Home

African American History in the West Timeline:

African American History Timelines: Before 1601

1601 - 1700

1701 - 1800

1801 - 1900

1901 - 2000

2001 -

African Americans in the West Timeline

Year Events EraCountryStateSubject

800 (ca.) BCE Evidence suggests that African travelers may have come to the Americas before Europeans. One indication is the great stone carvings of the Olmec era in Mexico, bearing African facial features. 00-01 1492-1600 Mexico

n. a.

Exploration and Discovery

1492-1493 A black navigator, Pedro Alonso Nino, travels with Christopher Columbus first expedition to the New World. 01-01 1492-1600 The Bahamas

n. a.

Exploration and Discovery

1494 The first Africans arrive in Hispaniola with Christopher Columbus. They are free persons. 01-01 1492-1600 Dominican Republic

n.a.

The New World

1501 The Spanish king allows the introduction of enslaved Africans into Spains American colonies. 01-01 1492-1600 Dominican Republic

n. a.

Spanish Slavery

1511 The first enslaved Africans arrive in Hispaniola. 01-01 1492-1600 Dominican Republic

n. a.

Spanish Slavery

1513 Thirty Africans accompany Vasco Nunez de Balboa on his trip to the Pacific Ocean. 01-01 1492-1600 Panama

n. a.

Exploration and Discovery

1517 Bishop Bartolome de Las Casas petitions Spain to allow the importation of 12 enslaved Africans for each household immigrating to Americas Spanish colonies. De Las Casas later regrets this plea, and becomes a strong opponent of slavery. 01-01 1492-1600 Spain

n.a.

Spanish Slavery

1519 Hernan Cortez begins his conquest of the Aztec Empire. Black Spaniards are among the Conquistadors. 01-01 1492-1600 Mexico

n. a.

The New World

1520s Enslaved Africans are used as laborers in Puerto Rico, Cuba and Mexico. 01-01 1492-1600 Cuba

n. a.

Spanish Slavery

1522 Juan Garrido, a member of the Hernan Cortes expediton that conquered the Aztec Empire, is granted land by