Timeline: Pre-Columbus to 1607

13,000 BCE

First Migration

The first migration of Paleo-Indians/PaleoAmericans (Ancient Indians/Americans) started in Asia. They then crossed through Russia to the Beringia, a land bridge that connects Russia and Alaska in the Bering Strait. The climate stabilized around 10,000 years ago which allowed for widespread migration and increased population.

9200 BCE

Clovis Culture

Named after Clovis, New Mexico where well crafted grooved or fluted stone projectiles were found in 1932. Many more were found throughout America. They were used to hunt big game such as mammoths.

8900 BCE

Flosom Culture

Named for Folsom, New Mexico where a smaller, thinner, fluted spear was found in 1926. This was also used to hunt big game, mainly bison during this time. They were the first to use a spear-throwing device called the atlatl, the Aztec word for "spear-thrower"

8500 BCE

Plainview Culture

Named after Plainview, Texas they were associated with the Great Plains area. They were bison hunters that created a flaked spear point that did not have fluting. They adopted a mass-hunting technique in which they would drive animal herds off a cliff. They started to preserve meat in the form of pemmican, coming from the Cree word pimîhkân, which is a concentrated mixture of fat and protein, a nutritious food. They were also the first to use grinding stones to grind seeds, meat, and plants

6500 BCE

Northwest Coast

They settled along the shores, rivers, and creeks of southeastern Alaska to northern California. They were expert canoe builders, salmon fishers, skilled crafters, and woodworkers. Some tribes hunted whales and other sea mammals. Most tribes lived in large communities. In the communities they developed a caste system which consisted of chiefs, commoners, and slaves. They placed a great deal of importance on wealth and property, holding extravagant feasts to display their social status.

500 BCE

Adena Culture

Earthwork mounds were found on an estate called Adena near Chilicothe, Ohio. Mainly present in southern Ohio, but also lived in Pennsylvania, Indiana, Kentucky, and West Virginia. Primarily hunter-gatherers, but did some farming.

300 BCE

Hohokam

It is believed that the Hohokam people are ancestors of the modern Papago and Pima Indian tribes. Settled in present-day Arizona. Were desert farmers, they cultivated corn and were the first to grow cotton in the Southwest. They wove the cotton into fabrics. They built pueblos and constructed a vast network of irrigation systems with some canals over 30 miles long.

300 BCE

Mogollon Culture

Were highland farmers and hunters in eastern Arizona and southwestern New Mexico. Were accomplished stoneworkers. Famous for magnificent black on white painted pottery.

300 BCE

Anasazi

Ancestors of the Hopi and other Pueblo Indians. They inhabited the “four corners” area. They also grew cotton and wove it into fabrics. They built pit houses, but later built apartment-like pueblos. They constructed road networks and were avid astronomers who used a solar calendar.

100 BCE

Hopewell Culture

They may be ancestors of present-day Zuni Indians. They lived in Ohio valley, central Mississippi, and Illinois River Valleys. They were both hunter-gatherers and farmers. Villages were built along rivers and the people were highly skilled craftsmen in pottery, stone, sculpture, and metalworking, especially copper. They engaged in widespread trade all over northern America extending west to the Rocky Mountains.

Feb 13, 700

Mississippi Culture

Major tribes of the Southeast are their modern descendants. They extended from the Mississippi Valley into Alabama, Georgia, and Florida. They were astronomers who were highly skilled hunters with bow and arrow. They practiced large-scale farming and were skilled craftsmen.

Feb 13, 1492

Columbus Sailed the Ocean Blue

Representing Spain, Christopher Columbus set sail from port of Palos, in southern Spain on August 3, 1492. He sighted land in the Bahamas on October 12, 1492, he is said to have discovered Cuba and other islands in West Indies.

Feb 13, 1513

Ponce de Leon

In 1513, representing Spain, Juan Ponce de Leon set sail from San German, Puerto Rico, on March 3, 1513, in search of the Fountain of Youth. They sailed northwest and sighted what he thought was a large island, which he gave the name of Pascua Florida. He also discovered the Gulf Stream, a strong current that forced his south sailing ships to sail backwards.

Feb 13, 1518

Alonso Alvarez de Pineda

In 1518, representing Spain, Alonso Alvarez de Pineda landed on the west coast of Florida and continued up the coast. They discovered the Mississippi River, and sailed 20 miles up the river. They then continued along the coast of Texas. They were defeated by the Indians at a place called Chila, and Pineda was killed. already there. They were able to navigate along the Gulf of Mexico coast, and positively prove that were was no passage to the Pacific Ocean.

Feb 13, 1521

Ponce de Leon

In 1521, Juan Ponce de Leon set sail again, but this time from San Juan, Puerto Rico. He went to colonize Florida. He had seeds, and priests to convert the Indians. When he reached Sanibel Island, on the west coast of Florida, he had a battle with the natives and received an arrow wound that became infected. They returned to Cuba, but he died in July.

Feb 13, 1524

Giovanni de Verrazzano

In 1524,representing france, Giovanni da Verrazzano sailed from Dieppe, France on January 17, 1524. He landed on March 1st, 1524 on the southernmost of North Carolina’s three capes. He explored the coasts of Georgia, North and South Carolina, and as far north as New York Bay and Arcadia. He returned and anchored at Dieppe on July 8, 1524.

Feb 13, 1527

Narvåez

In 1527, Pánfilo Narváez, who was representing Spain sailed from Barrameda on February 22nd, 1527 with the commission to colonize all the lands between Florida and Mexico. He along with a force of 260 men, landed in Florida, near St. Petersburg, on May 1st. He traveled north battling Indians all the way to Apalachee. They crossed the Mississippi River in boats they had made. Eventually, the Indians killed them all except 4.

Feb 13, 1534

New France

The area of North America that was colonized by France was called New France lasting from, 1534 to 1763. There were not many permanent settlers outside Quebec, but the fur traders roamed working with numerous Indian tribes who often became military allies in France’s wars with Britain.

Feb 13, 1539

Hernando de Soto

From 1539 – 1543, Hernando de Soto who was representing Spain set sail from Havana, Cuba and landed near Fort Myers, Florida. De Soto had no respect for the indigenous population of Florida. His strategy was to enter an Indian town, capture the chief, demand provision, then move to the next village. During his expedition, de Soto killed many Indians. They marched north from Florida, to Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee. De Sota died of fever on May 21, 1542, at the mouth of the Red River.

Feb 13, 1565

First Permanent European Settlement

In 1565, the Spanish sent some settlers to St. Augustine, Florida to establish the first permanent European settlement in the continental United States. It had such a harsh political environment that it attracted few settlers and never expanded.

Feb 13, 1600

New Netherland

New Netherland claimed territory and concentrated in the Hudson River Valley. They traded fur with the Indians to the north and were a barrier to Yankee expansion. New Amsterdam, their new capital, was located on the southern tip of the island of Manhattan.

Feb 13, 1607

New England

In 1607, the first successful English colony, the Virginia Company of London established the Jamestown Settlement on the James River which was settled primarily by English colonists. Colonial America was defined by a severe labor shortage that employed forms of slavery and indentured servitude, over half of all European immigrants to Colonial America arrived as indentured servants. The British shipped an estimated 50,000 convicts to their American colonies during their peak.

Feb 10, 2017