History of North America

The French enter the exploration game when The King of France commissions Giovanni da Verrazzano to explore the Atlantic coast of the continent between Florida and New Brunswick, including New York Bay, in 1524. Joining Mark is Eric Yanis of The Other States of America History podcast. Check out the YouTube version of this episode at https://youtu.be/cOFsiOYdDP8 which has accompanying visuals incl...

As two fascinating Worlds are about to collide on a grand scale, the United States, Canada, and Mexico’s ancient pre-Colombian cultures and civilizations that would eventually encounter Europeans on the continent during the remarkable Age of Exploration, are revisited. Check out the YouTube version of this episode at https://youtu.be/c8FLNjay6qE which has accompanying visuals including maps, chart...

Spanish explorer Alvar Núñez Cabeza de Vaca was one of four survivors of the Narváez expedition which traveled the American Gulf Coast & Southwest reaching Mexico City in 1536. They were the first known non-Native Americans to see the Mississippi River, and to cross the Gulf of Mexico and Texas. The Narváez expedition was a Spanish journey of exploration and colonization started in 1527 that i...

Francisco Vazquez de Coronado was a Spanish conquistador who led an expedition from Mexico through the southwestern USA in search of the fabled Cities of Cibola from 1540-42. He had hoped to reach the mythical Seven Cities of Gold located throughout the pueblos of the New Mexico Territory. His ambitious journey marked the first European sightings of the Grand Canyon and the Colorado River. Check o...

Did early European colonization and settlement of North America usher in the realization of Utopian ideals or Dystopian nightmares? Let’s investigate by recalling these classic works of literature: Thomas More's Utopia; Aldous Huxley’s Brave New World; George Orwell’s 1984 and Animal Farm; Ray Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451; and Yevgeny Zamyatin’s WE. Check out the YouTube version of this episode at ht...

Hernando de Soto was a Spanish explorer and conquistador who led the first European expedition deep into the territory of the modern-day southeastern United States searching for gold and a passage to China from 1539-42. Along the way, he became the first European to cross the Mississippi River. Check out the YouTube version of this episode at https://youtu.be/CNRACGW66gQ   which has accompanying v...

During the colonization period, the Spanish Main was the collective term for the parts of the Spanish Empire that were on the mainland of the Americas and had coastlines on the Caribbean Sea or Gulf of Mexico. The term was used to distinguish those regions from the numerous islands Spain controlled in the Caribbean, which were known as the Spanish West Indies. The Spanish Main included Spanish Flo...

Like the Shroud of Turin, many claim that North America’s most venerated Christian relic holds a blessed and sacred image formed in 1531, a decade after the conquest of Mesoamerica by Spanish Conquistador Hernan Cortez. Known as the Virgin of Guadalupe this holy image on a cloak became a recognized symbol of Catholic Mexicans and is today enshrined within the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalup...

Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan's 1519-22 expedition was the first known circumnavigation of the Earth. His epic voyage opened trade routes connecting much of the world, including the North American continent. Guest podcaster Charles Kimball of the «History of Southeast Asia» shares his views on the daring feats of this celebrated adventurer! Check out the YouTube version of thi...

Historicity of 1521 conquest of Mexico from the Aztecs by Spanish Conquistadors; Q&A session. Check out the YouTube version of this episode at https://youtu.be/CkvfAWKSuSM which has accompanying visuals including maps, charts, timelines, photos, illustrations, and diagrams. Mexico History books available at https://amzn.to/43dBlfv                                             Aztec books availab...

In 1519-21, during the reign of legendary Aztec King Montezuma , Conquistador Hernan Cortes conquered Mexico and founded the Kingdom of New Spain. Check out the YouTube version of this episode at https://youtu.be/1L-sKN1xHFk which has accompanying visuals including maps, charts, timelines, photos, illustrations, and diagrams. Mexico History books available at https://amzn.to/43dBlfv              ...

Let’s examine the fascinating early life of controversial explorer and military conqueror Hernan Cortes (1485-1547), the Conquistador who led a coalition army of Spanish forces and Mesoamerican native warriors to vanquish Mexico’s mighty Aztec Empire. Check out the YouTube version of this episode at https://youtu.be/-F8_04K-D9s which has accompanying visuals including maps, charts, timelines, phot...

Revisit Mexico’s ancient pre-Hispanic cultures and civilizations on the eve of first contact with European explorers, as we set the scene for the impending Spanish invasion and conquest of Mesoamerica, led by Conquistador Hernan Cortez. Check out the YouTube version of this episode at https://youtu.be/iuaAq0snmMY which has accompanying visuals including maps, charts, timelines, photos, illustratio...

In 1513, Spanish conquistador Vasco Nunez de Balboa became the first European to lead an expedition to the Pacific Ocean from the New World. Check out the YouTube version of this episode at https://youtu.be/MCILUzvxE80 which has accompanying visuals including maps, charts, timelines, photos, illustrations, and diagrams. Vasco Nunez de Balboa books are available at https://amzn.to/3BDElG9   EN...

What motivated European nations to explore and create colonies in North America? Let’s pause our historical chronology to highlight a few movies, TV programs, documentaries, books & music that refer to these topics and others covered so far in this series while showcasing North American history, arts & culture. Check out the YouTube version of this episode at https://youtu.be/7mqocQF8rMA w...

In 1513, Spanish Conquistador Ponce de Leon sailed from Puerto Rico to the Bimini Islands in the Bahamas searching for the fabled Fountain of Youth. He was unsuccessful but became the first European to set foot on current United States soil and explore Florida. Check out the YouTube version of this episode at https://youtu.be/j5ffQgbXhpI which has accompanying visuals including maps, charts, timel...

Conquistadors Bartolomeu Dias and Vasco da Gama lead the European search for the Spice Islands during the Age of Discovery; an unrelenting quest for the riches of the Orient, sailing into uncharted waters, conquering territory, opening trade routes, and bringing colonialism to much of the world, including the North American continent. Guest podcaster Charles Kimball of the «History of Southeast As...

Conquistadors were the cavaliers, knights, soldiers and explorers of the Iberian Empires during the Age of Exploration who sailed the Oceans, conquering territory, opening trade routes, and bringing colonialism to much of the world, including North America. Check out the YouTube version of this episode at https://youtu.be/7_qcpLGQYwQ which has accompanying visuals including maps, charts, timelines...

Nezahualcoyotl was a scholar, warrior, architect, poet and eventual ruler of the city-state of Texcoco in Mesoamerica during the century preceding Spanish conquest of the Aztec Empire in the Valley of Mexico—a highlands plateau surrounded by mountains and volcanoes (coterminous with present-day Mexico City) that was the center for several pre-Columbian civilizations. Check out the YouTube version...

NAHI was a cyber learning center dedicated to the advancement of North American historical studies and a focal point for people interested in the continent’s fascinating story from diverse perspectives regarding the history of Canada, USA and Mexico… and eventually spawned this podcast and videocast series. YouTube version of this episode at https://youtu.be/jWKbcxLs-aE has accompanying visuals in...

Let’s delve into the origins of the New Testament’s sacred Canonical Gospels that inspired early generations of men and women to cross a perilous ocean to the shores of North America with their few belongings, hopes, dreams, and determination. Garry Stevens of the «History in the Bible» podcast has graciously agreed to share with us his views on the four Canonical Gospels, as we conclude our deep...

Although modern North America is now populated by adherents to all of the world’s religions, as well as secular atheists and agnostics, one should never underestimate the key role played by the Bible in the early Judeo-Christian foundation and later development of the continent’s post-contact period. Garry Stevens of the «History in the Bible» podcast has graciously agreed to share with us his vie...

Religious zeal motivated Europeans to convert the Amerindians and sanctify Christian continental dominance in the name of Jesus. But who was this person called Jesus and why did he inspire such admiration, fervor, and devotion? Join me as we unravel the truth, myth, legends and mysteries surrounding this Titan of History, which helps explain the relationship between religion, commerce, and conques...

The Bible is the most important and influential book in the Western canon. It is also the book upon which the post antiquity Western civilization was built upon, including the exploring and settlement of North America by European nations. Garry Stevens of the «History in the Bible» podcast has graciously agreed to share with us his views on the history of this remarkable book. Check out the YouTub...

Let’s pause our historical chronology to highlight a few movies, TV programs, documentaries, books & music that refer to topics covered so far in this series while showcasing North American history, arts & culture. Check out the YouTube version of this episode at https://youtu.be/MIMiA8FpYEY which has accompanying visuals including maps, charts, timelines, photos, illustrations, and diagra...