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Period: 30,000 BCE to
Beginnings to Explorations
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476
Dark Ages
It was the time period during the fall of the Roman Empire caused by pressure from mass migration. Due to cultural and educational dominance by the catholic church. This was a bad time period. They had a lack in learning due to a deficit of knowledge. A weak economy also affected everyone. No central government caused it to collapse. -
1095
The Crusades
The Crusades were mostly religious massacres. Muslims and Christians fought for control over the Holy Land. Crusades wanted to take over Jerusalem. They were unsuccessful and the Muslims remained control over the Holy Land. The Holy Land was considered sacred which gave them both an even bigger reason to fight over it. -
1300
The Renaissance
The Renaissance is the time period of cultural rebirth. Many new ideas and new technology were invented. Artistry was one major occurrence, lots of sculptures and paintings were made. New inventions were made such as the printing press which was invented by Johannes Gutenberg. It spread quickly and it helped literature evolve. Advances in science also occurred during this period. All of these inventions drastically helped European civilization advance. -
1347
The Black Death
The Black Death was a deadly outbreak of diseases in Europe.This disease was also know as the plague. Many people died because they were sick. Diseases caused about 1/3 of Europe's population to die. It is a very contagious disease which was transmitted from fleas on rats to humans. Rats carried the disease with them on boats that traveled to Europe. It spread quickly and killed many people because they did not have any resources to stop or help prevent anyone else from getting it. -
1492
The Columbian Exchange
This was a period in time where the New and Old Worlds shared cultures. It involved moving people, ideas and goods. They exchanged plants, animals, language, religion, technology and diseases. Everything mostly benefited the Old World because they had less resources. Even though all these were great advancements for everyone the diseases that were brought to these worlds severely affected lots of people. Diseases were the biggest negative affect. -
1493
Caribbean Colonies
Christopher Columbus landed and claimed the Caribbeans for Spain in 1942. This is where the first Spanish settlements were established. People made their money from selling crops such as: tobacco, cotton and the most valuable, sugar cane. Their whole economy was based on exporting crops. -
1501
Triangular Trade
The Triangular Trade was a trade between England, Africa and America. It consisted of 3 routes. England traded with Africa, Africa with America, and America with England. America traded sugar, tobacco, rice and cotton. England traded many manufacture goods such as cloth and guns. Africa traded slaves who worked in slave plantations. The creation of steam powered ships, abolition of slavery and the American Revolution were all reasons as to why the Triangular Trade ended. -
1517
Reformation
This was a religious revolution, a plan to reform Roman beliefs and practices. Political leaders wanted to take over because people though the way things worked needed to change. Martin Luther and King Henry viii led the reformation. They did not like they way the Catholic Church did things. King Henry viii decided to open up a church of England. He thought that this would change the way things were with religions. -
English Colonization
England started a new colonization in North America. They wanted to manufacture more goods and raw materials. The first colony was formed in Jamestown, Virginia. New settlers thought they would find new resources including gold. They wanted more opportunities and a better life. -
Chesapeake Colonies
The Chesapeake Colonies consisted of Maryland and Virginia. These colonies were assembled because people wanted different things. Seeking different religious and political matters caused them to go their own ways. They made their money from tobacco, the biggest cash crop. Living was better for them after the colonies were formed. -
New England Colonies
The New England Colonies consisted of Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Connecticut and Massachusetts. The main religion in the colonies was the puritans. Puritans wanted to be able to express themselves so they made the colonies where they could. Their main goal and reasoning for creating these colonies was so that they could establish their religion and so that they could live the way they wanted to. -
Proprietary Colonies
Proprietary colonies are pieces of land that are owned by people because they were given a license to rule. The king grants them permission to rule the land which lets him keep track of it. Delaware, Maryland and Pennsylvania were the three proprietary colonies before the American Revolutionary War. These colonies were settlements use to pay off debts and favors. -
Navigation Acts
The Navigation Acts were acts to limit the governments control over trade between England, the colonies and the world. They were made to regulate trade and to help the mother country profit from the colonies. This helped keep manufacturing form happening in the colonies. -
Glorious Revolution
Also known as the Revolution of 1688. It is also know for being bloodless. This was the period in time when they overthrew King James II. King James II was replaced by his daughter Mary and her husband. It was a fight to help stop England from forming an absolute monarchy. The Glorious Revolution resulted in England having a constitutional monarchy which gave parliament most of the power. -
Salem Witch Trials
The name comes from Salem Village, Massachusetts. A group of girls claimed to be possessed and they were accused of witchcraft. They though that by practicing witchcraft people could get powers to hurt others. People who were caught practicing witchcraft were executed, approximately about 20. Hundreds of people were also arrested. It turns out these were just theories and everything started to fade away. -
The Enlightenment
The Enlightenment is also known as the Age of Reason. This took place in Europe and later spread into North America. Philosophers began to use reason and science to find out about human nature. People wanted to know the truth, they did not believe in superstitions They thought that science was the reason for everything. -
The Great Awakening
The Great Awakening was a movement that brought out different religious groups. It was a revival in religions. Everyone was able to believe in their own beliefs and they were able to practice them. This completely changed colonial society by giving people the chase to believe in other religions. It helped increase religious tolerance.
