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Christopher Columus finally received royal support for his westward voyage to the Orient when King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella agreed to sponsor his expedition. On August 3, 1492, Columbus' fleet, consisting of the Niña, the Pinta, and the Santa Maria, set sail westward across the Atlantic Ocean.
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On October 12 ,1492, Christopher Columbus and his crew set foot on what ended up being an island part of the Bahamas. Because he believed he had reached the Indies, Columbus and the other newcomers called the natives "Indians." The native populations will quickly experience the devasting consequences of this contact with Europeans.
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Disputes between Spain and Portugal ovr claims to lands to the west began shortly after Columbus returned from his maiden voyage. The nations will eventually agree at Tordesillas where a line of demarcation will be established to divide claims (46° 37' W). Spain will claim lands west of the line and Portugal will claim lands east of the line.
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In 1501, the first African slaves arrived on the island of Hispaniola (present day Dominican Republic and Haiti)
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After being peacefully received by Montezuma II, the Aztec Empire was conquered by Hernando Cortés, who claimed the land for Spain.
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Slaves attacked and killed several Spanish colonist on the island of Hispaniola. Larger revolts would spread to different parts of the Spanish colonies throughout the 1500s.
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Atahuallpa, the last emperor of the INcan Empire, is executed by Francisco Pizzaro and Spanish conquistadors. With his death, the Incan Empire comes to an end. Pizzaro would later establish himself as the Spanish governor of the Inca territory.
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About 20 Africans are brought to Jamestown by a Dutch ship. It is unclear early whether they are considered slaves or indentured servents, but within 20 years, there is atleast one African officially declared a slave.
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Pilgrims settled at Plymouth, Massachusetts, near where a "plague" shortly before killed much of the native population. Some believe it may have been smallpox introduced by European vistors.
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Many Africans were forced to work on the planations or in the gold and silver mines. Many African merchants and leaders played a major role in the establishment of the Atlantic slave trade.
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Conflict broke out between the Wampanoag and other allied tribes in the present-day New England area and English colonists and their Native American allies. War waged for over a year until diseases, food shortages and large numbers of casualties weakened the Native American resistence.
