- England: Henry VIII ascended to the English throne after his father, Henry VII, died on April 21. He would go on to become one of the most influential and powerful monarchs in English history.
- Brazil: The Portuguese navigator Vasco da Gama reached Brazil, becoming the first European to arrive on the South American continent. He returned to Portugal with news of the new lands, initiating the Portuguese colonization of Brazil.
- Italy: The Italian Wars continued with the Battle of Agnadello, which took place on May 14. The French army under King Louis XII defeated the Venetians, capturing large parts of northern Italy.
- India: The Portuguese explorer Francisco de Almeida became the first Portuguese viceroy of India, establishing the Portuguese presence in the Indian subcontinent. He secured Portuguese control over several coastal regions and initiated the construction of Portuguese forts.
- Africa: The Portuguese navigator Tristão da Cunha discovered the Tristan da Cunha archipelago in the South Atlantic Ocean during an exploratory expedition.
- Ottoman Empire: Sultan Bayezid II abdicated in favor of his son, Selim I, who became the new Ottoman sultan. Selim I's reign marked the beginning of a new era of expansion and conquests for the Ottoman Empire.
These events had significant implications for the respective regions and influenced the course of history in Europe, the Americas, and beyond.