Latin American History

History Highlights of Latin America


Stories of the history of the South American continent, the Central American subcontinent, and the islands of the Caribbean Sea by some of the greatest writers.

Some of the years are approximate.

YearTitleAuthor(s)
1492Columbus Discovers AmericaChristopher Columbus| |Ferdinand Columbus
1498Columbus Discovers South AmericaClements Robert Markham
1499America’s Namesake’s Second VoyageAmerigo Vespucci
1517Slavery Legalized in AmericasSir Arthur Helps
1521Cortes Captures the Aztec CapitalWilliam H. Prescott
1532Pizarro Conquers the Incan EmpireWilliam H. Prescott
1535Mendoza Settles Buenos AiresRobert Southey
1585Drake Captures Cartegena; Raids CadizJulian Corbett
1671Buccaneers Sack PanamaJohann W. Von Archenholz
1791Haiti’s RevolutionJack Le Moine| |Thomas Carlyle
1810Mexican IndependenceJoel R. Poinsett
YearTitleAuthor(s)
1791Revolution in HaitiCharles Wyllys Elliott
1809Bolivar and South American IndependenceAlfred Deberle
1822Brazil Becomes Independent|Daniel P. Kidder
1836The Texas RebellionSam Houston| |Charles Edwards Lester
1846California Acquired by the United StatesHenry B. Dawson
1847Scott Captures Mexico CityJohn Bonner
1867Mexico Rejects MaximilianCharles A. Fyffe| |Felix Salm-Salm
1879First Combat Between Modern WarshipsClements R. Markham
1881Chile Captures LimaClements R. Markham
1898The Cuban CampaignAndrew S. Draper| |Theodore Roosevelt| |Pascual Cervera
YearTitleAuthor(s)
1903USA Acquires Rights to Build the Panama CanalA. Maurice Low| |Chauncey M. Depew
1911Diaz Falls in MexicoMrs. E.A. Tweedie| |Dolores Butterfield
1913Mexico Plunged Into AnarchyEdwin Emerson| |William Carol
1914The Panama Canal OpensCol. George W. Goethals| |Bampfylde Fuller

More at History Moments.