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Jan 1, 1492
Christopher Colombus sails across the Atlantic Ocean.
Christopher Colombus, an Italian working for Spain, sails across the Atlantic Ocean and lands on the island of Hipaniola. He believes he has reached India and calls the natives Indians. -
Period: Jan 1, 1492 to
The Discovery of the Atlantic World
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Jan 1, 1511
First enslaved Africans arrive in the Americas.
Settlers in the Americas needed workers for their plantations and other jobs. The first slaves used in the Americas were Native Americans, but Bartolme de las Casas, a Dominican monk, suggests using Africans for labor. -
Jan 1, 1521
Cortez conquers Aztec empire
Hernan Cortez conquers the Aztec empire in modern-day Mexico. He is looking for gold and uses guns, swords, and diseases against his enemies. -
Jan 1, 1533
Pizarro Conquers the Inca Empire
Francisco Pizarro travels to modern-day Peru and ambushes the Incan Empire. The king of the Inca, Atahulapa, is held hostage. The Inca give the Portuguese 1 room of gold and 2 rooms of silver as ransom. The explorers then kill the king. -
English found Jamestown
The English founded Jamestown in Virginia. It was the first mostly successful colony in British North America. Although many people die, others prosper in the new world from products like tobacco. -
English found Plymouth
Plymouth was founded by the Pilgrims, an English group that sought religious freedom. They landed on Plymouth Rock in Massachusetts after a difficult journey on their ship, the Mayflower. Their colony was the 2nd British colony in the Americas. -
The French and Indian War Ends
The French and Indian War was a war between the French, the British, and the Native Americans. After the French lost, they had to give up all of their territory in North America.