The Colonial Times

  • Period: Jan 1, 1400 to

    Colonial Times

  • Columbus sails
    Oct 12, 1492

    Columbus sails

    Columbus sailed. His ships were the Nina, the Pinta, and the Santa Maria. On October 12, he landed and claimed the land for Spain.
  • Columbus Returns
    Jan 1, 1493

    Columbus Returns

    Columbus set sail to return to Spain in 1493
  • The end of Columbus
    Nov 3, 1506

    The end of Columbus

    In 1506, Columbus died still convinced that he had reached Asia.
  • Vasco Nunez De Balboa
    Jan 1, 1510

    Vasco Nunez De Balboa

    Vasco Nunez De Balboa, a Spanish explorer, explored the Carribean and was the first to set eyes on the Pacific Ocean.
  • Ferdinand Magellan
    Jan 1, 1519

    Ferdinand Magellan

    Ferdinand Magellan set out to find the Atlantic - Pacific passage.
  • Hernando Cortez
    Nov 8, 1519

    Hernando Cortez

    Hernando Cortez conquers Tenochtitlan, the Aztec capital, with 500 soldiers and help from other Native Americans.
  • Roman Catholic church splits
    Jan 1, 1530

    Roman Catholic church splits

    Rulers of Sweden, Denmark, and several European states had split with the Roman Catholic church and set up Protestant churches in their countries.
  • First colony in Roanoke

    First colony in Roanoke

    The first colony in Roanoke was established in 1585, but was abandoned a year later.
  • The second colony in Roanoke

    The second colony in Roanoke

    The second colony was set up in 1587...
  • Founding Jamestown

    Founding Jamestown

    King James I granted some merchants a charter. This gave the Virginia Company authority over a large portion of North America's coastline.
  • Jamestown's first year

    Jamestown's first year

    Powhatan helped out the colonists. He brought food and other things needed for the colonists. Even with help from Powhatan and his tribe, only 38 colonists survived.
  • John Smith Takes Charge

    John Smith was sent from London to lead the colony. His most important rule was "He who works not eats not." They raided the Native Americans for more food and soon became prosperous.
  • Henry Hudson

    Henry Hudson

    On his fourth journey to search for the northwest passage, Henry Hudson's crew mutinied and sent him, his son, and seven loyal crew members adrift.
  • Fort Orange

    Fort Orange

    In 1624, 300 settlers arrived from the Netherlands. Most settled at Fort Orange, a fur trading post, that was later renamed Albany
  • New Amsterdam

    New Amsterdam

    A group settled at the mouth of the Hudson river. Peter Minuit, the colony's governor, purchased New Amsterdam from local Native Americans