The encomienda system

“This great city of Tenochtitlan is built on the salt lake, and no matter by what road you travel there are two leagues from the main body of the city to the mainland. There are four artificial causeways leading to it, and each is as wide as two cavalry lances.”

• “This great city of Tenochtitlan is built on the salt lake, and no matter by what road you travel there are two leagues from the main body of the city to the mainland. There are four artificial causeways leading to it, and each is as wide as two cavalry lances.”

The encomienda system

• The encomienda system

Fransisco Vasquera de Coronado was sent by the viceroy of Mexico, Antonio de Mendoza, to find the "Seven cities of Gold" and establish trade. In the early 1540s, Coronado set out with a few hundred men and natives in order to find these cities. Coronado in turn sent out several expeditions, led by Henando de Alverado that discovered the famous rock dwellings in the pueblo of Acoma and Lopez de Cardenas to the north and westward where they found what is now known as the Grand Canyon. Coronado found no gold but he did explore what is now known as the American Southwest.

• Fransisco Vasquera de Coronado was sent by the viceroy of Mexico, Antonio de Mendoza, to find the "Seven cities of Gold" and establish trade. In the early 1540s, Coronado set out with a few hundred men and natives in order to find these cities. Coronado in turn sent out several expeditions, led by Henando de Alverado that discovered the famous rock dwellings in the pueblo of Acoma and Lopez de Cardenas to the north and westward where they found what is now known as the Grand Canyon. Coronado found no gold but he did explore what is now known as the American Southwest.

Having driven the Spanish from New Mexico, Popé tried to eradicate every possible vestige of their culture. He ordered the destruction of Christian objects and churches, punished the speaking of Spanish and the use of Spanish surnames, and argued against using Spanish tools such as the plow. In his style of leadership and exercise of personal power, however, Popé seems to have retained an element of Spanish authoritarianism which alienated many and contributed to the breakup of the Pueblo alliance.

• Having driven the Spanish from New Mexico, Popé tried to eradicate every possible vestige of their culture. He ordered the destruction of Christian objects and churches, punished the speaking of Spanish and the use of Spanish surnames, and argued against using Spanish tools such as the plow. In his style of leadership and exercise of personal power, however, Popé seems to have retained an element of Spanish authoritarianism which alienated many and contributed to the breakup of the Pueblo alliance.

July 29, 1588: Off the coast of Gravelines, France, Spain's so-called "Invincible Armada" is defeated by an English naval force under the command of Lord Charles Howard and Sir Francis Drake. After eight hours of furious fighting, a change in wind direction prompted the Spanish to break off from the battle and retreat toward the North Sea. Its hopes of invasion crushed, the remnants of the Spanish Armada began a long and difficult journey back to Spain. The defeat of the Spanish Armada by the English fleet greatly reduced Spain’s naval presence in the world and thrust the English onto the world stage. English naval dominance made it possible for England to establish and expand its holdings in the New World.

• July 29, 1588: Off the coast of Gravelines, France, Spain's so-called "Invincible Armada" is defeated by an English naval force under the command of Lord Charles Howard and Sir Francis Drake. After eight hours of furious fighting, a change in wind direction prompted the Spanish to break off from the battle and retreat toward the North Sea. Its hopes of invasion crushed, the remnants of the Spanish Armada began a long and difficult journey back to Spain. The defeat of the Spanish Armada by the English fleet greatly reduced Spain’s naval presence in the world and thrust the English onto the world stage. English naval dominance made it possible for England to establish and expand its holdings in the New World.

The winter of 1609 to 1610 was treacherous for early American settlers. Some 240 of the 300 colonists at Jamestown, in Virginia, died during this period, called the "Starving Time," when they were under siege and had no way to get food. Desperate times led to desperate measures. New evidence suggests that includes eating the flesh of fellow colonists who had already died.

• The winter of 1609 to 1610 was treacherous for early American settlers. Some 240 of the 300 colonists at Jamestown, in Virginia, died during this period, called the "Starving Time," when they were under siege and had no way to get food. Desperate times led to desperate measures. New evidence suggests that includes eating the flesh of fellow colonists who had already died.

• http://www.cnn.com/2013/05/01/us/jamestown-cannibalism/

The arrival of a ship in North America in the year 1619: Sails furled, flag drooping at her rounded stern, she rode the tide in from the sea. She was a strange ship, indeed, by all accounts, a frightening ship, a ship of mystery. Whether she was trader, privateer, or man-of-war no one knows. Through her bulwarks black-mouthed cannon yawned. The flag she flew was Dutch; her crew a motley. Her port of call, an English settlement, Jamestown, in the colony of Virginia. She came, she traded, and shortly afterwards was gone. Probably no ship in modern history has carried a more portentous freight. Her cargo? Twenty slaves.

• The arrival of a ship in North America in the year 1619: Sails furled, flag drooping at her rounded stern, she rode the tide in from the sea. She was a strange ship, indeed, by all accounts, a frightening ship, a ship of mystery. Whether she was trader, privateer, or man-of-war no one knows. Through her bulwarks black-mouthed cannon yawned. The flag she flew was Dutch; her crew a motley. Her port of call, an English settlement, Jamestown, in the colony of Virginia. She came, she traded, and shortly afterwards was gone. Probably no ship in modern history has carried a more portentous freight. Her cargo? Twenty slaves.

The Virginia Company decided to bring Pocahontas to England in 1616 as a symbol of the tamed New World "savage" and the success of the Jamestown settlement. John Smith was living in London at the time and while Pocahontas was in Plymouth, she learned he was still alive. In March 1617, Rolfe and Pocahontas boarded a ship to return to Virginia when she fell ill. She was taken ashore and died in Rolfe’s arms, most likely from smallpox, pneumonia, or tuberculosis.

• The Virginia Company decided to bring Pocahontas to England in 1616 as a symbol of the tamed New World "savage" and the success of the Jamestown settlement. John Smith was living in London at the time and while Pocahontas was in Plymouth, she learned he was still alive. In March 1617, Rolfe and Pocahontas boarded a ship to return to Virginia when she fell ill. She was taken ashore and died in Rolfe’s arms, most likely from smallpox, pneumonia, or tuberculosis.

Nathaniel Bacon confronts

• Nathaniel Bacon confronts

• William Berkeley about Burning of Jamestown

• attacking the Native Americans

The war ended in August 1676, shortly after Metacom was captured and beheaded. Some of his supporters escaped to Canada; those who surrendered were shipped off as slaves to the West Indies. The Puritans interpreted their victory as a sign of God's favor, as well as a symbolic purge of their spiritual community. The Indians who remained faced servitude, disease, cultural disruption, and the expropriation of their lands.

• The war ended in August 1676, shortly after Metacom was captured and beheaded. Some of his supporters escaped to Canada; those who surrendered were shipped off as slaves to the West Indies. The Puritans interpreted their victory as a sign of God's favor, as well as a symbolic purge of their spiritual community. The Indians who remained faced servitude, disease, cultural disruption, and the expropriation of their lands.

Peter Stuyvesant (left of center, with wooden leg) standing on shore among residents of New Amsterdam who are pleading with him not to open fire on the English who have arrived in warships waiting in the harbor to claim the territory for England.

• Peter Stuyvesant (left of center, with wooden leg) standing on shore among residents of New Amsterdam who are pleading with him not to open fire on the English who have arrived in warships waiting in the harbor to claim the territory for England.