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1000
Leif Erikson
A Norse explorer is thought to have arrived in North America, probably in Canada’s Newsfoundland. -
1001
Viking reach North America
- The Viking Leif Eriksson,known as Leif the lucky became the first European to set foot in North America.
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1100
The Mississippian culture
The Mississippian culture flourishes in the southeastern United States, known for its large earthen mounds, such as Cahokia Mounds in Illinois. -
1150
The Ancestral Puebloans (Anasazi)
The Ancestral Puebloans (Anasazi) build cliff dwellings in the southwestern United States, like those found at Mesa Verde. -
1215
Magna Carta
Magna Carta was made to establish the principle that the king was not above the law and granted certain rights to English nobility.
Although it is not related to America, it influences legal developments in American colonies. -
1300
The Iroquois Confederacy
Located in today's State of New York, it became the stronghold of five powerful Iroquois nations
Expanded its influence and established a system of governance known for its democratic principles and long-lasting peace. -
1325
The city of Tenochtitlan was Founded
Tenochtitlan, the capital of the Aztec Empire, was founded by the Aztec or Mexica people around 1325 C.E. According to legend, the Mexica founded Tenochtitlan after leaving their homeland of Aztlan at the direction of their god, Huitzilopochtli -
1350
The Cahokia civilization
Cahokia reached a peak population in 1350 of as many as 20,000 individuals and was the most extensive urban centre in prehistoric America north of Mexico and the primary centre of the Middle Mississippian culture. -
1351
The Ancestral Puebloans’ Cliff Dwellings
Ancestral Puebloans constructed cliff dwellings which are their homes in the Southwest of the United States, primarily in the Four Corners region where the modern states of Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, and Utah meet. -
1428
Establishment of Aztec Empire
During the reign of the ruler Itzcóatl, Tenochtitlán, the capital city of the Aztec Empire, formed alliances with neighboring states and became the dominant power in central Mexico, Later, Tenochtitlán developed to govern an empire of 400–500 states through trade and invasion. -
1492
Columbus reaches the Caribbean islands
Christopher Columbus’ voyage in 1492 opened the way for European colonization of the Americas by discovering the Caribbean islands in 1492. -
1519
Spanish Conquest of the Aztec Empire Begins
The Aztec Empire got invaded by the European soldiers led by Hernán Cortés. With their advanced weapons, and deadly European diseases against which the Aztecs had no immunity, conquered the Aztec. -
1526
Lucas Vázquez de Ayllón
Lucas Vázquez de Ayllón starts a short-lived colony called San Miguel de Gualdape in what's now South Carolina and one of the first European attempts to settle there. -
The English created
The English created the Jamestown colony in Virginia and the first permanent English settlement in North America. -
Pilgrims on the Mayflower
Pilgrims on the Mayflower sign the Mayflower Compact, creating a self-governing colony in Plymouth, Massachusetts. -
The Puritans
The Puritans led by John Winthrop and establish the Massachusetts Bay Colony in search of religious freedom. -
Roger Williams founded Providence
Roger Williams founded Providence, Rhode Island, as a safe place for people with different religious beliefs. -
King Philip's War
King Philip's War breaks out between Native American tribes and English settlers in New England. -
William Penn
William Penn receives land from King Charles II and finds Pennsylvania as a refuge for Quakers and those seeking religious tolerance. -
The Salem witch
The Salem witch trials happen in Massachusetts and lead to the execution of several accused individuals. -
American colonies
The population of the American colonies reached around 250,000 people.