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Aug 3, 1492
Columbus sails to the Americas
This was the 1st of four voyages by columbus to the Americas. When he landed, he called the island San Salvador. Which island he landed on is unknown but the top candidate are Samana Cay, Plana Cays, and San Salvador Island. -
Apr 21, 1500
Start of the Atlantic Slave Trade
In the 1500s, European colonists needed cheap labor so they used enslaved Africans on plantaions and farms. Europeans saw many advantages in using Africans as slaves including that they had an immunity to European diseases. -
Jan 1, 1518
Cortez conquers Aztecs
When Juan de Grijalva reported his discovery of Mexico, Velasquez sent Cortez there to build a colony. Cortez was graciously recieved by Montezuma, the Aztec emperor. On August 13, 1521, Guatemoc surrendered causing the end of the Aztec Empire -
Apr 21, 1532
Copernicus present the Heliocentric Theory
Copernicus believed the sun was at the center of the universe (a.k.a. the Heliocentric Theory). -
Apr 21, 1556
King Philip II
He wanted to combine all his territory and make one nation. He insisted everyone in his country to be catholic. -
Defeat of the Spanish Armada
Philip II sent an armada to invade England to try and end Protestantism in England. it was a disaster though since the English ships were smaller and faster. -
Global Trade starts
New wealth in the Americas sparked large over sea trading. Growing capitalism and the change in the Joint-Stock company helped global trade grow too. -
English settle Jamestown
13 years before the pilgrimes landed in Massachusettes, and group of 104 English men and boys began a settlement opn the banks of virginias James River. -
Spain starts trade with Asia
They wanted to be able to trade around the world, not only in Spain.This would let them sell their goods to a wider variety of people. -
Louis XIV of France begins his reign
On Mazarin's death in 1661, Louis assumed personal control of the reins of government. He was able to utilize the widespread public yearning for law and order resulting from prolonged foreign war and domestic civil strife to further consolidate central political authority. -
Peter the Great of Russia begins his reign
Peter implemented sweeping reforms aimed at modernizing Russia. Peter reorganized the Russian army along modern lines and dreamed of making Russia a maritime power. -
Glorious Revolution in England
The Glorious Revolution, also called the Revolution of 1688, is the name of the overthrow of King James II of England (James VII of Scotland and James II of Ireland) by a union of English Parliamentarians with the Dutch stadtholder William III of Orange-Nassau. William's successful invasion of England with a Dutch fleet and army led to his ascending the English throne as William III of England jointly with his wife Mary II of England. -
Westernization begins in Russia
Peter the Great increased his absolute rule to advance westernization. It introduced potatoes to their diet, started russias 1st newspapers, raised womens status, and advanced education. -
French Revolution begins
Old ideas about tradition and hierarchy were abruptly overthrown by new Enlightenment principles of equality, citizenship and inalienable rights. The French Revolution began in 1789 with the convocation of the Estates-General in May. -
Napolean conquers most of Europe
The Napoleonic period was an extremely complicated time. Moral right and wrong are hard to distinguish: Napoleon was a dictator, but not a particularly evil one. He encouraged many developments we today consider quite positive.
