Six Degrees of Separation (1491-1607)

1491 – Before Columbus arrived, peopled by hundreds of complex societies, Aztec or Pueblos

1492 – Columbus discovers the new world. This starts off the Columbian exchange. The old world is introduced to new foods such as potatoes and corn that boosts their ability to feed more thereby increasing their population. Amerigo Vespucci lived, at that time in Spain, and noticed Columbus’s travels; it caused him to want to travel as well. (http://latinamericanhistory.about.com/od/latinamericatheconquest/a/09vespucci.htm)

1497 - Italian navigator Amerigo Vespucci leaves for 1st voyage to the New World. When he came back from the voyage he wrote of the “new world” These letters were published and circulated causing hype and excitement for the exploration of the new world. This adds to the appeal for King James I to support travel and create the Virginia Charter.

1534- Henry VIII broke away from the Roman Catholic Church in order to divorce his wife Catherine of Arragon (from Spain), get a new one, and produce male heirs. This ripped apart the relationship between England and Spain. The break from the Pope also lead to the Protestant Reformation in England. It allowed King Henry VIII to have Queen Elizabeth, the would be queen during the Defeat of the Spanish Armada.

1558- Queen Elizabeth is appointed to the thrown. Before the break from Spain England had no want or need to expand their own colonies in North America; now she has to compete with the Spanish. She secretly employs “sea dogs” to loot Spanish ships. This angers the Spanish and causes them to create an Armada to once again return England under the Roman Catholics hold.

1588 - Defeat of the Spanish Armada left the British in sole power of the sea. This made sea travel safer allowing investors to feel more comfortable about investing their money in oversea travel. It also provided English Pride and nationalism; the general population put more faith into their government.

1600’s – The Joint Stock company had many investors; this made it so that the investors would not lose everything if the company bankrupted. The profit if the company didn’t bankrupt was well worth the risk so many investors joined together to form the Virginia Company; which was the company that founded Jamestown.

1607- Jamestown is founded