History of Maryland

The history of Maryland could be said to have begun circa 10,000 BC, when the first people arrived in what would later become the U.S. State of Maryland. Native Americans were the sole inhabitants of the area for thousands of years until Europeans, starting with John Cabot in 1498, began exploring the area. However, it wasn't until the 1600s that Europeans began settling the area, and not until 1632 that the colony itself was founded and named.

Early European exploration

John Cabot, an Italian sailing under the English flag, was the first European to explore the area. In 1498 he sailed along the Eastern Shore, off present-day Worcester County. The next notable European visit to the area occurred in 1524 when Giovanni da Verrazano, another Italian, who sailed under the French flag, passed the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay. The bay itself was explored in 1572 by Pedro Menendez de Aviles, the Spanish governor of Florida, and in 1608 by John Smith.

Related Topics:
John Cabot - Eastern Shore - Worcester County - Giovanni da Verrazano - Chesapeake Bay - Pedro Menendez de Aviles - John Smith

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~