Latin America has a long and turbulent history that included wars, assassinations, rebellions, and massacres.

The first recording of the region's history began during the pre-Columbian period. It included the Spanish and Portuguese colonization and Christopher Columbus' "discovery" of the Americas.

We selected three of the most important events in Latin America based on the effect they had on the population and the developments they brought to the region.

Christopher Columbus "Discovers" the Americas (1942)

In schools, we were told Christopher Columbus discovered the Americas. However, when Columbus landed in the Americas, the Portuguese had already captured the lands.

Additionally, the Viking explorer Leif Erikson has sailed what is now Newfoundland in Canada. The Vikings did not for longer than 10 years after their relations with North Americans were described as hostile.

Columbus is celebrated because he opened up America to Europe. He made it possible for the Americans to conquer much of the Western Hemisphere. Their movement also brought diseases to the countries they took over, wiping out nearly 90 percent of the population.

Spain Colonized Mexico

After word of the New World's existence had spread out, Spain decided it wanted to pacify and colonize the region's valuable resources. They sent Spanish conquistador Hernan Cortes to Mexico.

Cortes and his crew dropped their anchor on Mexico in February 1519. The locals shared vital information about the lands he wanted to conquer. He and his team also received 20 women as gifts. One of them was Marina, the woman, who would later give birth to Cortes' son and become the most hated woman in Mexican history.

Cortes' forces defeated the Aztec warriors in a battle on July 7, 1520. He also conquered and controlled Tenochtitlan, the capital, by August 13, 1521.His conquest led to the fall of the Aztec Empire. 

(Also read: Meet Dona 'La Malinche' Marina, the Most Important Woman in Mexican History)


Establishing Lima, Peru (1533)

In Peru, Francisco Pizarro, along with fellow soldier Diego de Almagro and priest Hernando de Luque went on a voyage to discover and conquer South America.

In 1526, Pizzaro and his crew arrived in Peru. Locals told them stories of a great ruler and the great fortune hidden in the mountain.

King Charles of Spain allowed Pizzaro to claim the land for Spain, promising he would become the governor of the lands he conquered.

In November 1532, Pizzaro entered the Inca city of Cajamarca. Inca leader Atahuapla was holding a feast to celebrate the victory in the Inca Civil War.

Pizzaro took Atahuapla hostage and killed him despite receiving a hefty ransom to spare his life. He conquered the Inca empire and founded Peru's capital, Lima.

Pizzaro and Almagro fought against each other after the latter took over Cuzco, a critical Inca city. Pizzaro did not want the former soldier to have the city. But by then, he was already too old to fight. He sent his brothers to fight for the city where they defeated and killed Almagro.

On June 26, 1541, armed supporters of Almagro broke into Pizzaro's palace in the capital and assassinated him.

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