Latin America

Paracas Civilization

200

The Paracas people lived in the Andes Mountains until A.D. 200. They had a very wide understanding of water and irrigation, and this led them to create the Paracas Peninsula. These people were far more advanced than ever thought likely for their time period. Scientists have uncovered some of the best embroidery and weaving in the world in Paracas areas. They also had remarkable burial sites, usually consisting of huge domes with hundreds of people buried in stunning linens and colorful beads. We

The Mayan Civilization

250

The Mayas had great cities that became economic, political, and religious centers. In the heart of most Mayan cities, there stood large pyramid-shaped temples. Their priests studied the stars and planets and developed two calendars – one used to schedule religious celebrations and the other to follow the seasons. The Mayans also created hieroglyphics. They were a wealthy civilization and many Mayan farmers grew maize – corn – beans, squash, peppers, avocados, and papayas. But there is a mystery

Nazca Nation

500

The Nasca culture was known widely for their marvelous craftsmanship and archaeology. Not only that, but they created Nasca lines which were dug in the ground so when you look at it from above, it is a symbolic design. The lines are usually narrow, but much wider ones can be found. It, like all the other cultures before it, slowly declined. By 750 AD, the Nascas had fallen completely from floods. http://www.nazcamystery.com/nazca_culture.htm

Aztec Empire

Apr 11, 1400

The Aztecs were not only known for their chinampas, otherwise called “floating beds," but also for their warriors. They were strong warriors and began conquering other people in the region, forcing them to pay tribute. They soon grew rich because of these taxes and had much land. Tenchtitlan became their capital. It had huge temples, busy markets, wide streets and canals, and the 'floating gardens'. The temple priests would often perform rituals to please their gods - even offering humans. Altho

Explore!

Apr 16, 1415

In the year 1415, Prince Henry the Navigator opened the great Portuguese "Age of Exploration."

The Rise and Fall of the Incas

Apr 11, 1442

First officially beginning in the year 1442 when a descendant of the man recognized for founding the Incas took rule, the Incas became what were to be looked upon as the largest empire in pre-Columbian America. Huascar and Atahualpa, the brothers who ruled at that time, eventually got into a fight. They both wanted power to rule the empire with and became oblivious to what they had started. It sooner or later turned into a civil war in the nation. . In 1533, the Spanish conquistador Francisco Pi

Christopher Columbus

Oct 12, 1492

Columbus set out to solve a major problem. Europeans wanted spices from India and China, but it was expensive to import them overland or sail them all the way around Africa. Columbus was determined to find a new sea rout from Europe to Asia. He reasoned that if the world was round, he would sooner or later reach the east by sailing west. In 1492 Columbus convinced King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella of Spain to finance his experiment. They supplied three small ships – the Nina, the Pinta, and the

Hernan

Apr 16, 1521

Hernan Cortes was a Spanish conquistador who conquered the Aztecs in 1521.

Francisso Pizarro

Apr 16, 1532

1532: Francisco Pizarro captures Atahualpa, ending the Inca Empire. Then later in 1533 through 1536, Pizarro set up Manco Inka as puppet ruler in Cuzco.

Printing Press

Apr 16, 1539

1539 First printing press set up in the New World at Mexico City.