Spain

Ferdinand Magellan arrives in the Philippines, landing at Homonhon Island and later at Cebu - first documented European contact with the Philippines

Gonzalo Fernández de Oviedo y Valdés mentions skunks in his 'Natural History of the West Indies'

Miguel López de Legazpi establishes the first permanent Spanish settlement in Cebu, beginning 333 years of Spanish colonial rule

Spanish conquistador Miguel López de Legazpi establishes Manila as the capital of the Spanish East Indies

Maize cultivation spreads across Europe - grown in Spain, Portugal, France, Italy as animal feed and peasant food

Francisco Dagohoy leads the longest revolt in Philippine history against Spanish rule in Bohol, lasting 85 years until 1829

Treaty of Paris signed - Spain cedes the Philippines to the United States for $20 million after the Spanish-American War