The Americas By neckerchief Period: Jan 1, 1300 to Dec 31, 1550 Timeline of the Spanish Americas Nov 9, 1325 Aztec City of Tenochtitlan founded Jan 1, 1376 Aztecs choose their first emperor Jan 1, 1438 Inca military expansion begins Jan 1, 1462 Machu Picchu founded Jan 1, 1492 Columbus 'discovers' the Americas Jan 1, 1498 Columbus lands on Venezuelan coast Jan 1, 1502 Columbus encounters the Maya in Yucatan Jan 1, 1512 'Laws of Burgos' introduced Jan 1, 1515 Spanish settlements established on Cuba Jan 1, 1518 Spanish invade Yucatan Jan 1, 1519 Meeting of Hernan Cortesand Emperor Moctezuma II in Tenochtitlan Jan 1, 1519 Cortes arrived in Tenochtitlan Jan 1, 1521 Tenochtitlan is destroyed. Spanish occupy Aztec Empire Jan 1, 1523 De Alvarado invades Maya lands Jan 1, 1525 Spanish conquer Guatemala Jan 1, 1527 Pizarro lands at Incan settlements of Tumbes Jan 1, 1539 De Soto lands in Florida Jan 1, 1541 Spanish conquer Yucatan Jan 1, 1542 'New Laws' introduced