuguese EmpireCape of Good HopeVasco da Gama

  4. Battle

    Battle of the Cosmin Forest

    The Battle of the Cosmin Forest was fought on 26 October 1497 in northern Moldavia, in present-day Ukraine.

ProfileState827 states with a known seat in 1497Open the atlas at 1497 →

In the profiles

Born in 1497 5

Died in 1497 3

Works 1

States founded 1

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APA
The Epoch Institute. (2026). 1497. In The Epoch Institute, Year by Year. https://the-epoch-institute.org/years/1497
MLA
“1497.” The Epoch Institute, Year by Year, The Epoch Institute, 2026, https://the-epoch-institute.org/years/1497. Accessed .
Chicago
The Epoch Institute. “1497.” The Epoch Institute, Year by Year. 2026. https://the-epoch-institute.org/years/1497.
Harvard
The Epoch Institute (2026) ‘1497’, The Epoch Institute, Year by Year. Available at: https://the-epoch-institute.org/years/1497 (Accessed: ).