Columbus sails to America
Discovery
1492
Treaty of Tordesillas divides "New World" into portions for Spain and Portugal
Peace
1494
Cabral claims Brazil for Portugal
Discovery
1500
Amerigo Vespucci surmises that Columbus discovered a new continent--America
Discovery
1501
Diego Velazquez founds Spanish settlement in Cuba
Discovery
1511
Cortes leads Spanish soldiers into Tenochtitlan and meets Moctezuma
War
1519
Hernan Cortes conquers Aztecs at Tenochtitlan
War
1521
Francisco Pizarro captures the Incan king, Atahualpa, at Cajamarca
War
1532
Pizarro is murdered at his palace in Lima--a revenge killing by Spanish soldiers
Government
1541
Portugal establishes royal government in Brazil
Government
1548
Bartolome de Casas writes about unjust treatment of Native Americans
War
1552