Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
1000
The Taíno - who also come from the Orinoco basin - emerge as a dominant culture;
they name the island Boriken, meaning 'the Great Land of the Valiant and Noble
Lord.'
1493
On November 19, during his second voyage to the New World, Christopher Colum-
bus lands on Puerto Rico's west coast. He christens the island
San Juan Bautista
.
1508
Juan Ponce de León leads Spanish colonists to Puerto Rico in search of gold. He es-
tablishes the island's first colony - Caparra - in the north on swampy land close to
San Juan harbor.
1509
Ponce de León becomes first governor of San Juan Bautista (Puerto Rico) after Spain
refuses to grant Columbus' son, Diego, rights to the lands discovered by his (recently
deceased) father.
1511
Subjected to brutal exploitation, the Taíno stage their first unsuccessful revolt against
their Spanish overlords. Ponce de León is subsequently replaced as governor in favor
of Diego Columbus.
1513
Following the decimation of the local Indian population through disease and outright
slaughter, the first West African slaves arrive on the island to work in the new eco-
nomy.
1521
The city of San Juan is founded on its present site and the island changes its name
from San Juan Bautista to Puerto Rico.
1595
With permission from the Queen of England, British privateer Sir Francis Drake at-
tempts to attack and loot San Juan with 26 ships but is repelled by the city's formid-
able defenses.
1598
