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Oct 12, 1492
Christopher Columbus Discovers America
Christopher Columbus lands in the Bahamas. He becomes the first European to discover the Americas. -
Mar 4, 1493
Columbus returns to the Americas
On his second voyage, Columbus returns to the Americas with 17 ships, a few hundred soldiers, and 1,000+ settlers -
Jan 1, 1500
Atlantic Slave Trade Begins
Bringing slaves to the Americas from Africa for labor was established. The African Slave Trade also promised huge enterprise. -
Apr 22, 1500
Pedro Àlvares Cabral Discovers Modern-Day Brazil
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Feb 1, 1519
Conquistador Hernando Cortès Discovers Mexico
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Aug 13, 1521
Hernando Cortès Conquers the Aztec Empire
After many years of warring, and with the help of local natives who resented the Aztecs, superior weaponry, and disease the Europeans spread to the natives, Cortès was finally able to conquer the Aztec Empire. -
May 26, 1522
Ferdinand Magellan's Men are the First to Successfully Circumnavigate the World
Funded by the King of Spain, Magellan's men cirumnavigated the world in three years, although Magellan himself died in a local war in the Philippines. -
Jan 1, 1524
Giovanni da Verrazzano Discovers Present-day New York Harbor
Giovonni, serving for France, was actually looking for a sea route to the Pacific Ocean. -
Jan 1, 1532
Conquistador Fransisco Pizarro Conquers the Inca Empire
After capturing the Empire's ruler, Atahualpa, the Spanish murdered him, although they were offered "two rooms of silver and one of gold" for their king by the Incas. The murder of their king sent the Inca empire into turmoil. -
Feb 23, 1540
Francisco Vásquez de Coronado Leads Expeditions in the North
Coronado's expedition led through present-day Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma, and Kansas. -
Jan 1, 1542
The Encomienda System is Abolished
The Encomienda, forced labor of the natives in the Americas, was abolished with the help of Christian missionaries from Spain. -
Jan 1, 1543
Jacques Cartier Discovers Canada
Cartier landed on the east coast of Canada and also discovered a river, which he named it "St. Lawrence". After following the river, he discovered a large island and named it "Mont Royal", which is now present-day Montreal. -
The English Settle in Jamestown, Virginia
Fired by the Spanish and French, the King James ordered London investors to create a colony in the Americas. -
Samuel de Champlain Discovers Quebec
Champlain sailed up the St. Lawrence river and discovered land that he named, "Quebec". However, the land was also known as "New France" because it became the base of France's across-seas empire. -
Henry Hudson discovers the Hudson River, Strait and Bay
Henry Hudson, in service of the Netherlands, discovered many waterways around present-day New York. In 1621, the Dutch began colonizing in the Americas. Their holdings in North America became known as New Netherland. -
The English Form a Second Colony in Plymouth, Massachusetts
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Englishman Duke of York Drives Out the Dutch
With permission from the English king Charles II, the Duke of York claimed New Amsterdam for England and renamed it "New York" -
Louis Joliet and Jacques Marquette Explore the Mississippi and Great Lakes
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French and Indian War
As the English and French expanded their colonies in North America, the colonies began to interfere with eachother. The countries disputed over land claims in the Ohio Valley, which caused war. Finally, the British overcame the French in 1763 and forced them to give up most of their land holdings in North America.
