jan 1, 1497 - British Exploration

Description:

-Columbian Exchange, wars with France, costly Ireland conquest meant nobles were losing wealth
-Enclosure movement: the rich took shared land and sold it to private parties
-Some wanted religious freedom
-Set out as family groups to establish new homes (ie. no intermarrying)
-Settled in places without large Native empires, but generally didn't enslave the Natives, instead expelled them

Added to timeline:

Date: