Modern History

By Modernised History
  • Period: Jan 1, 1000 to

    Modern History Timeline

  • Feb 13, 1066

    1066 - 1087

    • The reign of King William the Conqueror
    • The Battle of Hastings and the defeat of Harold Godwinson
    • The Building of Norman castles in England including the Tower of London in 1073
    • 1086 - Compilation of the Doomsday book
  • Jan 1, 1087

    1087 - 1100

    • The reign of King William Rufus (son of William) William invades Wales and builds castles on the borders.
  • Jan 1, 1135

    1135 - 1154

    • The reign of King Stephen (nephew of Henry I) 1099: First Crusade. Jerusalem is re-taken from the Muslims on - The urging of Pope Urban II
    • 1118: The Knights Templar founded to protect Jerusalem and European pilgrims on their journey to the city
    • 1147: Second Crusade
  • Jan 1, 1189

    1189 - 1199

    • The reign of King Richard I (third son of Henry II)
    • 1190: Third Crusade. Saladin manages to unite the Muslim world and recapture Jerusalem, sparking the Third Crusade
  • Jan 1, 1422

    1422 - 1461

    The reign of King Henry VI (son of Henry V)
    1429: Joan of Arc lifts the siege of Orleans for the Dauphin of France, enabling him to eventually be crowned at Reims
    1430: Capture, trial, and execution of Joan of Arc
    1434: The Medici family rises to prominence in Florence
    1452: Leonardo da Vinci is born
    1453: The Hundred Years War ends. Calais is the only English possession on Continental Europe
    1455: Johann Gutenberg prints the first of his Bibles on his new printing press
    1455: The Wars of the Ro
  • Jan 1, 1450

    1450 - The Renaissance

    Gutenberg invents the Printing Press.
  • Jan 1, 1483

    1483 - 1485

    The reign of King Richard III (uncle of Edward V)
    1485: The Wars of the Roses ends and the Tudor dynasty begins
  • Jan 1, 1504

    1504 - The Renaissance

    Leonardo di Vinci paints the Mona Lisa.
  • Feb 13, 1508

    1508 - 1512 - The Renaissance

    Michelangelo paints the Sistine Chapel.
  • Oct 31, 1517

    1517 - The Reformation

    It has been argued that the importance of Luther’s nailing of the 95 Theses to the door of the Castle Church in Wittenberg is often overestimated, since all public disputations were promoted in this manner. Furthermore, it is evident from the 95 Theses that Luther’s decisive break with Rome is not yet clear. He upholds the indulgence system, papal authority, and the existence of purgatory. Yet, this crucial event deserves to be at the forefront of any discussion on important Reformation events.
  • Feb 13, 1522

    1522 - The Reformation

    Luther’s publication of the New Testament into common German was a watershed moment for the Reformation in Europe. He was followed by William Tyndale’s work on the New Testament in 1526 and by a host of other common-man translations in other countries. The translation of the Bible into the language of the people allowed the Reformers to base their criticism of the papacy on biblical grounds and led to the common man being able to search the Scriptures for himself without relying solelyontheChruc
  • Feb 13, 1529

    1529 - The Reformation

    Luther and Zwingli’s discussion of the theology of the Lord’s Supper may seem an odd choice for the 2nd most important Reformation event, but the political and religious consequences of their failure to come to agreement on the Eucharist set the course for a split which has lasted almost 500 years. Because the Reformers could not agree on the Lord’s Supper, the political alliance between Reform-minded countries was severely hindered.
  • Jan 1, 1532

    1532 - 1534 - The Renaissance

    Henry the VIII declares himself the head of the English Church.
  • Feb 13, 1534

    1534 - The Reformation

    This event was one of the most hopeful signs that the Reformation would eventually end with different religious groups coexisting peacefully. This innovative act of tolerance formed the basis for the modern-day secular society of freedom of religion.
  • Feb 13, 1545

    1545 - 63 - The Reformation

    The Roman Catholic declarations following the Council of Trent eliminated virtually any hope for reconciliation between the Catholic Church and the Protestant movement. The enormity of this council’s output served to codify Roman Catholic theology for the next four centuries, forming the Tridentine period of Roman Catholicism.
  • Feb 13, 1555

    1555 - The Reformation

    The first religious war of the century ended, as rulers allowed territories to choose their religion. This was the beginning of religious toleration in Europe, which formed the foundation for the Edict of Nantes and the Act of Toleration.
  • Feb 13, 1559

    1559 - The Reformation

    John Calvin’s systematic theology The Institutes of the Christian Religion formed the basis for the adoption of Reformed theology in Europe and America. His theology is important because it was a visionary exposition of theology, whereas the other Reformers’ theologies were reactionary in nature, being forged in the midst of conflict.
  • Jan 1, 1564

    1564 - The Renaissance

    William Shakespeare and Christopher Marlowe and Galileo Galilei are born.
  • Feb 13, 1572

    1572 - The Reformation

    The Catholic mob violence against the Huguenots that lasted for several months claimed the lives of thousands of French Protestants. This event was a turning point in the French Wars of Religion, as it radicalized the Huguenot movement.

  • 1598 - The Reformation

    This event was one of the most hopeful signs that the Reformation would eventually end with different religious groups coexisting peacefully. This innovative act of tolerance formed the basis for the modern-day secular society of freedom of religion.

  • 1605 - The Renaissance

    1605 - Gunpowder plot - Roman Catholic extremists try to blow up Parliament in England.

  • 1642 - English Revolution

    English King Charles I attempted to arrest five members of the English parliament. This attempt failed, since they were spirited away before the king's troops arrived.

  • 1642 - English Revolution

    The Globe Theater in London is closed by The Puritans.
    1642 CE British King Charles I and his family flee London for Oxford.
    1642 CE British King Charles I with 400 soldiers attacks the English parliament.

    1642 CE (1642-1648) The English civil war severely damaged St. Paul's Cathedral in London.

  • 1642 - The Renaissance

    English Civil War (Glorious Revolution); Theaters close, will not reopen until the Restoration period (1660). Galileo dies replaced by Isaac Newton.

  • 1642 - English Revolution

    Civil war in England officially began as Charles I declared war on Parliament from Nottingham. Charles I went to the House of Commons to arrest some of its members and was refused entry. From this point on no monarch was allowed entry. The war ended in 1651.

  • 1649 - English Revolution

    King Charles I of England was beheaded at Banqueting House, Whitehall by the hangman Richard Brandon. Britain then became a republic between 1649 and 1660.

  • 1763-1770 - American war of Independance

    In 1770 there is an incident in Boston of a kind familiar in northern Ireland two centuries later. An unruly crowd throws stones at the much resented troops. The soldiers open fire, killing five. The event becomes famous in folk history as the Boston Massacre. Even more famous, three years later, is Boston's response to cargoes of tea which are subject to the most resented of British taxes.

  • 1773 - American War of Independance

    Early in December 1773 three East India Company ships are in Boston harbour, waiting for their cargo of tea to be unloaded. No one will take it off the ship, because it will pay British duty as soon as it is transferred to American soil. However, if it is still in the harbour on December 17, the cargo can be legally seized by the British customs and sold.

  • First Continental Congress: 1774 - American War of Independance

    Fifty-six delegates from twelve colonies convene in Philadelphia. They are leaders of their own communities (George Washington is here for Virginia). Their voices will carry weight, and the message that they send to Britain is uncompromising.

  • 1775-1776

    During the eleven-month siege of Boston there have been significant political developments on the wider stage. Hopes that parliament in Britain might adopt a more conciliatory tone are dashed by the declaration in August 1775 that the American colonies are in a state of rebellion. This is followed by a Prohibitory Act in November instituting a naval blockade of the American coastline.

  • Declaration of Independence:1776 - American War of Independance

    The real date of American independence from Britain is 2 July 1776 - the day on which Virginia's resolution is put to the congress of thirteen colonies and is passed 'unanimously' (though New York in fact abstains). The resolution states uncompromisingly: 'That these United Colonies are, and of right ought to be, free and independent States, that they are absolved from all allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain.

  • 1783 - American War of Independance

    The treaty signed in Paris on 3 September 1783 brings the American Revolution to its successful conclusion. The American commissioners in the negotiations (Benjamin Franklin and John Adams among their number) win extremely good terms for the new nation. Its independence is acknowledged without reservation, and its agreed frontiers are unexpectedly generous.

  • 1788 - French Revolution

    Insurrection at Grenoble.

  • 1789 - The French Revolution

    King rejects Resolutions of the tiers etat.

  • 1789 - French Revolution

    Armed citizens storm and capture the Bastille.

  • 1791 - The French Revolution

    Black citizens of French colonies granted equal rights.

  • 1793 - French Revolution

    Uprising of Paris Commune against the Convention,

  • 1804 - The French Revolution

    Napoleon consecrated as Emperor.