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1492
Fall of Granada, last muslim kingdom in Spain; expulsion of the Jews; Columbus makes landfall in the Caribbean
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1493
Columbus’s second expedition; beginnings of settlement in the indies
It was a return expedition, and through that expedition a new colony was established. The colony was on the island of Santo Domingo, or Hispaniola. -
1494
Treaty of Tordesillas
The governments of Spain and Portugal made the Treaty of Tordesillas. It got this name because it was a city in Spain. The Treaty of Tordesillas split up “New World” of the Americas between the two great Powers; Spain and Portugal. -
Period: 1519 to 1524
Cortes leads conquest of Mexico
Cortes stuck the inland of the the Aztec Empire, and earned many victories. He then got support from the already defeated peoples’ as well as the help of Indian allies thus eventually making it to Tenochtitlán. Aztecs were brought down in 1521, and Tenochtitlán was replaced with Mexico City. -
1533
Cuzco, Peru, falls to Francisco Pizarro
With only 200 Spaniards and some native Indian allies Pizarro led and a victory over the Incas (Inca capital of Cuzco). The capital fell in 1533, and Spanish decided to move their major city, closer to the coast, Lima’s -
Period: 1540 to 1542
Coronado explores área that is now the southwestern United States.
This is one of the most famous expeditions because Francisco Coranado was searching for mythical cities of gold, and he penetrated what is now the southwestern United States. -
Gold discovered in Brazil
Portuguese Paulistas were searching for metals in the The interior of Brazil, and were very victorious. Gold strikes were made in 1695 and in the mountainous interior in a region that would later be called Minas Gerais. -
Jesuits expelled from Brazil
Marquis of a Pombal had a great dislike for the Jesuits due to their continued allegiance with Rome as well as their role of having semi-independent control of vast areas in Brazil. -
Brazilian capital moved to Rio de Janeiro
Mining led to the opening of new areas for farming and ranching, so it could supply new markets in mining zone. Rio De Janeiro was the port closest to the mines, and it it grew in both size and importance, thus becoming the capital of the colony in 1763. -
Jesuits expelled from Spanish America
Trying to revive Spain, the bourbon reforms was to make government more powerful, more effective, and better at running the economy. The Jesuits were a targeted group that would oppose the measures taken because of their allegiance to Rome, it’s rumored wealth, and it’s missions in the New World. So, just as they were expelled from the Portuguese empire 1759, they were also expelled from Spain and its empire in 1767.