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Period: Aug 3, 1492 to Jan 1, 1502
Christopher Columbus's Voyages
Columbus wanted to find a way to get to Asia that was easier than the land and sea routes at the time, and thought that sailing west would be the solution. In 1491, the Spanish monarchs agreed to sponsor Columbus's voyages. He left for his first voyage on August 3, 1492, and eventually landed on one of the Bahamian Islands. He went on three more voyages in 1493, 1498, and 1502, beginning a period of Spanish colonization in the Americas, giving Spain new land and lots of natural resources. -
May 4, 1493
Papal Bull Inter Caetera
The Papal Bull Inter Caetera was issued by Pope Alexander on May 4, 1493. It played a central role in the Spanish conquest of the new world. The document supported Spain and ensured its right to the new land discovered. The Doctrine ensured that no other country could touch the land. -
Jan 1, 1520
Smallpox in South America
Smallpox was believed to be brought on a Spanish ship from Cuba carrying an infected African slave. It killed the Inca emperor Huayna Capac and many other Incas before Pizarro even arrived. Unlike the Spanish, South Americans had never been exposed to smallpox and thus had no immunity. Around 90% of the South American population was killed by smallpox, making it one of the main reasons that Pizarro was able to conquer the Inca. More South Americans were killed by smallpox than in any battle. -
Nov 16, 1532
Defeat of the Inca
In 1532, Spanish conquistador Francisco Pizarro arrived at the Inca city Cajamarca and met the Inca king Atahualpa. He had heard about the powerful Inca empire on previous expeditions and wanted to bring wealth to Spain by conquering the empire. Pizarro captured, and later killed Atahualpa. After many battles, Pizarro conquered the Inca capital Cuzco. This conquest of Peru made Spain one of the wealthiest, most powerful countries in the world, however it was devastating to the Inca. -
Defeat of Spanish Armada
Under King Philip II, Spain was considered the most powerful empire in the world. King Philip launched an attack on England after the English raided Spanish merchant ships.The Armada departed from Lisbon, Spain. Spain wanted to gain control of the English Channel. However, English ships were faster and better armed. The English ships started attacking the Spanish Armada. Eventually, the Spanish fleet was forced to retreat. Spain was no longer the major sea power it once was. -
Gold Discovered in Brazil
Large gold deposits discovered in the Minas Gerais. It was discovered by “bandeirantes” who were Portuguese adventurers who explored the interior of Brazil. The Minas includes great hills, plateaus, and rivers. The gold found here enticed many settlers from Spain and other foreign countries to come to Brazil. After a few years the area became overpopulated. While Spain profited significantly from these gold deposits, many South Americans who mined the gold remained in great poverty. -
Discovery of the Easter Islands
The Easter Islands are a Chilean territory that is located in southeastern Polynesia. It is most famous for its statues, called Moai, that were carved by the native Rapa Nui people between 1200 and 1500 AD. The Easter Islands are significant because of its Moai, which are widely recognized. They are also the last known traces of the ancient Rapa Nui, the first inhabitants of the island. This discovery helped people at the time learn more about this ancient civilization. -
Slavery Abolished in Brazil
From 1600-1850 almost 5 million slaves were brought over to Brazil. African slaves in Brazil made up almost 40% of the population of Brazil's capital city. On May 13, 1888, the imperial family passed Lei Aurea. This made Brazil the last country in the western hemisphere to abolish slavery. Brazil was very dependent on slaves, as they were large part of the country's economy. This shows that Brazil's economy was weak as any economy that is dependent on free human labor is not very strong.
