The New World

The First People to Discover the Americas

Before Christopher Columbus "discovered" the New World, people were already living fulfilling lives in the Americas. In Central America, there were organized societies in vast empires, like the Aztecs and Mayans, or the Incas in South America. These empires did not spread to North America, but there were plenty of tribes each with unique structures, religions, and cultures.

Central America and the Aztecs

Let's look at the Aztecs of Central America. While we call them Aztecs now, that is only a word that historians use to identify them. They called themselves the Mexica.

The Mexica lived in city-states ruled by a Tlatoani, who was similar to a king. Beneath him were dignitaries who acted as advisors, priests, nobility, commoners, landless peasants, then enslaved people.

Fig 1: Mexica Hierarchy Chart

The capital city-state was Tenochtitlan, where the Emperor, Montezuma II, lived and ruled. The Mexica had a vibrant culture shown in Tenochtitlan's art, architecture, and people. Much of this would be destroyed in 1521 when Hernán Cortés, with the help of the Aztec's indigenous enemies, defeated the Mexica and pillaged the city.

North American Indigenous Tribes

Instead of looking at a specific tribe, let's look at the differences in culture to appreciate the diversity of North American indigenous tribes. Indigenous American groups could be as small as a family who hunted together or as large as the Iroquois Confederacy, which comprised five different nations. Some tribes were led by a chief, while others had a council. Tribes in wooded areas might hunt deer, but a tribe by the sea would fish. The tribes were vastly different in language, culture, religion, and types of social organization.

Europeans in the New World

Europeans began exploring the New World after Columbus sailed to it in 1492. Let's look at the below timeline for an overall idea of the exploration and colonialization of the Americas.

The New World Timeline

New World Definition

Now that we've seen who lived in and the timeline of the New World, let's define it. The New World was the term used for the Americas starting in the late 15th and early 16th centuries. It included the Caribbean islands, North, Central, and South America, and other landmasses in the Western Hemisphere.

Fig 2: Map of North America.

Christopher Columbus Lands in the New World

In 1492, Christopher Columbus was the first European to discover Hispaniola in the Caribbean islands, which the Taino people already populated. On his second voyage, Columbus established and was the governor of a colony on Hispaniola. This colony would become the template for colonies established throughout the New World.

Taino Women.

Columbus was arrested in 1500 for his cruelties towards the colonists and the indigenous islanders. While the Spanish monarchy immediately freed him, the colony was given to someone else. Many European explorers followed suit with his discovery of a sea route to the New World.

Spanish Exploration of the New World

After the Spanish settled Hispaniola, they began to spread to the surrounding islands. Juan Ponce de León was the governor of Puerto Rico. León decided to leave the island and explore the continent. Some historians think he was looking for riches, but others believe it was the mythical "fountain of youth" he was after.

In 1513, León sailed to Florida and mistook it for an island. He claimed this territory for Spain and named it Terra de Pascua, Florida, for the growing flowers. León was chased from the island by indigenous warriors. He returned in 1521 to colonize the territory. Once again, the indigenous warriors chased him away, fatally wounding him. A colony would not be established in Florida until 1565.

Fig 4: Ponce de León

The Spanish explorers were often called conquistadors. Two of the most known conquistadors were Hernán Cortés and Francisco Pizarro. Cortés defeated the Aztecs while Pizarro defeated the Incas.

Early French Exploration of the New World

Giovanni Verrazano was an Italian explorer hired by the French to search for the Northwest Passage in 1524. Verrazano never found the passage, but he did explore much of the New World, from North Carolina to Nova Scotia, Canada. Verrazano's accounts helped mapmakers make more accurate maps that later explorers would use.

Fig 5: Giovanni Verrazano

The French sent Jacques Cartier in search of the Northwest Passage in 1534. While he did not find the passage, he did find the St. Lawrence Gulf and St Lawrence River. Cartier tried to establish a colony in Canada, but it was unsuccessful. His discoveries did lead to later French colonies and gave France a way to claim land in Canada.

English Exploration of the New World

Henry VII sent John Cabot, an Italian explorer, to search for a northwest passage in 1497. While Cabot did not discover the passage, he did claim Newfoundland, Canada, for England. This claim would allow England to establish colonies later on.

Sir Walter Raleigh was one of the first English men to try just that. His first attempt to establish a colony in Roanoke in 1585 failed. He sponsored a second attempt in 1587, with John White acting as governor. This colony disappeared completely. Raleigh's last effort at adventure was when he went to Central America to find the fabled El Dorado, the city of gold. This attempt was also a failure that cost him his life.

Fig 6: John White beside the tree marked "Croatan"