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The Maya were an advanced civilization that used many different types of agriculture. They also created many cities, such as Tikal.
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The Olmec are thought to be the oldest advanced Mesoamerican culture. They created different kinds of artwork and built three large cities. War and other issues caused their demise.
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In 1095, Pope Urban wanted to kick the Muslims out of the Holy Land, and launched a series of crusades to do so.
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In 1200, Europe was not as focused on trade. Instead, people farmed goods at a manor and got some food for doing this. This was called feudalism.
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The Aztec were one of the ruling Mesoamerican civilizations until its downfall. They were very strong and formidable, and they often had human sacrifices and took over smaller civilizations.
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Marco Polo and his family wanted to go east to China to find riches and explore lands not explored by Europeans.
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After 200 years of fighting, the crusaders still couldn't take the Holy Land and rid it of Muslim control.
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The Polos journeyed home by ship, carrying with them lots of riches like ivory and porcelain. Many people died on the journey.
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Marco Polo captained a galley ship against Venice's rival, Genoa. He was captured. While in jail, he met a writer who encouraged him to write his book.
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Renaissance means "rebirth". Europeans started to study Greek and Roman ideas, such as art, science, and writing.
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The Inca lived in South America, and their empire was very large. The Inca people expanded their empire and created new advancements in agriculture and the arts until they were decimated by Spanish conquistadors.
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The capture of this fortress marked the beginning of the Portuguese's explorations and their control of the global gold market.
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With the help of Prince Henry's funding, the Portuguese could have better ships and equipment, which allowed for this discovery.
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Because of the new research and supplies funded by Prince Henry, the Portuguese could make this discovery.
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The seas around Cape Bojador were very rough, and there was dangerous fog. After at least 15 failed voyages later, they finally made it around the cape.
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In 1440, German Johann Gutenberg created the first printing press, which was a huge success. It could print books, therefore helping spread information
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When Ferdinand of Aragon and Isabella of Castille were married, they unified Catholic Spain and put Spain in a better position for sea explorations.
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Dias had gone farther than any other explorer before. On his return voyage, he discovered The Cape of Good Hope.
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After Columbus's voyage was financed, he sailed West, intending to reach Asia. Instead, he reached Hispaniola (Dominican Republic/Haiti)
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Cortez, a conquistador, made his way to the Aztec lands. After finding allies to help defeat the Aztecs, Cortez came to their capital and invaded.
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Francisco Pizarro was a conquistador sent from Spain to take over the native lands and convert them to Christianity. He and other conquistadors used threats, violence, and other means to suppress the Inca people.
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Pizarro and his conquistadors killed anyone who didn't convert to Christianity, and they killed the Inca ruler, Atahualpa. The Inca were weakened by civil war and plague, and any rebels were killed off. So, the Inca eventually fell.
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Thomas Hobbes, an enlightened thinker, wrote about how he felt about people and government in his book, The Leviathan. It talked about how man needed to be ruled because they will naturally go to fighting and, eventually, war.
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John Locke, another enlightened thinker, wrote his book on man and the government. He thought than mankind was gifted with reason and logic, and these things would guide them to make good decisions, so there shouldn't be a strict government.
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The thirteen British colonies (later known as the United States) thought that they were being treated unfairly and wanted to be free of British rule. They declared independence, then the Revolutionary War ensued.
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Inspired by the United States, the people of France wrote The Declaration of the Rights of Man. They wanted to get rid of their monarchy government and create a new one.
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Black people in Haiti were greatly oppressed and often enslaved, and they wanted equal rights to the Spanish. So, Toussaint L'Ouverture helped lead a rebellion that involved many slave revolts and attacks on the Spanish. They practically decimated the White population of Haiti and rose to the top of the social system, gaining independence for Haiti.
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When the French took over the Spanish throne, Venezuela was divided on whether to stay loyal to the old Spanish king or become independent. Bolivar fought for independence, joining a rebel group that helped liberate Venezuela.
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Bolivar made a group of states called Gran Colombia that he was trying to liberate. After winning battles in Carabobo, Equador, and Quito, Gran Colombia had been officially liberated and was free from Spain.
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Jose de San Martin joined a rebel group that fought for independence. In order to liberate Peru, he pretended to be sick, but he was really gathering his forces. He first liberated Chile, then he went to attack Peru, and gave them independence. He then became dictator of Peru.
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Hidalgo y Costilla lead a rebellion that caused millions of oppressed Mexicans to rise up and fight against the Spanish in 1810. Although this rebellion disbanded and their leader was killed, this was the start of the fight for Mexican independence. They gained this in 1821.
