April 1493 → Columbus 🎁 Spain🏰Christopher Columbus arrives at the court of King Ferdinand of Aragon and Queen Isabella of Castile. With him are:
He and his party entered Barcelona’s fortress in a solemn procession. The monarchs stood to greet Columbus; 💋he knelt to kiss their hands. 💬They talked for an hour and then adjourned to the royal chapel for a 🍗ceremony of thanksgiving. Columbus, now bearing the official title 💼Admiral of the Ocean Sea, remained at court for more than a month. The highlight of his stay was the ⛪baptism of the six natives. → source
Spring 1540 → Spanish 🤝 Native AmericaHernando de Soto met the Lady of Cofachiqui, ruler of a large Native American province in present-day South Carolina. Though an 🦠epidemic had carried away many of her people, the lady of the province offered the Spanish expedition as much 🌽corn, and as many 📿pearls, as it could carry. In return he gave her a 💍gold ring set with a ruby. → source
1578 -> Portuguese 👁️ Kingdom of Kongo“The men and women are black,” he reported, “some approaching olive colour, with black curly hair, and others with red. The men are of middle height, and, excepting the black skin, are like the Portuguese.” The royal city of Kongo sat on a high plain that was “entirely cultivated,” with a population of more than 100,000. The city included a separate 🏭commercial district, a mile around, where Portuguese traders acquired: → source