Updated Articles and Resources

By Christopher Minster, About.com Guide

Ten Facts About the Ancient Maya Created: Friday, May 11, 2012 Updated: Friday, May 11, 2012
The Ancient Maya are among the most mysterious of all the lost civilizations. What do we know for certain about these enigmatic people?
Biography of Christopher Columbus - Christopher Columbus Profile Created: Thursday, September 25, 2008 Updated: Sunday, May 06, 2012
Christopher Columbus was the greatest explorer of his age: for centuries he was thought to have been the first to discover America. He was a complex man, however, who failed as often as he succeede...
Facts about Cinco de Mayo - Cinco de Mayo, the Basics Created: Tuesday, March 30, 2010 Updated: Sunday, May 06, 2012
Cinco de Mayo is much more than simply a Mexican version of St. Patrick's Day. It's a day for celebrating Mexican heritage, enjoying great food, and remembering a most unlikely win in an important ...
The Top Ten Liberators of Latin America Created: Monday, May 03, 2010 Updated: Saturday, May 05, 2012
In 1810, Spain controlled much of the known world, its mighty New World Empire the envy of all the nations of Europe. By 1825 it was all gone, lost in bloody wars and upheavals. The Independence of...
Ten Facts About Pirates Created: Tuesday, May 24, 2011 Updated: Saturday, May 05, 2012
Pirates are more popular than ever, appearing in movies, books, songs and more. With the glut of information about pirates, you might think that pirate myths were disappearing, but in fact the oppo...
Real-Life Pirates of the Caribbean Created: Wednesday, April 13, 2011 Updated: Saturday, May 05, 2012
Here you will find a list of the most famous pirates from the so-called
Historic Cities of Latin America Created: Friday, January 02, 2009 Updated: Saturday, May 05, 2012
As the first part of the New World to be discovered, conquered and settled by Europeans, Latin America is home to many wonderful cities rich in history and culture. How many of these colonial treas...
Bernardo O'Higgins - Biography of Bernardo O'Higgins Created: Saturday, March 27, 2010 Updated: Saturday, May 05, 2012
Bernardo O'Higgins (1778-1842) was a Chilean landowner and one of the leaders of its struggle for Independence. Although he had no formal military training, O'Higgins took charge of the ragged rebe...
Jose Miguel Carrera - Biography of Jose Miguel Carrera Created: Thursday, March 18, 2010 Updated: Saturday, May 05, 2012
José Miguel Carrera Verdugo (1785-1821) was a Chilean general and dictator who fought for the patriot side in Chile’s War for Independence from Spain (1810-1826). Together with his two b...
Biography of Vasco Nuñez de Balboa - Vasco Nuñez de Balboa Profile Created: Saturday, February 14, 2009 Updated: Saturday, May 05, 2012
Vasco Nuñez de Balboa (1475-1519) was a Spanish conquistador and explorer of the early colonial era. He is credited with leading the first European expedition to discover the Pacific Ocean (wh...
Museo Chileno de Arte Precolombino (Chilean Pre-Colombian Art Museum) Created: Saturday, June 21, 2008 Updated: Saturday, May 05, 2012
One of Santiago, Chile's best-loved and oft-visited museums, the Pre-Colombian Art Museum is a fascinating cross between a history and an art museum. There is ample information on the cultures that...
Biography of Jim Bowie Created: Friday, October 07, 2011 Updated: Saturday, May 05, 2012
James Bowie (1796-1836) was an American frontiersman and one of the leaders of the Texas Revolution. He was present at the legendary Battle of the Alamo, where he was killed along with all of his c...
Biography of William Travis Created: Monday, October 03, 2011 Updated: Saturday, May 05, 2012
William Travis was the ranking officer of the Texan defenders at the legendary 1836 Battle of the Alamo. Although Travis and all of his fellow defenders were killed, their deaths inspired other men...
Biography of Davy Crockett Created: Sunday, October 02, 2011 Updated: Saturday, May 05, 2012
David
Biography of Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna - Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna Profile Created: Thursday, September 01, 2011 Updated: Saturday, May 05, 2012
Antonio López de Santa Anna was president of Mexico eleven times from the 1830's to 1850's. He was the leader of the Mexican forces at the Battle of the Alamo in 1836. He had a long and checke...
Positions and Duties on Board a Pirate Ship Created: Thursday, May 05, 2011 Updated: Saturday, May 05, 2012
On a well-run pirate ship, different officers had different duties. Here is a list of the positions and duties on board a typical pirate ship.
Captain Kidd – Biography of Pirate William Kidd Created: Thursday, April 07, 2011 Updated: Saturday, May 05, 2012
Captain William Kidd (1654-1701) was a Scottish ship's captain and pirate. After turning himself in and hoping to clear his name, he was tried and hanged for piracy.
Major Stede Bonnet and the Battle of Cape Fear River Created: Friday, March 18, 2011 Updated: Saturday, May 05, 2012
On September 27, 1718, hardened pirates serving under Stede Bonnet fought against two pirate hunter ships under the command of Colonel William Rhett.The pirates were eventually overcome and taken i...
Where are the Remains of Christopher Columbus? Created: Tuesday, June 01, 2010 Updated: Saturday, May 05, 2012
The city of Seville, Spain, has a set of bones they claim belong to Christopher Columbus, the great navigator and explorer. The city of Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, says the same thing. Which...
The Battle of Rancagua Created: Sunday, July 11, 2010 Updated: Saturday, May 05, 2012
On October 1, 1814, Chilean patriots led by Bernardo O'Higgins battled a massive Spanish army in the town of Rancagua. The patriots were routed, leading to three more years of Spanish rule in Chile.
Ambrosio O'Higgins - Biography of Ambrosio O'Higgins Created: Thursday, February 18, 2010 Updated: Saturday, May 05, 2012
Ambrose (
Biography of Atahualpa - Atahualpa Profile Created: Thursday, November 13, 2008 Updated: Saturday, May 05, 2012
In 1532, Spanish conquistadors discovered the wealthy Inca Empire, high in the South American Andes. The only thing standing between these greedy men and the gold they dreamed of was young Emperor ...
Biography of Juan Sebastián Elcano Created: Friday, June 06, 2008 Updated: Saturday, May 05, 2012
Juan Sebastián Elcano was a Basque sailor and navigator, and the first man to successfully complete a round-the-world naval voyage. He set out from Spain in 1519 as part of the Magellan expedi...
Fray Bartolomé de Las Casas (1484-1566) Part Two: Later Years Created: Monday, January 21, 2008 Updated: Saturday, May 05, 2012
Fray Bartolomé de Las Casas biography part two
Fray Bartolomé de Las Casas (1484-1566) Part One: from Colonist to Defender of the Indians Created: Sunday, January 20, 2008 Updated: Saturday, May 05, 2012
Biography of Fray Bartolome de Las Casas Part One
The Colonization of Guatemala Created: Monday, January 14, 2008 Updated: Saturday, May 05, 2012
The region of present-day Guatemala posed many challenges for would-be conquistadors and colonizers.
The August 10 Movement Created: Wednesday, July 29, 2009 Updated: Saturday, May 05, 2012
On August 10, 1809, a group of citizens in Quito, Ecuador, decided that since Napoleon had invaded Spain, they no longer had to obey the Viceroy in Lima and set up their own government. The colonia...
Biography of Ferdinand Magellan Created: Wednesday, June 04, 2008 Updated: Saturday, May 05, 2012
Ferdinand Magellan was a Portuguese navigator and captain who led the first expedition that successfully circled the globe.
Ancient Maya Architecture Created: Thursday, May 03, 2012 Updated: Thursday, May 03, 2012
The Ancient Maya were talented builders whose temples and palaces are still standing thousands of years after being constructed.
Ten Facts About the Mexican-American War Created: Saturday, February 11, 2012 Updated: Saturday, April 21, 2012
The Mexican-American War (1846-1848) is a
Famous Pirates and their Flags Created: Friday, April 01, 2011 Updated: Saturday, April 21, 2012
During the Golden Age of Piracy (roughly from 1700-1725), dozens of pirates roamed the seas of the world, preying on merchant shipping and coastal towns. Most of these pirates had distinctive flags...
Cinco de Mayo for Kids Created: Friday, April 20, 2012 Updated: Friday, April 20, 2012
Cinco de Mayo! Everyone has heard of it, but what's it all about? Here younger readers will find everything they need to know about Cinco de Mayo.

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