Atlantic World-Discovery of the New World

Columbus Sailed the Ocean Blue

Oct 12, 1492

In 1492, Christopher Columbus set sail in the Nina, Pinta, and Santa Maria thinking that he had found a route to the East Indies. He was sailing for Spain because they wanted an in on the Indian Ocean trade routes to compete with Portugal. Columbus thought that he had reached the East Indies, so he called the natives "Indians", who were actually the Taino, but he had actually landed on an island in the Bahamas. He named the island San Salvador.

First Enslaved Africans Arrive in the Americas

Sep 16, 1511

Africans were not vulnerable to the many diseases that were killing the Native American slaves because they had already been exposed to them. Africans also had farming experience, they were less likely to escape because they could not navigate the new territory and their skin color made them stand out. So Europeans decided to use African slaves instead of Native Americans, and began to import them. The Portuguese were the first to use them as slaves on the many sugar plantations.

Cortez Conquers the Aztecs

Jan 1, 1521

In 1519, Cortez, a Spanish Conquistador, landed in Mexico. Soon after, Cortez marched to the Aztec Empire's capital, Tenochtitlan. Their Emperor, Montezuma, thought that Cortez was a god, and gave him a share of the empire's gold. Then, in 1520, wanting more gold, Cortez ambushed some Aztecs, and he and his men were driven out. Since the Spanish had better weapons, native tribe allies, and diseases killing most of them off anyway, Cortez was able to conquere the Aztecs.

Pizarro conquers Incan Empire

Jan 1, 1533

In 1532, a Spanish Conquistador named Francisco Pizarro met the Incan ruler, Atahualpa, and kidnapped him. In exchange for his life, the ruler offered to fill a room twice with silver and once with gold. Instead, after collecting the reward, the Spanish strangled the ruler, and took the Incan capitol Cuzco without a struggle. The Incans were so demoralized by their leader's death that they retreated.

English Found Jamestown

Sep 18, 1607

A company of London investors founded Jamestown, Virginia, with 3 ships and 100 settlers. It was a very rough start because the settlers were only interested in finding gold and not planting crops. Then, the farmers discovered tobacco farming which was a huge cash crop and helped Jamestown grow.

English Found Plymouth

Sep 18, 1620

In 1620, a group called the "Pilgrims" founded Plymouth in Massachuesetts. They left England to escape religious persecution.

French and Indian War Ends

Sep 18, 1763

A dispute between the British and the French over the Ohio Valley caused the French and Indian War. The British were able to defeat the French, winning them the entire Eastern America region