Colonization of North America

The Reconquista

Jan 1, 722

The Reconquista was a 781 year battle where Christians recaptured territory from the Muslims, who occupied most of the Irabian Peninsula. The Christians then extablished a small Christian principality in Asturias. This took place before the discovery of the New World.

Johann Gutenberg

Jan 1, 1439

Gutenberg was a german publisher and printer who introduced printing to Europe. He invented the mechanical printer which started the printing revolution. This is commonly regarded to as one of the most note worthy events in history.

Christopher Columbus

Oct 12, 1492

Columbus sailed the Atlantic Ocean in 1492, in search of Japan/West Indies. He instead, accidentally founded the Americas. After this many more Europeans crossed the Atlanic to the Americas to spread Christianity and to start new lives and colonies.

Treaty of Tordesillas

Jun 7, 1494

A treaty signed in Tordesillas that didvided newly discovered land beyond Europe between Spain and Portugal. The lands to the west thereafter belonged to Spain, and the lands to the east belonged to Portugal.

John (1497) & Sebastian (1504)

Jan 1, 1497

John Cabot was an Italian explorer who discovered Noth america under commmision of Henry VII in 1497. Other than the Vikings, John was the first European to discover North America's mainlands. Son of John Cabbot, Sebastian was also an explorer. In 1504 Sebastian led a voyage to the new world, in 1508 he found a North-West passage leading to the Hudson Bay, and he was even a cartographer for Henry VIII.

The Slave Trade

Jan 1, 1500

The Slave trade (Atlantic) lasted for almost 3 centuries
over the Atlantic ocean. Many of the slaves were from the central and western parts of Africa sold by other Africans to European slave traders living in the Americas. Around 12 million African slaves were shipped across the Atlantic Ocean.

Ecomienda System

Jan 1, 1503

To regulate Native Americans and reward individual Spaniards for services to the crown, The Ecomienda was established. The Ecomienda was a legal system used by the Spanish during their colonization of the Americas.

The Protestant Reformation

Oct 31, 1517

Because he did not like the way the Roman Catholic Church was opperating, Martin Luther published the 95 Theses that questioned the ways of the Catholic church. Martin then created his own church. This led to the church of England becoming independant under Henry VIII.

Richard Haklyut

Jan 1, 1570

Richard Haklyut dedicated himself to promote the settlement of North America through his written work. Haklyut was the first to show the new globe and maps to the world.

Roanoke

Jan 1, 1585

The Roanoke colony was an attempt to establish a permanent English settlement by Queen Elizabeth. Unfortunately this colony failed as the Anglo Spanish-War drove the colonists away from Roanoke.

Quebec

Jan 1, 1763

The Province of Quebec was founded in Canada in the 1763 Royal Proclamation after the Treaty of Paris transfered the French colony of Canada to Britain following the Seven Year's War.