Exploration and Settlement

Columbus lands at Hispaniola in the Caribbean

1492

Christopher Columbus’s voyage to the Caribbean and marked the beginning of contact between Europeans and Native Americans.

Balboa "discovers" the pacific ocean in Panama

1513

crossed the Isthmus of Panama to the Pacific Ocean, becoming the first European to lead a expedition to the Pacific from the New World

Cortes conquers the Aztecs at Tenochtitlan (Mexico City)

1521

When the Europeans first arrived, millions of Native Americans were living on the land, in small villages and in large cities such as the Aztec capital of Tenochtitlan, the site of present-day Mexico City

De Soto Explores the region between Florida and the Mississippi river

1539

De Soto's expedition initially landed at Piney Point. They made camp at Uzita, which was a native village on the northern shore of the Little Manatee River.

First permanent English settlement is founded in Jamestown, Virginia

1607

Jamestown was the first English Colonies to settle in the new world

Mayflower Pilgrims found Plymouth colony in Massachusetts

1620

the mayflower pilgrims found a colony to grow there own colonies

English settlers defeat Native Americans in King Philip's war

1676

the war between the natives and England

France claims the Mississippi River Valley and name it Louisianian

1682

France found the Mississippi River and claimed it as theirs