From Exploration to Independence

By william.mitchell
  • Period: 1800 BCE to 800 BCE

    The Maya

    They invented a extremely advanced calendar that told us about the future and was 1/10000th of a day accurate.
  • Period: 1400 BCE to 1532 BCE

    the Inca

    The Inca made a highway and roads in Peru. also had a very organized government.
  • Period: 1200 BCE to 600 BCE

    The Olmecs

    The earliest known Mesoamerican civilization and influenced the maya.
  • Period: 1200 BCE to 1521 BCE

    The Aztecs

    Had elaborate religious rituals and sacrifices, including human sacrifice. They had a strong centralized government.
  • 1095

    Holy War

    Holy War
    Pope Urban II called for a holy war against the Muslims in the Holy Land.
  • 1200

    Shifted Focus in Europe

    Shifted Focus in Europe
    Europe shifted focus from a farming economy to trade.
  • 1271

    Marco Polo Travel Begins

    Marco Polo Travel Begins
    In 1271, Marco Polo started his journey to the East.
  • 1289

    The Crusades End

    The Crusades End
    1289 was the end of the Crusades, when Europeans' eyes were opened to the rest of the world.
  • 1293

    Polos Return

    Polos Return
    The Polos begin their journey home by ship returning with ivory, jade, jewels, porcelain, and silk.
  • 1298

    The Travels of Marco Polo Book

    The Travels of Marco Polo Book
    Marco Polo battled against Genoa and was captured as a prisoner of war. He then wrote a book.
  • Period: 1300 to

    The Renaissance

    This was a new beginning, or "rebirth" for Europe. It opened their eyes to the outside world.
  • 1415

    Fortress of Ceuta

    Fortress of Ceuta
    The Portuguese captured the Fortress of Ceuta in Africa. They wanted to control the global market of gold.
  • 1419

    Madeira Islands

    Madeira Islands
    In 1419, Portugal discovered the Madeira Islands.
  • 1427

    Azores Islands

    Azores Islands
    In 1427, Portugal discovered the Azores Islands.
  • 1434

    Successful Return

    Successful Return
    Prince Henry's ship finally made a successful home voyage. This motivated them to venture even further.
  • 1440

    The Printing Press

    The Printing Press
    The most important invention of the Renaissance was invented by Johann Gutenberg in 1440.
  • 1469

    Marriage

    Marriage
    The marriage of Ferdinand and Isabella unified Catholic Spain and began the process of building a nation that could compete for global power.
  • 1488

    Bartolomeu Dias

    Bartolomeu Dias
    Bartolomeu Dias finally made it around the tip of Africa, reaching the eastern coast of South Africa in March of 1488.
  • Oct 12, 1492

    Columbus

    Columbus
    On October 12, 1492 Columbus made landfall on an island named Hispaniola. He thought he had landed in the East Indies.
  • 1519

    Cortez invades the Aztecs

    Cortez invades the Aztecs
    Cortez took advantage of the Aztecs thinking that he was the god Quetzalcoatl.
  • 1529

    pizzaro invades The inca

    pizzaro invades The inca
    Pizzaro and his men Was searching for gold. modeled after the spanish conquistadors. took advantage of the incan civil war.

  • Thomas Hobbes writes the leviathan

    Thomas Hobbes writes the leviathan
    Thought that the government should protect you from war and outside problems and in exchange you give them the absolute authority.

  • john locke writes the second treatise on government

    john locke writes the second treatise on government
    one of the most influential and enlightenment people. he thought men were free and created equal so they could govern themselves.

  • The United States declares independence

    The United States declares independence
    Thomas Jefferson writes the famous Declaration of Independence that gives the reasons why the colonies are taking their independence and leaving Britain as the head of their government.

  • France writes the Declaration of the Rights of Man

    France writes the Declaration of the Rights of Man
    they wanted a democracy with individual rights. they were inspired by the enlightenment writers.

  • Haiti gains independence

    Haiti gains independence
    Haiti gains independence when the African slaves decided they could out number the whites and take over.

  • Bolivar and his soldiers begin Venezuela’s fight for independence

    Bolivar and his soldiers begin Venezuela’s fight for independence
    At the beginning of the Peninsular War, Napoleon I, “appointed his brother ruler of Spain ... the colonies unanimously refused to recognize the new ruler ...”

  • Bolivar’s Gran Columbia gains its independence

    Bolivar’s Gran Columbia gains its independence
    Individuals who were set on independence brought the Gran Colombian Revolution upon them

  • Jose de San Martin frees Peru from Spain

    Jose de San Martin frees Peru from Spain
    the army of San Martín was transported toward Peru, convoyed by warships under Lord Cochrane. Within a year San Martín was able to occupy the capital.

  • Mexico gains independence

    Mexico gains independence
    It was not a single, coherent event, but local and regional struggles that occurred within the same time period, and can be considered a revolutionary civil war.