3000–1800 BC The oldest civilization in the Americas: Norte Chico located in the northern part of Peru.
2000 BC-900 BC Mayan Civilization, Guatemala.
1500 BC Zapotec Civilization, Mexico.
1200–400 BC Olmec Civilization, Mesoamerica.
900–300 BC Chavín Civilization, Peru.
914 BC
Guatemala. Classic period of Mayan culture.
1000–1533 AD
Purépecha Civilization (Tarascan) Michoacan, Mexico.
1319-50
Mexico Construction of the Aztec capital Tenochtitlan-Tlatelolco.
1420
Mexico. Formation of the Triple Alliance, base of the Aztec expansion.
1440
Peru. Expansion of the Incan Empire.
1487
Mexico. Dedication of the Great Temple or Gran Templo in Tenochtitlan.
1492
First trip by Christopher Columbus to the Americas.
1493
Second trip by Christopher Columbus. Establishment of the first colony on the island of Hispaniola.
1496
Santo Domingo. Foundation de Santo Domingo, the first European city in the Americas.
1498
Third trip by Columbus. First confirmed visit by Europeans to the coast of South America.
1500
Brazil. Discovery of Brazil, January 26th, by the Spaniard Vicente Yáñez Pinzón. The Brazilian history maintains that the discovery was made by the Portuguese Pedro Alvarez Cabral.
1502-4
Fourth trip by Columbus. Discovery of the Central American coast.
1506
Christopher Columbus dies.
1508
Puerto Rico. Juan Ponce de León conquers Puerto Rico.
Hispaniola, Juan de Esquivel takes over Jamaica and Alonso de Hojeda leads an expedition to the coast of Venezuela and Colombia.
1511
Cuba. Diego Velaquez de Cuellar conquers Cuba.
First Spanish settlement on American soil: Santa María la Antigua de Darién (Colombia).
1513
Ponce de León claims Florida for España.
1516
Uruguay. Arrival of Spanish.
1516-18
Spanish expedition to the eastern coast of Mexico.
1519
The cities of Panama and Veracruz are founded.
1518-21
Mexico. Hernan Cortes conquers the Aztecs in the name of Spain.
1523
Guatemala. The Spanish conquistador, Pedro de Alvarado, subjugates the native people from the mountain regions.
1528-30
Guatemala. Pedro de Alvardo conquers Guatemala.
1530
Cortés is given the title of Marquez of the Valley of Oaxaca while in Spain.
1531
Ecuador. The Spanish arrive under the command of Francisco Pizarro.
1531-6
Mexico. The first silver deposits are discovered; pedal-driven looms are imported.
1532
Ecuador. Pizarro, with new reinforcements, confronts with Incas and their leader, Atahualpa. The Battle of Cajamarca (in Peru). Atahualpa is taken prisoner.
1533
Peru. Atahualpa is assassinated. Pizarro captures Cuzco.
1534
Ecuador. The city of San Francisco de Quito is established on the ruins of the Incan capital.
1538
Peru. Francisco Pizarro conquers the Incas in the name of Spain.
1541
Colombia. Santa Fe de Bogota is established.
1546
Chile. The city of Santiago is established.
1555
Brazil. France establishes a colony (France Anartique) in the location of today’s Rio de Janeiro.
1551
Mexico. Andres de Olmos published the first grammar of the Nahuatl language.
1580
Peru and Mexico. The first universities in Lima and Mexico City were established.
1595
Puerto Rico. The English corsair, Francis Drake, plundered the city of San Juan.
1598
Puerto Rico. The British navy invaded the island and then abandoned it in six months.
1606
Argentina. Juan de Garay established Buenos Aires.
Bolivia. The silver boom in Oruro began.
1610
Paraguay. The Jesuits began their first mission among the Guarani.
1624
Uruguay. The first permanent Spanish colony was founded, Soriano on the Rio Negro.
1625
Puerto Rico. The Dutch attacked San Juan and set fire to the city.
1641
Venezuela. The earthquake of San Bernabe destroyed most of Caracas and the nearby settlements.
1674
French Guyana. The French crown took control (Equinoctial France), named a governor and it became a colony of France with the capital of Cayenne.
1679-93
Mexico. Uprising of the Pueblo Indians.
1730
Bolivia. Uprising of the Mestizos in Cochabamba.
1746
Mexico. Our Lady of Guadalupe is proclaimed Patron Saint of New Spain.
1762-1763
Cuba. English occupation.
1765
Ecuador. Uprising in Quito against the rising fiscal pressure.
1774
Cuba. Census indicated a population of 171,620..
1776
Argentina. Spain established the Viceroy of the Plate River. Territory: Argentina, Bolivia, Paraguay and Uruguay. The last and shortest duration of a viceroy in America.
1779-81
Peru. Uprising in the Peruvian Andes lead by Tupac Amaru II.
1781
Bolivia. Tupac Katari laid siege to the city of La Paz.
1783
Colombia. Simon Bolivar was born.
Bolivia. Spain contains the revolts and proceeds to execute thousands of indigenous people.
1790
Venezuela. José Antonio Paéz (1790-1873), caudillo, was born.
1792
Argentina. Juan Manuel de Rosas, el caudillo, was born in Rio de la Plata (1792-1877).
Brazil. Joaquín José da Silva Xavier, Tiradentes, was executed on April 21st, in Rio de Janeiro.
1793
Mexico. Antonio López de Santa Anna (1793-1876), caudillo, was born.
1796-1806
Colombia. Foolish Fatherland (La Patria Boba). The fight for independence began.
1803-84
Cuba – Spanish immigrants from Louisiana arrive after it is sold by the French to the United States
1808
Brazil – King John the 7th of Portugal flees from the army of Napoleon I and moves his government to the kingdom of Brazil.
1809
Argentina and Ecuador- Uprisings in Buenos Aires and in Quito
1809-10
Bolivia – The first declaration of independence in La Paz is repressed by the Spanish forces
1810
Mexico—The cry (Grito) for insurrection for independence by the priest Miguel Hidalgo
1810
Chile, Venezuela and Argentina –Declaration of self-government in Santiago, Caracas and Buenos Aires
1811
Mexico—Victories of the revolutionaries against the royalists in the battles of Guanajuato, Valladolid and Cerro de las Cruces. But they are defeated in the Battle of Puente de Calderon. The revolutionary leaders are executed.
Paraguay—Declaration of Independence
Cuba—The Aponte Conspiracy—the abolitionist movement headed by Jose Antonio Aponte
1813
Argentina—The Constitutional Assembly (Tucumán Congress) declares an official Independence from Spain
1815
Mexico—The priest and General Jose Maria Morelos y Pavón (organizer of the 2nd phase of the revolution) is apprehended in Tezmalaca, prosecuted in Mexico City and executed on the 22nd of December, 1815.
Puerto Rico—Spain promulgates the “Real Cédula de Gracia” that allows Puerto Rico to have international trade
1816
Argentina—The Tucumán Congress elects Juan Martín Puirredón as Supreme Director, the first head of state in the emerging Argentina
Chile—Battle of Chacbuco
1817
Chile—Battle of Maipú
1818
Colombia—Battle of Bocayá
1819
Peru—San Martin lands in Pisco, and is named Protector of Peru (1820)
1820
Venezuela—Battle of Carbobo and the Declaration of Independence
Argentina—Bartolomé Mitre—first president born in Argentina
Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Costa Rica and Nicaragua declare their independence
Panama—Independence from Spain
They establish the Republic of Great Colombia that includes the territories of Venezuela, Colombia, Panama, Ecuador and part of Brazil
1822
Mexico—The provinces of Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua are annexed by Mexico
Agustín de Iturbide proclaims himself the Emperor of Mexico with the title of Agustine I.
Brazil—Peter the First of Brazil is crowned Emperor.
1823
Peru—Liberation of Peru by Bolivar and Sucre in the battles of Junin and Ayucucho
Chile—Abdication of Bernard O’Higgins. He is exiled to Peru. He promotes a new political constitution.
Mexico—Agustin I is deposed. Guadalupe Victoria is the first constitutional president of the United States of Mexico.
1823
The Federal Republic of Central America—5 provinces, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, El Salvador and Costa Rica.
1825
Bolivia—Declaration of Independence
1826
Argentina—New constitution—Bernandino Rivadavia is elected the first president.
1826
The War between Brazil and Argentina—Rivadavia renounces.
Chile—Invasion of Chiloé Island, Treaty of Tantauco. Spain gives up their last territory in South America, the Republic of Chile.
Argentina—Juan Manuel de Rosas, Governor of the province of Buenos Aires is elected Supreme leader of the Confederation.
1827
Peru—Simon Bolivar is deposed as dictator of Peru
Argentina—In the Battle of Carmen de Patagones, the Argentinian army defeats the Expeditionary Force of the Empire of Brazil on sea and land.
1828
Uruguay—Final independence from Brazil
Colombia—Peru invades the Territory of Colombia—Colombia defeats the Peruvians in the Battle of Portete de Tarqui
Mexico—Vicente Guerrero assumes the post of the 2nd president of Mexico
1829
Ecuador—The city of Guayaquil is occupied by the Peruvian Army for seven months
1830
Colombia—The death of Simon Bolivar. The Federation of Great Colombia dissolves.
Ecuador, Venezuela become independent from the Great Colombia union.
Mexico—Anastacio Bustamante assumes the Presidency of Mexico
Ecuador—Juan Jose Flores, the first president of Ecuador.
1831
Brazil—Peter the First abdicates. Peter the 2nd is crowned Emperor.
1833
Argentina—English forces disembark in the Falkland Islands
1834
Peru—Coup d’état and Civil War
1836
Mexico—Texas defeats Mexico in the Battle of San Jacinto
1862-67
México – Intervención de Francia.
1863
Colombia – Cambia el nombre de República de Nueva Granada a Estados Unidos de Colombia.
1865-70
Paraguay / Uruguay / Argentina / Brazil. Guerra de la Triple Alianza
1865-66
Peru, Chile, Bolivia – War with Spain.
1868
Puerto Rico – El Grito de Lares.
Cuba -Manifiesto del 10 de Octubre.
1870
Argentina – Asesinato de Justo José de Urquiza.
Uruguay -Revolución de las Lanzas.
1875
Ecuador – Muere asesinado Gabriel García Moreno.
1878-88
Cuba – Guerra de los Diez Años.
1879
Bolivia – Gobierno por Junta Militar, preside Uladislao Silva. (1879-80).
Uruguay – Censo indica una población de 438,000.
1879-81
Chile, Perú y Bolivia – Guerra del Pacífico.
1881
Peru -Battle of Miraflores, Admiral Patricio Lynch heads the Chilean troops as they enter and occupy Lima, the capital of Peru
1883
Chile-Peru – Treaty of Ancón ends the War of the Pacific
Colombia – Changes its name from the United States of Colombia to the Republic of Colombia
1886
Chile – José Manual Blamaceda is elected President
1888
Chile – Annexes Easter Island
Brazil – Abolition of slavery by Emperor Pedro II
1891
Chile – Civil War
1895
Ecuador – Beginning of the Liberal era with President Eloy Alfaro
Cuba –War of Independence. Jose Martí, organizer of the war, dies.
1898
Puerto Rico – Spain cedes the island to the United States. The American government begins.
Cuba – The American battleship the Maine sinks in the Bay of Havana and the United States enters into war, in Cuba, against Spain.
1899
Colombia – War of the 1000 Days (1899-1902)
Cuba – The United States occupation begins
1901
Ecuador – General Leonidas Plaza assumes the presidency
1903
Colombia – Military uprising in the province of Panama
Panama – The Republic of Panama is established. Treaty of Hay-Bunau-Varilla.
1906
Chile – Valparaiso earthquake
1908
Venezuela—The dictatorship of General Juan Vicente Gómez begins
1914
Panama—On the 15th of August the Panama Canal is inaugurated. The First World War begins.
1920
Chile—Arturo Alessandri assumes the presidency.
1927
Chile—The Dictatorship of General Carlos Ibañez del Campo
1930
Uruguay—The First World Cup of Soccer is celebrated. Uruguay is the world champion.
Dominican Republic—Rafaél Leónidas Trujillo defeats President Horacio Vásques and takes power
1933
Cuba—Coup d’état by Sargent Fulgencio Batista removes President Céspedes from power. Batista is now a Colonel.
1935
Venezuela—Dictator Juan Vicente Gómez dies
1937
Bolivia—Coup d’état removes President José Luis Tejada Sorzano from power
1938
Chile—Pedro Aguirre Cerda ascends to the Presidenc
1939
Uruguay—Battle of the Plata River on the Uruguayan coast, the British forces sink the German battleship Graf Spee.
1940
Cuba—Fulgencio Batista assumes the Presidency (1940-44)
1943
Argentina—Coup d’état. Pedro Pablo Ramirez Machuca takes power.
1945
Argentina—Juan Domingo Perón assumes the presidency
1946 Bolivia—Workers and Students Uprising takes over the Presidential Palace. President Mayor Villarroel López is hung from a post in the main plaza.
1948-1958
Colombia—Period of Violence
Puerto Rico—Luis Muñóz Marín wins the first democratic election (for governor) in the history of Puerto Rico
Venezuela—Coup d’état. A Military junta that includes General Marcos Pérez Jiménez presides
1950
Uruguay—Champions for the 2nd time in the FIFA World Cup, called “El Maracanzao” (The Maracaña Blow)”
1952
Chile—Ibañez returns to the Presidency
Cuba—Coup d’état by Fulgencio Batista
Venezuela—Marcos Pérez Jiménez, de facto President
1953
Colombia—General Gustavo Roja Pinilla takes power
1955
Argentina—Coup d’état. Bombing of the Casa Rosada (Pink House) Eduardo Lonardi takes power briefly. Pedro Aramburu assumes the Presidency and governs until May of 1958.
1958
Chile –Jorge Alessandri Rodriguez assumes the Presidency
Venezuela—Marcos Peréz Jiménez is defeated and flees to Santo Domingo. Rómulo Betancourt assumes the Presidency
1959
Cuba—Batista is defeated by the guerrillas headed up Fidel Castro
1960
Argentina—Adolf Eichmann is kidnapped by Israeli Mossad agents
Uruguay—The guerrilla movement Los Tupamaros is formed
Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras and Nicaragua establishes the Common Market of Central America
1960
Dominican Republic—Assassination of Rafaél Leónidas Trujillo
1962
Argentina—President Arturo Frondizi is overthrown by the military
Venezuela—The 2nd and 3rd of June, the “Porteñazo” occurs—the insurrection of the Naval Base in Puerto Cabello
1963
Venezuela Pulitzer Prize is awarded to Héctor Rodón of the newspaper La República for his photograph of a priest coming to the aid of a solider in the battle of Puerto Cabello
1966
Argentina – Coup d’état by the military. President Arturo Illia is defeated and a Junta Militar takes command.
Guyana—Previously named British Guyana become independent on the 26th of May, 1966.
1967
Bolivia—Che Guevara is captured and electrocuted. The Bolivian Army defeats the revolutionaries at the battle of Vallegrande.
1969
El Salvador, Honduras—The Soccer War
1970
Chile—Salvador Allende wins the presidential election. He assumes the presidency on the 3rd of November.
1971
Chile—Pablo Neruda wins the Nobel Prize for Literature
1973
Argentina—Juan Domingo Perón returns after 18 years of exile. The Massacre of Ezeiza occurs the 20th of June.
The 1st of July Juan Domingo Perón dies.
Isabel Martínez de Perón assumes the presidency
Chile—Coup d’état by the Armed Forces. Salvador Allende dies. A Junta Militar of the government takes power.
1975
Republic of Surinam—The Territory formerly known as Dutch Guyana becomes independent from the Netherlands.
1976
Argentina—Coup d’état. Isabel Martínez de Perón is deposed by the military and Jorge Rafaél Videla Redondo is declared President.
1980 Bolivia—Violent coup d’état by General Luis García Mesa.
1982 Argentina—Invasion of the Falkland Islands (Malvinas) by Argentina. Great Britain retakes the Falkland Islands after 2 months of conflict.
1984
Uruguay—Julio María Sanguinetti wins the presidency
1985
Mexico—An 8.1 earthquake in Michoacán on the 19th of September.
1990
Chile—Pinochet delivers President Elect Patricio Aylwin into power
1992
Guatemala—Rigoberta Menchú receives the Nobel Peace Prize
1994
Chile—Eduardo Frei Ruiz-Tagle assumes the presidency
Brazil—Fernando Henrique Cardoso assumes the presidency
Mexico—The 1st of January Mexico becomes a member of NAFTA, the Free Commerce Agreement with the United States and Canada
Mexico—The National Liberation Zapatista Army arises in Chiapas
1999
Venezuela—Hugo Rafael Chávez Frías assumes the presidency
Brazil—Fernando Henrique Cardozo is reelected President
2000
Chile—Ricardo Lagos assumes the presidency
2002
Brazil—Luis Inácio Lula da Silva assumes the Presidency
2003
Puerto Rico—The US Marines abandon their base on the island of Vieques under pressure from the Puerto Rican citizens
Argentina—Néstor Kirchner assumes the Presidency
2005
Bolivia—Evo Morales is elected President
2006
Chile—Michelle Bachelet assumes the responsibility of the President of the Republic
Brazil—Reelection of President Lula da Silva
Mexico—The 5th of September the Federal Electoral Court declares Felipe Calderón Hinojosa the President elect
2007
Argentina—Cristina Fernández de Kirchner assumes the presidency
2009
Uruguay—José Mujica, the Minister of Agriculture and ex-Tupumaro is elected President
2010
Colombia—Juan Manual Santos assumes the Presidency
