Atlantic World and Discovery Timeline

Columbus Sailed the Ocean Blue

Jan 1, 1492

Christopher Colombus reached America and discovered the New World. This led to the age of Atlantic Exploration and Conquest.

First Enslaved Africans Arrive in the Americas

Jan 1, 1511

This started the beginning of the African Slaves in America. Even though there were relatively few slaves brought to the New World, slave owners urged the slaves to have many children, so it was typical that slave families had an average of 10-15 children

Cortes Conquers the Aztec Empire

Jan 1, 1521

This was the first of the explorers to conquer an ancient American Emprie. Cortes destroyed the Incan empre with a combination of guns (the firearms that the Aztecs did not have), germs(mainly the smallpox disease), and steel(superior weapons, like swords).

Pizzaro Conquers the Incan Empire

Jan 1, 1533

This was the second of the conquers of the ancient American empires. Pizzaro used the same combination of attacks that Cortes used to conquer the Aztec emprie to conquer the Aztec empire

English Found Jamestown

Jan 1, 1607

Colony set up in Virginia, first permanent English settlement in Americas

English Found Plymouth

Jan 1, 1620

Plymouth is an English colonial settlement. Founded by a combination of Anglicans and Separists, later known as the Pilgrims.

French and Indian War Ends

Jan 1, 1763

This is another name for the Seven Years War, in which the colonists of British America and New France. It started in America but then evolved into a worldwide conflict.