Atlantic World and Discovery of the New World Timeline

  • May 27, 1492

    Columbus sailed the ocean blue

    Columbus was in search of a trade route to the Indies, but rather then going around the tip of Africa, he sailed across the Atlantic Ocean to what is now America.
  • May 27, 1511

    First enslaved Africans arrive in the Americas

    First enslaved Africans arrive in the Americas
    300,00 Africans were brought to the Americas to work as slaves in the gold and silver mines and on plantations. (known as Atlantic Slave trade)
  • May 27, 1521

    Cortés conquers Aztec Empire

    Cortés conquers Aztec Empire
    After being welcomed and later shut out by the Aztecs, Cortés decided to fight back. Three factors helped him to win, germs, superior weaponry, and various other native groups.
  • May 27, 1533

    Pizarro conquers Incan Empire

    Pizarro conquers Incan Empire
    Pizarro and his army of 200 men met Atahualpa, leader of the Incan Empire, and kidnapped him. After an offering of gold and silver for his release, Atahualpa was strangled, making it easy for Pizarro to capture the Incan Empire.
  • English found Jamestown

    English found Jamestown
    Inspired by the Spanish and French, King James (English) sent a charter to London investers to find a colony in North America. They sent 3 ships and 100 settlers, 4 months after pushing out of an English port they landed on the coast of Virgina, where Jamestown was founded and named after their king.
  • English found Plymouth

    English found Plymouth
    Pilgrims, English people persucuted for their religious beliefs, were sent to North America for religios freedom. They established the colony of Plymouth.
  • French and Indian War ends

    French and Indian War ends
    The British colonists, with help from the British army, beat the French and took over all of the French land (eastern half of North America)