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Dec 31, 1400
Age Of Exploration ; 1400-1600
Period from the 1400’s to the early 1600’s. European ships traveled around the world in search of new trade routes. Advances in cartography, navigation, and ship building made it possible for Europeans to travel out of the calm Mediterranean across the more turbulent Atlantic. -
Feb 12, 1492
Christopher Columbus
Christopher Columbus sails for Spain in search of a western route to the spice islands. He lands in the Bahamas which he names San Salvador. First European to come in contact with chocolate, but thought it was a useless bean. -
Feb 12, 1519
Hernando Cortes
Hernando Cortes defeated the Aztecs in Mexico and established the area for Spain. He is the first European to take cacao to Europe -
Feb 12, 1519
Ferdinand Magellan
Ferdinand Magellan begins circumnavigation of the world. He is killed in the Philippines, but 18 of his sailors do return to Spain. Sir Francis Drake (England) will be the first captain to complete the trip in 1577. -
Triangle Trade - late 1600s to 1700
Triangle Trade – sugar, rum, and slaves were the main commodities. Slaves were needed to work on sugar, tobacco, and cacao plants. -
Haiti
Haiti becomes the first country in Latin America to gain independence from colonial powers (France) -
Simon Bolivar
– Simon Bolivar begins his revolutionary movement. Eventually, he will help in revolutions in Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Panama, and Bolivia. He is known as “El Libertador” – The Liberator. He later serves as president of Greater Colombia, Peru, and Bolivia -
Mexico's independence
Mexico declares independence from Spain.
Chile and Colombia become independent of Spain. -
Paraguay and Venezuela's independent
Paraguay and Venezuela become independent of Spain
Spain abolishes slavery. -
Cuba
US grants independence to Cuba. US had taken control of the island in 1898 because Spain could not keep the violence under control. -
Panama
US buys the Panama Canal Zone from France. The US works to finish the project. Colombia is not happy with US intervention in the area. -
Mexican Revolution
Revolutionaries such as Pancho Villa and Emiliano Zapata fought against the Presidential forces of Porfirio Diaz. The revolutionaries wanted reforms (especially land reform). 90% of the wealth was controlled by 1% of the people. -
Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla
he rings the bell of the church in Dolores, Mexico and proclaims an end to Spanish rule in Mexico and calls for equality for Mexico’s various races and redistribution of land. The Cry of Dolores has great appeal to the poor.
9/16 is Mexico’s
Independence day. -
Colombia
US wanted to control the Panama Canal area, but Colombia would not agree to the US terms. The US backed the rebels against Colombia. In 1903, Panama declared independence from Colombia. Panama then grants the US permission to complete the canal and control it until 1999. Opens in 1914 -
Jamaica
Castro allows USSR to base nuclear weapons in Cuba. President John F. Kennedy orders a blockade of Cuba. This situation came very close to starting World War III.
Jamaica becomes independent of Britain. -
Raul Castro
After nearly 50 years as dictator – Fidel handed over command to his brother Raul in 2008.
Possible move to the center and better relations with the US