Unit 1: The clash of Cultures in the Americas (Prehistory - 1519)

First people enter North America from Asia - 70,000 BCE

100

Hunters followed herds across a land bridge from Asia to North America. They were the first humans in the Americas.

Native Americans discover farming - 5,000 BCE

150

The Native Americans learned that seeds of wild plants placed in the ground will grow into new plants, being their discovery of farming. It changed how many Native Americans lived. With farming, they could stop living as nomads.

Maya society reaches its peak - 300-900 CE

Jan 1, 600

Drought eliminated Anasazi villages

Jan 1, 1200

Aztec settle in the valley of Mexico

Nov 4, 1200

The Aztec sent out powerful armies and conquered their neighbors. Soon, they ruled an empire that covered most of Mexico.

Mali is founded

Nov 4, 1235

Mansa Musa travels to Mecca

Nov 4, 1324

Mansa Musa began a pilgramage to the Muslim holy city of Mecca.

Timbuktu becomes a center of learning

Nov 4, 1415

Columbus sails from Spain to the Americas

Aug 3, 1492

On August 3rd, 1492, Columbus sailed from Palos wirh three small ships. He reached an island three months later. Columbus believed he found the Indies, but instead of finding rich cities of gold and spices, he found Native Americans living in small villages.

The Taino rebelled against Columbus

Nov 4, 1494

Columbus conquered the Taino and forced them to build a new settlement. He put more than 500 Taino in chains and shipped them to Spain as slaves. The Taino rebelled against Columbus in 1494, but their simple weapons were no match for Spanish guns and cannon. The Spanish hunted down the Taino with attack dogs, and many Native Americans were brutally killed.

The Spanish rulers took control of Santa Domingo from Columbus

Nov 4, 1500

Columbus was a poor governer, so the Spanish rulers took control from him. The king and queen were upset by the violence against the Native Americans, and they were angry that Columbus was always arguing with Spanish settlers.

The first colonies in the Caribbean were set up

Nov 4, 1505

Native Americans were firmly under Spanish rule. All the Native American rebellions had been put down as well. Conquistadors were arriving from Spain ready to conquer new lands in the Americas.

The first enslaved Africans were brought to the Caribbean by Spain

Nov 4, 1505

Ponce de Leon led a force that took control of Puerto Rico

Sep 3, 1508

Leon sailed to the Americas with Columbus in 1493 and he took part in conquest of Hispaniola. In 1508, he took control of Puerto Rico.

A sermon was preached in Santo Domingo

Jul 4, 1511

A sermon protesting the abuses of Native Americans was preached in Santo Domingo. Bartolome de las Casas felt very guilty when he heard those words.

Las Casas moved to Cuba

Nov 4, 1511

Las Casas gave up his lands and beame a parish priest. Casas watched as Native Americans were shipped in chains to Spainto spain and he wrote to the rulers in Spain about the injustice. Las Casas then devoted his life to ending the unjust system.

Ponce de Leon sailed from Puerto Rico to Florida

Mar 4, 1513

Ponce de Leon heard stories about a "fountain of youth", so in March 1513, he sailed from Puerto Rico and landed in a place that he named La Florida. He did not find the fountain of youth, but he was the first European to explore the mainland of the US

Hernan Cortes begins his conquest of the Aztec Empire

Nov 4, 1519

The Aztec surrended to Cortes

Aug 3, 1521

After the Aztec surrendured, the Spanish destroyed the Aztec city and began a new city on its ruins. The new city was named Mexico City.

First people reached southern tip of South America - 8,000 BCE

Mar 2, 2022

The migration to the Americas took thousands of years. When it finally ended, the Americas had people from the northern end to the southern end.