Conquest of the New World

Christopher Columbus discovered the Americas

1492

Christopher Columbus was an Italian explorer who set out to seek a shorter path to Asia by going across the Atlantic Ocean. He actually ended up discovering the Americas, an unknown land inhabited by Native Americans.

Treaty of Tordesillas

1494

The Treaty of Tordesillas was an agreement between Spain and Portugal that ended the conflict over lands in the Americas. Following Columbus's discovery of the new lands, tension grew between the nations over territory. The treaty divided the Americas with a vertical line, all territory to the west was Spain and east was Portugal's.

Newfoundland Discovered

1497

John Cabot, an Italian explorer, set out to cross the North Atlantic funded by King Henry VII. On this journey he discovered Newfoundland

Encomienda System Adopted

1501

The Encomienda System was a labor system set in place for the Native Americans to work for the Spanish colonizers as laborers. This was adopted in the Spanish colonies as an exchange of protection for labor, but in reality, it was like slavery.

Amerigo Vespucci names the Americas

1507

Amerigo Vespucci was an Italian explorer who named the New World after himself calling it the Americas

Balboa reaches the Pacific

1513

Vasco Balboa, was a Spanish explorer who crossed the Isthmus of Panama and reached the Pacific. He was the first person to ever reach the Pacific from the New World.

Hernan Cortes comes to the Americas

1519

Hernan Cortes, a Spanish conquistador, arrived in the New World and would come to destroy the cultures and early civilizations. He attacked the Mayans later in the year, invading and taking them over.

Magellan circumnavigates the Globe

1519

Ferdinand fo Magellan was the first person to circumnavigate the globe starting his expedition in Spain and going across the globe.

Inca is conquered

1532

The conquistadors made their way to Peru and conquered it. They captured Atahualpa, the Incan leader, and thus they fell to the Spanish.

King Henry breaks ties with the Church

1534

King Henry VIII of England breaks ties with the Catholic Church when they refuse his divorce of his wife. He then creates the Church of England.

St. Lawerence River explored

1534

Jacques Cartier explored the St. Lawerence River area and then claimed the shores off the gulf for France.

De Soto exploration

1539

Fernando De Soto explores the Southeastern parts of North America.

Roanoke established

1584

The Roanoke colony was founded as the first attempt at permanent settlement in the Americas. When some settlers traveled back to England, the colony disappeared. Upon return, the colony vanished with the left word "CRO" believed to stand for "Croatoan".

Jamestown settled

1607

England established Jamestown in Virginia. This was its first permanent settlement and would lead to further colonization.

First Dutch colony

1624

The Dutch settle in Manhattan Island calling it New Amsterdam.

Hudson Bay Company established

1670

The Hudson's Bay Company is established by traders from London. They now control the Hudson River.

King Philip's War

1675

This was a war fought between the English colonists and the Native American tribes. This was a result of the colonist's desire for more territory. It resulted in destruction on both sides.

Peace of Montreal

1701

Native Americans and the French sign a peace treaty in Montreal that establishes a good and positive relationship between the two communities.