-
1492
Columbus lands on America
Columbus wasn't the first to find America, since Scandinavians had already did, but he is credited with the beginning of the Contact period when Europe began to really get involved with the Americas (introducing disease, foods, plants, animals, ideas through the Columbian Exchange) -
1494
Treaty of Tordesillas
Spain + Portugal sign treaty to divide territory -
1499
Vespucci reaches Brazil
-
Period: 1501 to
Transatlantic Slave Trade
Begins 1501, abolished by US in 1808 -
1524
French arrive in America
French explorers start to establish influence in America as well, beginning the years-long conflict between Eu nations as they assert their power -
Roanoke Founded
Known as "The Lost Colony," Roanoke was founded by Sir Walter Raleigh who left the colony and returned to find it abandoned. Historians believe the settlers joined the natives. -
English navy defeats Spanish Armada
Spanish navy had kept other Eu powers from establishing in New World, so when English defeated Spanish, French and English colonization of NA became easier -
Jamestown Founded
First colony in America (Virginia). The settlers went through a tough first year experiencing the great hunger and