1530s facts for kids

The 1530s were a time of big changes around the world! Many important things happened, especially in Europe and the Americas. New lands were explored, and powerful leaders made decisions that changed history forever.

Exploring New Worlds: The Americas

The 1530s saw European explorers and armies continuing to arrive in the Americas. This led to major changes for the people already living there.

The Spanish in Peru

One of the biggest events was the Spanish conquest of Peru. A Spanish explorer named Francisco Pizarro led his forces into the Inca Empire, a huge and powerful civilization in South America. The Inca people had a rich culture and a vast empire, but they faced a new challenge with the arrival of the Spanish.

The Fall of Atahualpa

A key moment in this conquest was the capture and execution of Atahualpa, the last emperor of the Inca Empire. This happened on July 26, 1533. His death marked a turning point, as it greatly weakened the Inca resistance against the Spanish. The Spanish then took control of much of the Inca lands, looking for gold and other resources.

Portugal Arrives in Brazil

At the same time, another European power, Portugal, began to settle in South America. The colonization of Brazil started to pick up speed in the 1530s. Portuguese settlers arrived, aiming to claim land and resources for their king. They set up towns and farms, especially for growing sugar cane, which became a very important crop. This marked the beginning of a long period of Portuguese rule in Brazil.

Big Changes in Europe

Europe was also going through its own transformations, especially in religion and politics.

Henry VIII and the English Church

In England, King Henry VIII was a very powerful ruler. During the 1530s, he made a huge decision that changed England forever. He wanted to control the English church himself, rather than having the Pope in Rome be its leader. This led to a break with the Roman Catholic Church.

England's New Church

Henry VIII declared himself the head of the Church of England. This meant that he, not the Pope, made the rules for the church in his country. This change had a big impact on English society, politics, and religion for many years to come.

The Reformation Spreads

The 1530s were also a time when the Protestant Reformation continued to spread across Europe. This was a movement where people questioned some of the teachings and practices of the Catholic Church.

Reformation in Denmark and Norway

In countries like Denmark and Norway, the Reformation gained a strong foothold. Their kings decided to adopt Protestantism as the official religion. This meant that churches changed their ways of worship, and new religious ideas became popular. It was a time of great religious change and sometimes conflict across many parts of Europe.

Images for kids

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  November 5, 1530: St. Felix's Flood destroys the city of Reimerswaal

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  July 26, 1533: Execution of Atahualpa.

See also

In Spanish: Años 1530 para niños