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  Urban, stratified, militarized, imperialistic empires with no important technological advances
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  Prince Henry, the Navigator opens the great Portuguese "Age of Exploration."
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  Ferdinand II and Isabella I unite the crowns of Aragon and Castille in Spain.
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  Christopher Columbus is lost at sea and is rescued by Arawak Indians in the Bahamas.
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  Columbus' second voyage.
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  Treaty of Tordesillas divides the New World between Spain and Portuga
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  Montezuma becomes the Aztec emperor.
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  Cortes conquers the Aztec empire.
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  Viceroy is recalled to Spain after rioting in Mexico City by Indians and others.
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  Two massive Aztec sculptures are dug up inMexico City.
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  Bolívar forced to retreat to the island of Jamaica
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  Argentina declares independence
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  Chile declares independence
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  Mexico is finally free from Spanish rule.
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  Monroe Doctrine warns against recolonization of newly independent Latin American republics
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  Bolivia declares independence
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  Ecuador leaves "Gran Colombia"; Bolívar dies preparing to go into exile
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  United States wins Mexican-American War.
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  King Pedro II rules Brazil
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  Brazil's military overthrows King Pedro II and initiates republican government
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  Pancho Villa helps lead the Mexican revolution.
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  Vicente Fox is elected President of Mexico.