4 Periods of Modern European History

By Dixie Lucas
  • 1347

    Black Death Appears in Europe

    Severe Depopulation
  • 1378

    Beginning of Western Schism

  • 1450

    Printing Press in Europe

    Major increase in literacy
    Spread of ideas
  • 1450

    End of Great Western Schism

  • 1453

    End of 100 Years War

    Rise of sovereign states
  • 1492

    Coumbus' Voyage

    Expansions of European influence.
  • 1517

    95 Theses

    Start of Reformation
  • 1534

    Act of Supremacy

    Henry VIII becomes head of Church to be able to marry Anne Bolyen
    Start of English Reformation
  • 1543

    On the Revolution

    Start of Scientific Revolution
  • 1545

    Council of Trent Begins

    Start of Catholic and Counter-reformation.
  • 1555

    Peace of Augsburg

    Allowed princes to choose a religion for their province.
    Recognized Lutheranism as a religion.

  • Defeat of Spanish Armada

    Beginning of Spanish decline.

  • Edict of Nantes

    Allowed the Hugenots (Calvanists) to practice their religion outside of their towns.
    End of French Wars of Religion.

  • End of Elizabeth I's Reign

    Beginning of Stuart rule in England

  • Peace of Westphalia

    End of 30 Years War

  • End of the Fronde

    French Civil War
    Firmly established reign of Louis XIV.

  • Glorious Revolution

    End of English absolutism

  • Death of Louis XIV

    Beginning of decline of French absolutism.

  • War of Austrian Succession

    Frederick II invaded Silisa, Austria.
    Beginning of Austro Prussian rivalry.

  • End of 7 Years War

    Britain established as a world power over France.

  • Declaration of Independence

    American Colonies establish democracy

  • U.S Constitution Written

    American federal government established.

  • Storming of the Bastille

    Beginning of French Revolution

  • Napoleon becomes Consul

    Rise of Napoleon

  • Congress of Vienna

    French returned the territories Napoleon conqured.
    End of Napoleonic Wars

  • Ricardo's Iron Law of Wages

    Conservatives embrace classical economic policies.

  • Revolutions Across Europe

    Rise of nationalist and democratic movements.

  • Crimean War Ends

    End of Concert of Europe.

  • End of Franco-Prusso War

    Unification of Germany

  • Russo-Japanese War

    Russian loss encourages revolution in Russia.

  • Assassination of Austrian Archduke Franz Ferdinand

    Begnning of WWI

  • Russian Revolution

    Russia exits WWI
    Begins communism

  • WWI Armistice

    End of WWI fighting.

  • Treaty of Versailles

    Germany is blamed for WWI

  • Mussolini elected Prime Minister of Italy

    Rise of Fascism.

  • Occupation of Ruhr Begins

    Hyperinflation encourages Fascism in Germany.

  • U.S Stock Market Crashes

    Beginning of Great Depression.

  • Hitler Elected German Chancellor

    Nazi party takes control of Germany.

  • Munich Pact

    Appeasement fails.

  • German Invasion of Poland

    Begnning of WWII

  • Germans start Operation Barbarossa

    Russia enters WWII
    Britain is spared

  • Italy Surrenders

    Italy switches sides

  • German and Japanese Surrender

    End of WWII

  • Berlin Airlift

    First major Cold War Crisis

  • End of Korean War

    First proxy war ends in a draw.

  • Khrushchev Secret Speech

    Perceived softening of Soviet Union.

  • Berlin War Built

    Symbolized Communist oppression in Eastern Europe.

  • Cuban Missile Crisis

    Height of Cold War nuclear tension.

  • Prague Spring

    Brezhnev doctrine reaffirms Soviet dominance.

  • U.S Leaves Vietnam

    American loss after 20 year Cold War conflict.

  • USSR Invades Afghanistan

    Knows as the "Soviet Vietnam"

  • Gorbachev elected Soviet Premier

    Soviet oppression eased.

  • Fall of Berlin Wall

    Reunification of Germany.

  • Fall of USSR

    End of Cold War.

  • Maastricht Treaty

    Established the European Union.

  • The Euro adopted as the common EU currency

    Expansion of European economic power

  • September 11th attacks in the U.S.

    Beginning of War on Terror

  • Beginning of European Migrant Crisis

    Largest refugee migration since WWII.
    Increases nationalism.

  • Brexit referendum

    Threatens European unity