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Jan 1, 1492
Christopher Columbus Sailed the Ocean Blue
Christopher Colubus was not actually looking for new lands- he was looking for another path to India for Spain. Christopher Columbus accidentally hit the Americas, misnamed the people "Indians," later realized that he never reached India, and died, thinking he was a failure. -
Jan 1, 1511
First enslaved Africans arrive in the Americas
People were needed to colonize and build colonies in the Americas, and after the Europeans in America realized that the Native Americans were dying from foreign diseases. The Europeans turned to African slaves, and African rulers would trade slaves for European goods. -
Jan 1, 1521
Cortés conquers Aztec Empire
Cortés conqueres the Aztec Empire driven by the greed for gold. Cortés is able to conquer the Azetecs because of disease, superior weapons, and the Aztecs thinking that Cortés was the sun god in armor. Also, Cortés got help from a native Aztec named Malinche, who told Cortés of the tribes who disliked the Azetecs and got help from them. -
Jan 1, 1533
Pizarro conquers Incan Empire
The Spanish, led by Pizarro, conquer the Incan by ambushing them and them kidnapping the Incan leader Atahualpa. The Spanish promise to realase him only if he gave them gold and silver. Atahualpa had 2 rooms filled with silver and 1 room filled with gold, and after he gave the Spanish their gold and silver, Atahualpa was killed. -
English found Jamestown
When Jamestown was first established, the colony almost failed, due to the fact that the settlers were more looking for gold than establishing a colony. 7 out of 10 colonists died from hunger or disease or fights with the Native Americans. The English eventually settled in, and made money by exporting tabacco. -
English found Plymouth
Plymouth was founded by the Pilgrims, people who were searching for a place to freely practice their religion without fear of being prosecuted. -
French and Indian War ends
The French and Indian fought together against the English to try to prevent them from taking over their land. The British, with the help of the British Army, eventually beat the French in what was known as the "Seven Years War."
