Age of Exploration

Columbus sails for the New World, from Spain

Nov 1, 1492

Treaty of Tordesillas

Nov 20, 1494

Treaty between Spain and Portugal settling disputes of access to land in the New World. Land west of this treaty line would belong to Spain and land East of the line would belong to Portugal.

Hernan Cortes leads experdition to Mexico, Conquers the Aztecs.

Nov 20, 1519

Magellan discovers the Strait of Magellan, circumnavigates the globe

Nov 20, 1520

Spanish Francisco Pizarro conqueres this Incas in Peru

Aug 21, 1532

Spanish conqueres Florida from the French

Nov 20, 1565

Creation of the British East India Trading Company

Nov 20, 1600

Jamestown in founded by the British on the coast of Virginia

Nov 20, 1607

Puritans settle Massachusetts Bay Colony

Nov 17, 1620

British begin colonizing the Caribbean

Nov 20, 1625

English settle Barbados in Caribbean, beginning colonization of region, where they would develop a substantial presence. They created the highly successful sugar cane industry, which was built largely upon the backs of black slaves from Africa. The French gain foothold on nearby island of Tortuga, and also share St. Kitts with the British.