Crowds gather for the The Harlem Cultural Festival on June 29, 1969.

A 1960s-era TV set on legs is shown between a potted plant and red footstool.

How Billie Holiday’s ‘Strange Fruit’ Confronted an Ugly Era of Lynchings

How Hernán Cortés Conquered the Aztec Empire

Karen Juanita Carrillo

Karen Juanita Carrillo Archives - History.com

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In the 15th century, Europeans began to sail west across the Atlantic Ocean in search of new routes to China and the East, but in the process they discovered an entirely New World: North and South America, plus many other lands.

Exploration

The 1960s was one of the most tumultuous and divisive decades in world history. The era was marked by the civil rights movement, the Vietnam War and antiwar protests, countercultural movements, political assassinations and the emerging "generation gap."

1960s

In the early 20th century, America was flexing its economic and political muscle on the international stage. The era was defined by the temperance movement, Progressive-era activism, the sinking of the Titanic and World War I.

Early 20th Century US

Hispanic Heritage Month is an annual celebration of the history and culture of the U.S. Latin and Hispanic communities. The event, which spans from September 15 to October 15, commemorates how those communities have influenced and contributed to American society at large.

Hispanic History

February is dedicated as Black History Month, honoring the triumphs and struggles of African Americans throughout U.S. history, including the civil rights movement and their artistic, cultural and political achievements.

Black History

Ancient America was home to sophisticated civilizations such as the Maya, Inca, Olmec and Aztec societies, and mysterious ruins like Chichen Itza, Teotihuacan, Serpent Mound, Tikal, Machu Picchu and the Nazca Lines.

Karen Juanita Carrillo

Stories

7 Groundbreaking Inventions by Latino Innovators

Why the Watershed 1969 Harlem Cultural Festival Was Overshadowed for 50 Years

How Hernán Cortés Conquered the Aztec Empire

How Billie Holiday’s ‘Strange Fruit’ Confronted an Ugly Era of Lynchings