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Period: 250 to 900
Mayas
The Mayas had no centralized empire, it was devided into different city-states. The unified language connected the otherwise political autonomous cities. To preserve their power, different cities often waged war against each other. The society was devided into different groups. -
986
first european discovery of America
Bjarni Herjólfsson was the first european who set a foot on the american continent. He was actually trying to get to his home colony in Greenland but got off his course. -
1000
Leif Eriksson
Eriksson was a member of the viking colony in Greenland and faced the problem that his community lacked the ressoures to provide the people with food and building materials. After Herjólfsson returned, he decided to establish a harvesting colony on the new land and returned with success. -
1004
Three viking colonys
Leifs siblings started in total three explorations in the so called vineland. Their intentions were to set up a colony that could provide itself. -
1200
Incas
Incas were a indigenous civilisation in South America. From the 13th to the 16th century they ruled over a wide empire of over 200 ethnic groups, which shows a high degree of organization. The society was devided into two groups, the first social class formed the nobility, the second was formed by the simple citizens. -
1492
Columbus "disfcovered" America II
The third reason was more treasures and land. Columbus and the spanish soldiers have found many new things, like unknown animals and plants, gold and indigenous. -
1492
Columbus "discovered" America
Columbus wanted to find the fastest way to India. On the 2nd August 1492 he left the spanish harbour. On the 12th October 1492 he found land. He was the first european who discovered America. There were three reasons to sail to India. The first reason was the trade because it was more profitable if you could avoid the custums. The second reason was the fastest sea route. -
1494
contract of tordesillas
After a despute, which parts of the "new World" belongs to which nation, the pope decidet what the land gets divided between spain and portual. For that very reason he drew a simpel line over the map of America. -
1507
The name of the unknown continent
Until his death, Columbus didn't know he had discovered America instead of India. Although he discovered America the continent wasn't named after him. The name America is derived from Amerigo Vespucci (1451-1512), who thought that there was a country between Europe and Asia.
