Khan Academy
Khan Academy: French and Dutch Exploration in the New World
An overview of the French, Dutch, and English explorers in the late 1500's and early 1600's.
Curated OER
Educational Technology Clearinghouse: Maps Etc: Northwestern South America, 1916
A physical and political map of northwestern South America in 1916 showing the boundaries for Columbia, Venezuela, the Guianas, Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia at the time. The map uses color-contouring to show elevations from sea level to...
Digital Public Library of America
Dpla: American Empire
This exhibition explores the origins, development, and eventual fall of the American empire and maps the diverse and rocky terrain of the American empire to show how it informs contemporary conversations on heritage, citizenship, racism,...
Digital History
Digital History: Overview of the Colonial Era
The year 1492 marks a watershed in modern world history. Columbus's voyage of discovery inaugurated a series of developments that would have vast consequences for both the Old World and the New. It transformed the diets of both the...
National Humanities Center
National Humanities Center: Toolbox Library: Indian Relations, American Beginnings: 1492 1690
One modern historical assessment and several original accounts of the mistrust, negotiations, alliances, trading, and disease transmission between European colonizers and native peoples in North America.
The History Cat
The History Cat: Age of Exploration: The Columbian Exchange
A fascinating look at the exchanges that took place around the world after the Americas were discovered. This covered the gamut from diseases which wiped out 90% of the native peoples in North and South America, to farm animals, tools,...
University of Calgary
University of Calgary: The Caribbean: First Contact
This site details the initial contact of the European colonizers with the Caribbean islands. The site explains how the Caribbean became colonized and also has maps, quotes, and artwork.
Library of Congress
Loc: American Memory Timeline: Colonial Settlement,1600s 1763
Read about the colonization in the New World by many European countries. Hyperlinks to you to more specific topics.
University of Groningen
American History: Essays: Unanticipated Changes Lead to War
Essay on the devastating changes the indigenous peoples of North America faced as Europeans encroached upon and colonized their land.
University of Groningen
American History: Essays: First European Exploration and Exploitation
Essay on the exploitation and decimation of indigenous peoples as a result of European exploration, settlement, and colonization in North and South America.
University of Groningen
American History: Essays: Final Stage of Conquest
Essay on the battle between indigenous peoples and Europeans and the beginnings of Anglo-European domination of North America during final stage of conquest, 1740s.
A&E Television
History.com: Native American History Timeline
Before Christopher Columbus came to America, the expansive territory was inhabited by Native Americans. Throughout the 16th and 17th centuries, as more explorers sought to colonize their land, Native Americans responded in various...
Country Studies US
Country Studies: Encomiendas
Read this good description of the encomienda system that was set up by the Spanish to reward the Spanish colonizers in the New World and to subjugate the indigenous people by requiring their labor on the granted land.
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Harcourt: Biographies: Moses Austin 1761 1821
A good resource that provides the life history of Moses Austin, one of the founders of the lead industry in America. Before he died, he had a vision of establishing an American colony in Spanish controlled Texas.
iCivics
I Civics: Columbus to the Colonies
From the time Columbus first set foot in the New World, Europeans were fascinated with this new land. In this lesson, young scholars learn about the Three Gs that drove them here- gold, God, and glory- and find out how these settlers...
McGraw Hill
Mc Graw Hill Higher Education: Old World, New Worlds
This article from McGraw-Hill Higher Education discusses European exploration in the late 1400s and 1500s and its impact on English colonization hundreds of years later.
Ministry of Education and Employment of Spain
Si Spain: The Discovery of America
This resource describes the political events that preceded the Spanish to support efforts by Christopher Columbus to head west across the Atlantic.
InterKnowledge Corp.
Geographia.com: History of Brazil
This site from Geographia.com covers the history of Brazil from the arrival of the Portuguese to the present. Specific explorers are mentioned and information is given on independence from colonization.
Walled Lake Consolidated Schools
Loon Lake Elementary School: Samuel De Champlain
A biography of Samuel de Champlain (1570-1635), a French explorer who founded the Canadian city of Quebec. He helped colonize French North America, once known as New France, and is often called the Father of New France. This site has a...
Wikimedia
Wikipedia: Economy of Panama
Provides an overview of the economy of Panama along with accompanying statistics.
Quia
Quia: The English Colonies
Test your knowledge of the thirteen colonies with these interactive games. You'll find matching, concentration, flashcards, and a word search, along with a list of terms to refresh your memory.
Digital Public Library of America
Dpla: Manifest Destiny
From twentieth-century posters, monuments, and letters to nineteenth-century maps, biographies, and paintings, this set allows students to gain a greater understanding of how perceptions of manifest destiny have changed over time.
The History Place
The History Place: Early Colonial Era
This site from The History Place provides a timeline of significant events between (1000-1700) win the discovery and colonization of the New World.
Siteseen
Siteseen: Land of the Brave: The Original 13 Colonies
An illustrated guide to American colonization and the original 13 Colonies.