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Jan 1, 1492
Columbus Sailed the Ocean Blue
Columbus, on the Santa Maria, sailed on a quest to find a safe route to India. During his voyage, however, he reached modern day Bahamas, and named it San Salvador, "Holy Savior". Columbus had discovered the New World. -
Period: Jan 1, 1492 to
Atlantic World and Discovery of the New World
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Jan 1, 1511
First Enslaved Africans Arrive in the Americas
With the discovery of the New World, European colonists realize that they need a large workforce to work their crops, fields, mines, and plantations. After the local natives die from overwork and disease, the Europeans turn to slaves from Africa. -
Jan 1, 1521
Cortés Conquers the Aztec Empire
After colonizing islands in the Carribean, Cortés arrives at Mexico, and learns of the wealthy Aztec Empire. Cortés and his 600 some men reach the Aztec capital, Tenochtitlán. With a combination of greater weaponry, alliances from Aztec's many enemies, and many fatal diseases, the spaniards were able to conquer the Aztec Empire. -
Jan 1, 1532
Pizarro Conquers Incan Empire
Francisco Pizarro and an army of 200 meet the ruler of the Incan Empire, Atahualpa. For a meeting, Atahualpa brought several thousand men, who were mostly unarmed. Pizarro's men crushed the Incan force, and Pizarro help Atahualpa ransom, for a room filled once with gold, and twice with silver. After recieving the ransom, Pizarro kills Atahualpa. -
English Found Jamestown
London investors, inspired by the Spanish and French, and chartered by King James, establish a colony in America. The colony was called Jamestown, in honor of their king. At first, because the settlers were more intrested in finding gold than planting crops, seven out of every ten died. -
English Found Plymouth
A group known as the Pilgrims settle a second English Colony in Plymouth, Massachusetts. They left England, because they were prosecuted for their religious beliefs, so they left to find freedom. -
French and Indian War Ends
In 1754, when a dispute over land in the Ohio Valley created a war between the British and the French in North America, the war was called the French and Indian War. When the British army and colonists defeated the French, the French surrendered all their land in North America.
