15th century in North American history
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| Centuries: |
14th century - 15th century - 16th century |
The 15th century in North American history provides a timeline of events occurring within the present political boundaries of United States (including territories) from 1401 through 1500 in the Gregorian calendar. European explorers began to meet Native American societies--at least on Puerto Rico--during the final decade of the fifteenth century. To place developments in Native American (and Polynesian) societies in proper chronological order, we rely on reports of later explorers who encountered these societies. Because the indigenous peoples of these regions lacked a written language, we must glean important developments and events from the certainly incomplete archaeological record and place them in time through radiocarbon dating techniques.
[edit] Native Americans
- Athapaskan-speaking Apache and Navajo reach the American Southwest after migrating over three centuries from the Canadian prairies.
- Great Plains Indians lack horses; most live in villages and farm corn, beans, and squash at least part of each year.
- The Native American population within the present boundaries of the United States numbers on the order of 10 million.
[edit] European explorers
- Portuguese begin exploring the west coast of Africa to bypass Arab merchants when trading for gold and slaves.
- circa 1480: medieval European maritime culture advances as fleets discover fishing waters off eastern Canada.
[edit] 1490s: the Columbian Exchange
- Spanish explorers sail around the Caribbean Sea.
- 1492: Christopher Columbus sails to the Bahamas and claims the New World for Spain.
- 1493: Columbus returns to Spain, setting sail again for the West Indies with one thousand settlers and many domesticated European horses, cattle, and pigs. This exchange of goods marks the beginning of the Columbian exchange.
- 1497: Italian navigator John Cabot sails from England to Newfoundland.
- 1499: Italian navigator Amerigo Vespucci sails to northern South America and recognizes the New World as a new continent.
