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99,999 BCE
3.9 - 3 million years ago:: Australopithecus afarensis
Famous for the fossil "Lucy," this species walked upright and lived in Africa. It represents a crucial stage in the evolution of bipedalism. -
99,998 BCE
2.8 - 2.5 million years ago: Homo habilis:
The earliest species in the genus Homo, known for using stone tools. This species marked a significant leap in brain size and tool use compared to earlier hominins. -
99,997 BCE
1.9 million years ago: Homo erectus:
A key ancestor of modern humans, H. erectus was the first to spread out of Africa and is thought to have been the first to use fire and more advanced tools. Found across Africa and Asia. -
40,000 BCE
Homo neanderthalensis (Neanderthals):
Lived in Europe and western Asia. They coexisted with early Homo sapiens for some time and interbred with them. -
39,999 BCE
Homosapiens
Anatomically modern humans appear in Africa. By 100,000 years ago, they began spreading out of Africa, eventually populating the globe. -
Period: 15,000 BCE to 10,000 BCE
First Humans in the Americas
The earliest humans arrived in the Americas, likely via the Bering Land Bridge from Asia during the last Ice Age. -
Period: 10,000 BCE to 8000 BCE
Paleo-Indian Period
Early humans in the Americas engaged in hunter-gatherer lifestyles. Evidence of large mammal hunting, such as mammoths and mastodons, in regions of Mesoamerica. -
7000 BCE
Early Agriculture
The domestication of maize (corn) begins in central Mexico. Over time, agriculture expanded to include beans, squash, and chili peppers. -
5000 BCE
Semi-Sedentary Villages
Early sedentary agricultural villages begin to form as people rely increasingly on farming. -
Period: 3500 BCE to 2000 BCE
Development of Pottery
The use of pottery emerges, reflecting a shift toward more complex sedentary societies. -
Period: 2000 BCE to 1200 BCE
First Permanent Settlements
Larger villages and early ceremonial centers begin to form. Agriculture becomes the primary subsistence strategy, and society begins to stratify. -
Period: 1500 BCE to 1200 BCE
Rise of the Olmec Civilization
The Olmec, often called the “mother culture” of Mesoamerica, build large ceremonial centers like San Lorenzo and La Venta. They introduce monumental stone sculptures (e.g., colossal heads) and influence later civilizations. -
Period: 1200 BCE to 400 BCE
Olmec Cultural Influence
Olmec influence spreads throughout Mesoamerica, introducing art, religion, and political organization that would impact later cultures, including the Maya and Zapotec. -
Period: 900 BCE to 400 BCE
Early Zapotec Civilization
The Zapotec begin to develop in Oaxaca, founding their capital at Monte Albán. -
800 BCE
Early Maya Settlements
Early Maya communities begin to emerge in the Yucatán Peninsula and parts of Guatemala, laying the foundation for future city-states. -
Period: 300 to 900
The Maya Classic Period
The Maya civilization reaches its peak, building large city-states such as Tikal, Palenque, and Copán. The Maya excel in mathematics, astronomy, and writing (Maya hieroglyphs), and construct impressive pyramids and temples. -
Period: 400 to 700
Zapotec Civilization at Monte Albán
Monte Albán continues to grow as a major center for the Zapotec culture. The city includes pryamids, temples, and a unique writing system. -
899
Late Mayan Period
Maya civilization continues in some areas, but many of the major city-states decline. However, cities like Chichen Itza and Mayapan in the northern Yucatán flourish during this period. -
900
Toltec Empire
The Toltec civilization emerges, centered at Tula in central Mexico. The Toltecs are known for their military prowess and influence on later cultures, including the Aztec. -
1200
Aztec Civilization
The Aztecs (Mexica) establish their capital at Tenochtitlán in 1325 CE. They create a powerful empire through conquest and tribute, controlling much of central Mexico by the early 16th century. -
1400
New Toltec Empire
Toltec successors created an empire that lasted 3 centuries until the 15th century -
1492
1492: Columbus Arrives in the Americas
Christopher Columbus, sailing under the Spanish flag, lands in the Caribbean, marking the beginning of European exploration and colonization of the Americas. -
1492
1494: Treaty of Tordesillas
Spain and Portugal divide the New World along a demarcation line, giving Spain control over much of the Americas, setting the stage for future conquests. -
1511
1511: Spanish Conquest of Cuba
Diego Velázquez leads the conquest of Cuba, establishing Spanish control over the island and setting up a base for further exploration. -
1518
1517-1518: Early Expeditions to Mexico
1517: Francisco Hernández de Córdoba explores the Yucatán Peninsula, encountering Maya civilizations.
1518: Juan de Grijalva leads another expedition along the Gulf of Mexico, reporting wealthy and powerful cities. -
1519
1519: First Contact with the Aztec Empire
November: Cortés and his forces march to Tenochtitlán, the Aztec capital, and meet Emperor Moctezuma II. The Spanish are initially welcomed as guests. -
1519
1519: Hernán Cortés Arrives in Mexico
February: Cortés departs from Cuba with 11 ships and around 500 men, aiming to explore and conquer the Mexican mainland.
March: Cortés lands in Tabasco, where he defeats the local Maya and receives gifts, including Malinche (Doña Marina), a Nahua woman who becomes his interpreter and advisor.
August: Cortés establishes Veracruz, formally claiming the territory for Spain. -
1520
1520: Smallpox Epidemic Hits the Aztecs
A smallpox outbreak, introduced by the Spanish, devastates the Aztec population, killing large numbers, including Emperor Cuitláhuac, Moctezuma's successor. This weakens the empire significantly. -
May 2, 1520
1520: Tensions and the "Night of Sorrows"
May: Cortés leaves Tenochtitlán to confront Spanish forces sent to arrest him.
June: Pedro de Alvarado, left in charge in Tenochtitlán, orders a massacre during a religious festival, inciting a rebellion.
July 1 (La Noche Triste): Cortés and his men attempt to escape the city under attack, suffering heavy losses. -
Jan 1, 1521
1521: Formation of the Spanish-Indigenous Alliance
Cortés secures alliances with Indigenous groups, such as the Tlaxcalans, who resent Aztec dominance. Their collaboration provides critical manpower for the siege of Tenochtitlán. -
Aug 13, 1521
1521: Siege and Fall of Tenochtitlán
May: Cortés lays siege to Tenochtitlán with the help of thousands of Indigenous allies, including the Tlaxcalans.
August 13: After months of brutal fighting and disease outbreaks (smallpox), the Aztec capital falls. Emperor Cuauhtémoc is captured, marking the end of the Aztec Empire. -
1522
1522: Establishment of New Spain
Cortés is appointed Governor of New Spain, and the Spanish begin the systematic colonization and Christianization of the region. Tenochtitlán's ruins are rebuilt into Mexico City, the capital of the new colony.