Spanish conquest and settlement of the Caribbean and Central America (1492–1572)

1. Columbus makes Caribbean landfall for Spain

   Oct 12, 1492Labels: Christopher Columbus, Bahamas

   • NatGeo
   • Gilder Lehrman

2. Fort La Navidad established on Hispaniola

   Dec 25, 1492Labels: La Navidad, Hispaniola

   • La Navidad
   • Santa Mar a

3. Papal bull Inter caetera backs Spanish claims

   May 4, 1493Labels: Inter caetera, Pope Alexander

   • Inter caetera
   • DoD Project

4. La Isabela founded as first planned colony

   Dec 1, 1493Labels: La Isabela, Columbus

   • Florida Museum
   • La Isabela

5. Treaty of Tordesillas divides Atlantic spheres

   Jun 7, 1494Labels: Treaty of, Spain Portugal

   • Britannica
   • Treaty

6. Santo Domingo emerges as a colonial capital

   Aug 5, 1498Labels: Santo Domingo, Hispaniola

   • UNESCO
   • Britannica

7. Ovando arrives with major wave of colonists

   Jan 1, 1502Labels: Nicol s, Santo Domingo

   • Britannica

8. Real Audiencia of Santo Domingo created

   Aug 29, 1511Labels: Real Audiencia, Santo Domingo

   • Audiencia SD
   • Real Audiencia

9. Velázquez begins conquest and settlement of Cuba

   Nov 1, 1511Labels: Diego Vel, Cuba

   • Britannica
   • Vel zquez

10. Laws of Burgos regulate Spanish-Indigenous relations

    Dec 27, 1512Labels: Laws of, Spanish Crown

    • Britannica
    • Laws

11. Balboa sights the Pacific from Panama

    Sep 25, 1513Labels: Vasco N, Panama

    • WKMS
    • WBEZ

12. Tenochtitlan falls to Spanish-led forces

    Aug 13, 1521Labels: Tenochtitlan, Aztec Empire

    • Fall

13. Santiago de Guatemala founded as first capital

    Jan 1, 1524Labels: Santiago de, Pedro de

    • Britannica
    • Alvarado

14. New Laws of the Indies attempt to curb encomienda

    Jan 1, 1542Labels: New Laws, Encomienda

    • Britannica

15. Valladolid debate publicly argues conquest morality

    Jan 1, 1550Labels: Valladolid debate, Bartolom de

    • Valladolid