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Period: 1450 to
Age of Exploration
The Age of Exploration began with the French, English, Dutch, and Spanish. These Countries Went East towards the Americas and Began their settlement. They settled for trade routes and Gold and Silver mining. -
1454
America's Name
America was named after Amerigo Vespucci. Amerigo Vespucci was a Florentine navigator and explorer. He discovered present day Rio de Janeiro and Rio de la Plata. -
Oct 12, 1492
Columbus Discovers America
Christopher Columbus lands in the Caribbean on his voyage to find a trade route to Spain financed by Queen Isabella of Spain. -
Aug 31, 1497
John Cabot Lands on the East Coast of North America
On a voyage to find a northwest passage to Asia, John Cabot claims the land in the name of King Henry VII thinking that it is Asia. He is from England. -
1500
Joao Fernandes Vieira
Joao Fernandes Vieira was a Potugese explorer. He was also an Azorean sailor. He mapped and explored the North Atlantic and the North East Coast of North America. -
1509
First Spanish settlement
First settlement in Central America is Panama. This was conquered by Herman Cortes. After being conquered, in became a trade route. -
1513
Jean Ribault
Jean Ribault colonized Florida. The settlement started in present day Jacksonville. After a perilous battle Florida became a Spanish colony. -
Apr 2, 1513
Discovery of Florida
Juan Ponce de Leon discovers Florida in search of the fountain of youth. He does not successfully find it because it is said to be a myth. Juan and his crew became the first recorded Europeans to set eyes on Florida. -
1519
Hernan Cortes lands in Mexico
Cortes lands on the coast of Mexico. He fights many battles to gain land for his people. He defeated many natives of the land, and gained more slaves and followers. -
1519
Pedro Arias De Avila
De Avila begins conquering northward from Panama. He successfully conquered Panama. He also gained access to trade routes. -
1521
Spaniards demolish Tenochtitlan
When Cortes decided to demolish the Tenochtitlan, there was a large war killing many. He decided to set fire to homes and grasslands, smoking out half the population. He decided to take it down for its wealth and riches. -
1524
Henry Hudson
Henry Hudson established the Hudson Bay Company. He also discovered the Hudson River. The river itself is named after him. He was English and did not go to college. -
Aug 29, 1533
Francisco Pizarro Conquers Inca
Pizarro conquered the entire Inca Empire to colonize. Some of the Inca survived and became either slaves or followers of Pizarro. Others recolonized, and even today, the Inca empire still exists. -
Jun 9, 1534
Jacques Cartier
Cartier explored the St. Lawrence River. He had help from fellow explorers. It runs through present day Quebec. -
1541
Failed Settlement of Quebec
A failed French settlement was made by Cartier and Roberval. It is now known as Quebec City. A few years later, The French successfully settled there. -
Jun 27, 1542
Spain Claims California Coast
Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo sailed the California coast to claim it for Spain. He also discovered the San Francisco Bay on September 28th, 1542. He also discovered the Northwest coast of Mexico finding the San Andres Bay. -
1543
Spain unified entire isthmus
The isthmus spanned from Tabasco to Yucatan. Central America itself is part of an isthmus. After being unified, it became one large commutative country. -
Jul 28, 1576
Martin Frobisher
English explorer Martin Frobisher set sail to America in search of the Northwest Passage. He discovers the coast of Labrador, Canada. He was originally from Yorkshire, England. -
Sir Walter Raleigh
Raleigh established the Virginia Colony of Roanoke Island. It was located in Present day North Carolina. He was an English inventor and writer. -
Founding of Jamestown
May 14, 1607, Jamestown is founded. It was named after James I. It divided Virginia between 2 groups of competing English merchants. Charters proclaimed to spread Christianity. -
Founding of Quebec City
Samuel de Champlain, "the Father of Canada" founded Quebec City. He was originally from France. -
Roger Williams
After being kicked out of Massachusetts Bay Colony, Williams bought and formed the Rhode Islands. He was kicked out for his different religious beliefs, and started his own religion in Rhode
Island. He successfully gained followers from the natives of Rhode Island. -
Exploration of the Mississippi
Jacques Marquette and fir trader, Louis Joliet, were sent by Governor Frontenac of New France/Canada to look for a route to the Pacific Ocean. This lead to the exploration of the Mississippi. It was a ten day journey with a handful of other explorers helping them. -
Revoltion of 1821
Central America is part of an isthmus. It consists of Belize ,Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Panama. Panama is most important for the Panama Canal. These countries revolted for independence in 1821. -
Mexico declares Independence from Spain
Spain is overthrown by Mexico in Central America. After a brutal battle, Mexico finally won and declared independence. Mexico is still an independent country from Spain.
