PUERTO RICO HISTORY XV century Taíno Indians who inhabited the territory, called the island Boriken or Borinquen which means: "the great land of the valiant and noble Lord" or "land of the great lords". Today this word -used in various modifications- is still popularly used to designate the people and island of Puerto Rico. The Taíno Indians, who came from South America, inhabited the major portion of the island when the Spaniards arrived. The Taino Indians, lived in small villages, organized in clans and led by a Cacique, or chief. They were a peaceful people who, with a limited knowledge of agriculture, lived on such domesticated tropical crops as pineapples, cassava, and sweet potatoes supplemented by seafood. 1492 On April 17, Ferdinand and Isabella of Spain signed the agreement to finance and set the terms of Columbus's voyage to the Indies. The document is known as the Capitulations of Santa Fe. The agreement established that Columbus would become the viceroy and governor of all discovered land and rights to 10% of all assets brought to Spain, among other terms. 1493 On September 25, Christopher Columbus set sail from Cádiz, Spain on his second voyage, with 17 ships and almost 1,500 men. On November 19, Christopher Columbus discovered the island in his second voyage to the New World. He found the island populated by as many as 50,000 Taíno or Arawak Indians. The Taíno Indians who greeted Columbus made a big mistake when they showed him gold nuggets in the river and told him to take all he wanted. Originally the newcomers called the island "San Juan Bautista", for St. John the Baptist and the town Puerto Rico because of its obvious excellent potentialities. It was not until later that the two names were switched. Thanks in part to the enthusiasm of ambitious Juan Ponce de León, a lieutenant to Columbus, the city of Puerto Rico ("rich port") quickly became Spain's most important military outpost in the Caribbean. Christopher Columbus. -1501 The Spanish Crown permitted export of slaves to America. -1503 Governor Nicolás de Ovando opposes the importing of slaves. -First slaves arrive in Hispañola. -1506 On May 20, Christopher Columbus died in Valladolid, Spain. 1508 Spanish colonization begins. On January 14, first school in Puerto Rico was established in Caparra. On August 8, Spaniard Juan Ponce de León founded the Caparra Village. 1509 The Spanish authorities refused to grant to Diego Columbus (Christopher's son) privileges to all discovered land, as a results, the Crown nominated Juan Ponce de León governor of the island. The first "repartimiento" in Puerto Rico was established, this system consisted of distributing among officials and colonists fixed numbers of Indians for wage-free and forced labor. The Spanish Crown instituted the "encomienda" after several priests protested against the treatment to Indians under the "repartimiento" system. The terms of the new agreement specified that Spaniards were obliged to pay the Indians for their labor and to teach them the Christian religion, but they soon reduced the Indians to a condition of abject slavery, claiming that the Indians were inferior and subhuman; therefore Indians were forced to work from dawn until dusk, under threat of corporal punishment and death. Juan Garrido is the first African identified in Puerto Rico. A free man, he arrived with the Ponce De Leon expedition. Garrido later participates in the colonization of Florida and serves with Spanish explorer Hernan Cortex in the conquest of Mexico. -1510 Differences between Spaniards and Taíno Indians began. The Cacique Urayoán ordered his warriors to drown Diego Salcedo to determine whether or not the Spaniards were immortal, as they believed that Spanish colonizers had divine powers. It is told that after they drowned Diego, they watched him for several days until they were sure that he was dead. -1511 The Taíno Indians' revolt against Spaniards with no success. Ponce de León orders 6,000 shot; survivors flee to mountains or leave the island. Diego Columbus won rights to all land discovered by his father after presenting his case to the courts in Madrid. King Ferdinand ordered Ponce de Leon to be replaced as governor by Diego Columbus. Ponce de Leon not wishing to serve Diego, obtained title to explore the Upper Bahamas and areas to the North. The Spanish Crown granted a Coat of Arms to the Island of Puerto Rico. On August 8, Pope Julius II created two dioceses in Puerto Rico, the bishop of which were all suffragans of the archbishopric of Seville. The Canon of Salamanca, Alonso Manso, was appointed bishop of the Puerto Rican diocese and took possession in 1513 - the first bishop to arrive in America. -1512 On September 26, the first school of advanced studies was established by Bishop Alonso Manso. On December 27, the Burgos Law is issued, by Ferdinand II, the Catholic, of Aragón, regulated relations between Spaniards and the conquered Indians, particularly to ensure the spiritual and material welfare of the latter, who were often severely treated. San Germán is founded. -1513 On January 27, African Slaves are introduced into the island. On March, Ponce de Leon sailed into the Bahamas headed toward Florida. -1514 The Spanish Crown granted permission to Spaniards to marry native Taíno Indians. Hernando de Peralta received permission to obtain 2 white slaves, possibly Arab or Arab Descent. Caribe Indians attacked settlements along the banks of the Daguao and Macao rivers that had been founded by Diego Columbus. Mona Island is officially annexed to Puerto Rico. 1517 King Carlos V authorized the importation of 4,000 slaves to the Caribbean. 1519 Government Center is moved from Caparra to the isle of San Juan. Puerto Rico became the general headquarters of the Inquisition, after Pope Leo X declared the island the first ecclesiastical headquarters in the New World. 1521 Caribe Indians attacked the south coast. The city and the Island exchanged names, and the City of San Juan Bautista de Puerto Rico became the official capital. Casa Blanca ("White House") was built. The house was owned by Ponce de León's family until the late 18th century. The ever arriving Spaniards settlers, many of them gold-seekers, brought no women on their ships. To populate the country, the Spaniard took Indian women. With the arrival of African slaves, other elements were added. This historic intermingling has resulted in a contemporary Puerto Rico without racial problems. Juan Ponce de León organized an expedition, setting out for Florida, where he suffered serious injuries. He took refuge on La Habana, Cuba, where he died. 1522 On January 24, San Jose Church is founded, it is the oldest church still in use in America. 1523 The first sugar cane processing plant is built. The "Convento de Santo Domingo" (Dominican Friars Community) was built. The convent organized the first library in the island. 1524 The first hospital was built, called Concepción, by Bishop Alonso Manso. -1528 On their attempt to capture the Island the French attacked many settlements. On October 11, the French sacked and burned San Germán. All the other first settlements-Guánica, Sotomayor, Daguao and Loíza-had disappeared. Only the capital remained. 1530 Sugar became the most important agricultural product. Francisco Manuel de Lando conducted the first census. -1532 The construction of "Santa Catalina" Palace, the governors house, began. Later the name was changed to "La Fortaleza". -1539 Concerned about potential threats from European enemies and recognizing the strategic importance of Puerto Rico, Spain began constructing massive defenses around San Juan. The construction of San Felipe del Morro Castle began. The fort featured 18-foot-thick walls; San Cristóbal and San Geronimo Forts also garrisoned troops, were built with the financial subsidy from the Mexican mines. Next the Spaniards constructed a wall, parts of which still survive, around the entire city. -1542 The coconut tree was introduced to the island. The coconut is indigenous to the Indo-Malaysian region. It spread by sea currents with the average maximum distance of 3,000 miles, on which the coconut will remain afloat and still remain viable. Considering these limitations there were no or little chance of a coconut seed reach the New World. Most authorities agree that the coconut was introduced to the New World by Portuguese and Spanish traders. -1544 The second hospital was built, called San Ildefonso. -1559 Juan Ponce de León remains were brought to San Juan. -1570 The gold mines were declared depleted. -1587 Engineers Juan de Tejada and Juan Bautista Antonelli lay out the main design for El Morro still seen today. 1595 On November 22, Sir Francis Drake, hero of the battle of the Spanish Armada, with 26 vessels, in the company of Sir John Hawkins, tried fruitlessly to conquer the island and set San Juan city on fire (battlemap). -1598 On June 15, the British Navy led by George Clifford, 3rd Earl of Cumberland, landing in Santurce, conquered the island and held it for several months, it is forced to abandon his conquest owing to an outbreak of plague among his troops (battlemap). Ginger replaces sugar as Puerto Rico's main cash crop. -1599 Spain sent 400 soldiers, 46 cannon and a new governor, Alonso de Mercado, to rebuild San Juan.