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1492
Columbus lands at Hispanola in the Caribbean
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1513
Balboa "discovers" the Pacific Ocean in Panama
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1521
Cortes conquers the Aztecs at Tenochtitlan(Mexico City)
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1539
De Soto explores the region between Florida and the Mississippi River
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First permanent English settlement is founded in Jamestown, Virginia
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Mayflower Pilgrims found Plymouth colony in Massachusetts
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English settlers defeat Native Americans in King Philip's War
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France claims the Mississippi River Valley and names it Louisiana
