-
Period: Jan 1, 1000 to Dec 31, 1400
Vikings in North America
Viking Voyaged ito points in North America as they attempted to expand trade. Several expditions established villages, although the settlements were quickly abandoneded and left little evidence. -
Period: Jan 1, 1200 to Dec 31, 1519
Aztecs in Valley of Mexico
The Aztecs arrived in the Valley of Mexico and created a major empire, dominating other tribes until the arrival of Spanish conquistadores in 1519. -
Period: Jan 1, 1400 to
Little Ice Age
This dramatic global climate change lead to frequent crop failures and forced human migration and increased hunting/gather activiites. -
Feb 15, 1492
European discovery of the New World
Christopher Columbus accidently discovered the New World. -
Jan 1, 1493
Inter caetera
-
Feb 15, 1493
Barcelona Letter
Columbus' letter describing his discovery. It was then translated into several languages. -
Jan 1, 1494
Treaty of Tordesillas
This treaty moved the Spanish/Portuguese border that was established by the Iner Caetera 1000 miles west. This would explain the Portuguese controlled Brazil after it's discovery. -
Jan 1, 1512
Encomienda System
The system was established to to control and monitor the labe and behavior of the American Indians during the colonization of the New World. PThis allowed conquistadores and other leaders the right to expect labor and tribute from the natives. The idea was to Christian-ize and protect but was used to enslave. -
Jan 1, 1513
Balboa on the Pacific
Vasco Nunez de Balboa from Spain crossed the Isthmus of Panama and was the first European to cross the American landmass to get to the Pacific Ocean. -
Jan 1, 1519
Magellan Makes it back
Ferdinand Magellan's fleet circumnavigated the world, being the first to complete this world record. Magellan, however, only made it as far as the Phillipines before he was killed. -
Jan 1, 1521
Cortes invades Mexico
Landing on the Mayan coast of Yucatan, Hernan Cortez traveled along what is now Mexico. His path was marked with the clashes and conquering of the Native cities. -
Jan 1, 1542
Leyes Nuevas
This document was intended to ensure humane and kind treatment toward the Native Americans and prevent enslavement. However, the "New Laws of the Indies for the Good Treatment and Preservation of the Indians" was largely ignored. -
Jan 1, 1552
Destruction of the Indies
This published account by Bartolome de Las Casas brought to attention the mistreatment of American Indias in colonial Spanish America. -
Jan 1, 1562
Slave-trading starts
Sir John Hawkins began the voyages of bringing slaves from West Africa to Hispaniola. -
Jan 1, 1565
Founding of St, Augustine
Pedro Menendez de Aviles founded St. Augustine, what is now part of present-day Florida. -
Jan 1, 1570
Iroquois Confederacy
The Iroquios League, or Iroquois Confederacy, was founded to be a cooperative and peacekeeping organizaiont between the Five Nations of Mohawks, Oneidas, Onandagas, Cayugas, and the Senecas. Later in the 1700s, the Tuscaroras also joined. -
Jan 1, 1579
West Coast
Sir Fancis Drake landed on the what-would-be Califonia coast. -
Roanoke Island
The first British Colony to be established. Due to threat of Spanish raid, most men returned to Britian, leaving behind a few men to protect the settlement. There were no survivors. -
Abandonment of Roanoke Island
John White, returning to the settlement with more men, found that due to either desertion, attacks, or some other ill-befallen fate, found the settlement abandoned. It remains a mystery today. -
Jamestown
John Smith established Jamestown. -
Santa Fe
Santa Fe, in what is in today's New Mexico, was founded by the Spanish. -
The Exploration of the Hudson River
Henry Hudson, from teh Dutch East India Company, explored the river later-named Hudson River. Trade was established with the American Indians. -
Epidemic
From a lack of immunitity to new diseases from New England, Native American populations were nearly eradicated. Some tribes were reduced by as much as 90% in a 5 year span. -
Africans sold in Virginia
For the first time, Africans brought in by the Dutch traders to Jamestown, Virginia were sold into slavery. -
Mayflower Compact
Pilgrims in search for religious freedom came aboard the Mayflower to the New World. The Mayflower Compact was then signed to for governing. -
Period: to Dec 31, 1100
Flourishing of Anasazi Culture
This prehistoric American Indian culture filled the Southwest near what is now Arizona New Mexico, Colorado, and Utah. Pueblo tribes are rooted fro the Anasani culture.
