Maya, Inca, and Aztec Empires By Katie Lang Period: 13,000 BCE to 7000 BCE Humans cross land bridge between Asia and North America 5000 BCE Corn domesticated Period: 2000 BCE to 900 Maya Civilization (invented calendars, clocks; numeric system including zero) 1000 Lief Erikson goes to Canada 1325 Aztecs found Tenochtitlan Period: 1325 to 1521 Aztec empire (very successful warriors; extraordinary system of farming with island-like farm plots floating around city) Period: 1400 to 1532 Inca Empire (amazing architects and builders, including Machu Picchu; transported freshwater across long distances) Period: 1425 to 1475 Mechanical clocks invented in Europe (time approximate) 1492 Christopher Columbus reaches Americas (Bahamas) 1521 Hernando Cortes conquers Aztec (effort to defeat Montezuma was aided by non-native illnesses, superior weaponry, and anger of defeated peoples) Period: 1532 to 1533 Francisco Pizarro conquers Inca 1582 Georgian calendar in the West 1607 First successful English settlement in the Americas (Jamestown)