Atlantic World and Discovery of the New World

Columbus sailed the ocean blue

Jan 1, 1492

He arrived in San Salvador. There was no gold so he explored other islands, claiming each one for Spain.

First enslaved Africans arrived to the Americas

Jan 1, 1511

The Spanish brought Africans to work on plantations and in gold & silver mines, and the Portuguese brought them to Brazil to work for the sugar industry. England was the leading carrier of enslaved Africans from 1690-1807. Between 1500-1870 Europeans imported around 9.5 million Africans to the Americas.

Cortés conquers Aztec empire

Jan 1, 1521

Cortés and the Spanish won due to superior weapons (muskets and cannons vs arrows), rebellion by native groups, and the Aztec's lack of immunity to European diseases.

Pizzaro conquers Incan empire

Jan 1, 1533

He kidnapped Atahualpa, the Incan king, and held him for a huge ransom of gold and silver. He collected the ransom and then killed him anyway.

English found Jamestown

Jan 1, 1607

Jamestown was England's first permanent settlement in North America. The settlers looked for gold instead of planting crops and 70% of them died of hunger/disease/battles with Native Americans. Eventually they discovered tobacco, and high British demand turned it into a sucessful cash crop.

English found Plymouth

Jan 1, 1620

Plymouth was founded by the Pilgrims, a group who were seeking religous freedom. Plymouth later merged with the Massachusettes Bay Colony, which was founded by the Puritans.

French and Indian War ends

Jan 1, 1763

Also called the Seven Years War, the British victory pushed the French out of North America.