The Americas By Chuzza Period: Jan 1, 1300 to Jan 1, 1550 The Americas Jan 1, 1325 Aztec City Of Tenochtitalan 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 Landas 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, 1517 Spanish Invade Yucatan Jan 1, 1519 Cortes Arrives 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