Note: Within the logic of TGN, "North and Central America" is a continent, to which all nations in this area of the world are linked. It comprises lands on the North American and Caribbean plates. The first human inhabitants here crossed Bering land bridge from Asia or settled the coastlines by traveling in boats. They developed Pleistocene cultures here, and they later developed diverse sophisticated agrarian cultures. The continent was colonized by Europeans from the 16th century through 18th centuries.