The first European to appreciate the strategic importance of La Habana harbor was Sebastian de Ocampo during his circumnavigation of Cuba in 1509. The city was established in 1515 and used by Spain as the staging area for the treasure fleets hauling gold and silver from the New World to Europe. Philip II granted La Habana “city” status in 1592 and efforts began in fortifying the city against pirates and foreign intrusion.
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Jacques Marquette and Louis Jolliet passed through what is the present day city of Chicago in 1673. They found a swampy area inhabited by members of the Saulk, Mesquakie, and Potawatomi people. These Native Americas referred to the area as "Checagou," in reference to the wild onions growing along the shores of Lake Michigan. Chicago serves as an important transportation, financial, and industrial center.
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In 1535, Jacques Cartier discovered the Huron village of Hochelaga located on an island situated at the confluence of the Saint Lawrence and Ottawa Rivers. By 1605, the native village had been abandoned and the French began erecting a trading post in the area. French colonists arrived in 1642 and established Ville-Marie. By 1705, the residents began referring to their settlement as Montréal.
