Setting the Scene for America

Leif Ericson

Sep 4, 1001

citation Leif gathered a crew of about 35 and set off from Greenland for the mystery land. They landed at a place described as a barren flatland of rocks backed by giant ice mountains.

Black Death

Sep 4, 1347

citation The black death took a proportionally larger toll of life than any other epidemic up to that time. This plague ravaged through Europe taking Europe population from 450 million to almost 350 million.

Great Schism

Sep 4, 1378

citation A time in Roman Catholic history where there was two and at times three people called the Pope. Each of these “Popes” had their own following.

Printing Press

Sep 4, 1439

citation The early printing press had a long handle which is used to turn wooden screws, exerting pressure on the paper. This made writing, and news more affordable.

Spanish Inquisition

Sep 4, 1487

citation King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella choose Catholicism to unite Spain and they drove out Jews, and Muslims. This was the monarch’s effort to create monotheism.

Christians over Moors

Jul 4, 1492

citation The treaty of Granada was signed after the Spanish defeated the Moors in 1492. This gave the Moors a set of right and religious practices.

Christopher Columbus

Dec 4, 1492

citation Seeking a westward route from Europe to Asia, Columbus reaches the Caribbean in the name of Spain. He also found North and South America.

John Cabot

Sep 4, 1497

citation One of many explorers to explore North America between the 1400’s and 1600’s . He sailed a 79 day voyage for England.

Protestant Reformation

Sep 4, 1517

citation A major movement in 16th century Europe aimed at reforming the beliefs of the Roman Catholic Church. It marks the beginning of the modern era. Martin luther who was a German Augustinian monk who in 1517 posted 95 theses on a church door. This was a common academic practice that served as an invitation to debate. Luther challenged some portions of the Roman Catholic doctrine.

Hernando Cortez

Sep 4, 1519

citation Conquered the Aztecs for Spain by befriending their leader Montezuma, then making him a prisoner of his own city.

Juan Diego & Our Lady of Guadalupe

Sep 4, 1531

citation According to tradition, Mary appeared to Jean Diego who was an Aztec, making him convert to Christianity.

Francisco Pizarro

Sep 4, 1532

citation Pizarro conquered the Incas for Spain by sailing down South America’s Pacific coast with less than 200 troops and capturing their leader.

King Henry VIII

Sep 5, 1534

citation When King Henry's marriage was refused by the Pope, Henry passed acts separating the church of England from the Roman Catholic Church.

Council of Trent

Sep 5, 1545

citation The 19th ecumenical council of the Catholic Church. The council played an important role in revitalizing the Catholic Church in parts of Europe.

Roanoke

Sep 5, 1587

citation Roanoke is a colony off of present day North Carolina. Within a year of it’s founding, the colonists had run short of food. An English ship stopped in the harbor and the settlers decided to return “home”.

Jamestown

Sep 5, 1607

citation Jamestown was founded in 1607 with 700 colonists. 3 years later Thomas Gates sailed to run the town but found only 60 remained looking like skeletons from starvation.

Henry Hudson

Sep 5, 1609

citation This Dutch explorer that sailed to present day New York on his ship the Half Moon. Hudson continued to sail up a river for 150 miles that is named after him, the “Hudson River”.

King Louis XIV

Sep 5, 1643

citation King Louis “Louis the Great” ruled from his palace in Versailles.

Marquette and Joliet

Sep 5, 1673

citation Marquette was a French missionary and his partner Joliet was a fur trader. They were lead by the Indians to reach the Mississippi River.