AP Euro History Timeline Project

Fall of Byzantine Empire

1453

This event...
- caused the Ottoman Turks to spread rapidly throughout Europe and the Middle East
- allowed Turks to try to complete their conquest of the Balkans
- effected trading in Europe

Oration on the Dignity of Man

1486

This book...
- helped Renaissance thinkers use ancient Greek and Roman models to shape a new world
- created faith in the potential of humans
- was an example of humanism and how people could use the ¨gifts¨ God gave them to do great things

Columbus' First Voyage

1491

This is the most important event in European history. It was the first case of competition for wealth, power, and resources between European countries. It created a massive increase in colonization and trading. The colonization would lead to problems like the American Revolution and the decolonization of Africa and Asia. Competition between European powers would lead to fighting like the 7-years War, Austro-Prussian and Franco-Prussian War. The taste for power from this caused problems and war.

Columbus´ First Voyage

1492

This Journey...
- inspired other countries like France and England to voyage to the New World in hopes of riches
- brought diseases to the Natives, killing more than 90% of them
- caused the enslavement of many native people

Columbus´s First Voyage

1492

This event is the most important event of the 15th century because it was the starting point of European exploration in the New World. When he ¨discovered¨ America, it started the exploration of the New World. It caused countries to colonize, claim land, and start trade there. The trade from the New World created a lot of wealth for the countries who exported and imported there.

Ninety-Five Theses

1517

These writings...
- spread the ideas of Lutheranism around Europe
- led to the Diet of Worms
- helped start of the Protestant Reformation

Ninety-Five Theses

1517

This event is the most important event of the 16th century because it spread the ideas of Lutheranism around Europe. His ideas then led to the Protestant religion, which created religious fighting and turmoil for years. His theses inspired people all around Europe to create their own branches of Christianity and it cause discussion after discussion about religion. This was a turning point in history because it started many religious wars and gave choices.

Cortez conquers Aztecs

1518

This event...
- influenced language, religion, and culture on the Natives
- gave Spain control over a lot of land
-encouraged countries to travel to this new land

Act of Supremacy

1534

This act...
- declared English Monarchs as the head of the Church of England
- established the Church of England as a separate church from Rome
- allowed Henry to receive all the wealth and property that was once the Churchs

On the Revolutions of the Heavenly Spheres

1543

This book...
- challenged the earlier beliefs that the Earth was the center of the universe
- questioned the Church´s theories
- confirmed the idea of a heliocentric universe

Council of Trent

1545

This event...
- banned the selling of indulgences and indulgence sellers
- rejected Protestant ideas and beliefs like ¨justification by faith¨
- stated that all the sacraments were important and useful

Peace of Augsburg

1555

This event...
- established the Lutheran Church as an alternate religion to Catholicism in Germany
- allowed German leaders to chose the religion for their state
- settled the religious turmoil between Catholics and Protestants

Edict of Nantes

1598

This edict...
- ended religious wars and introduced religious toleration in France
- gave Protestants freedom to worship, just not in Paris
- allowed Protestants to hold political offices

Defenestration of Prague

1618

This event...
- further separated Catholics and Protestants
- caused a revolt against Ferdinand II
- led to the Thirty Years´s War

English Civil War

1642

This war...
- led to the trial and execution of Charles I
- replaced the monarchy with the rule of the Commonwealth, Oliver Cromwell is made ¨Lord Protector¨
- made parliament a stronger force with more power and authority in the government

Peace of Westphalia

1647

This treaty...
- made territory, wealth, and alliances secularized
- allowed German states to choose the religion of their land
- created tolerance for Calvinists and Protestants

Ottoman Siege of Vienna

1682

This war...
- caused the Ottoman Empire to stop expanding through Europe
- made Ottomans fall behind western Europeans
- caused the decline of the Ottoman Empire and its power

Ottoman Siege of Vienna

1682

This is the most important date of the 17th century because it was the start of the fall of the Ottoman Empire. The Ottoman Empire was a very big power and threat to other European countries. They always feared invasion from them. So when the Ottomans fell behind in modern practices and inventions, they were bound to fall. This eliminated the threat and allowed other countries more territory.

Principia

1687

This work...
- helped people understand the laws of motion
- formed the foundation of mechanics
- created a modernized scientific method

Glorious Revolution

1688

This event...
- led to William and Mary taking the throne
- created limited power for the monarchy
- changed the English government from absolute monarchy to constitutional monarchy

Essay Concerning Human Understanding

1690

This essay...
- influenced many enlightenment philosophers
- introduced the ¨blank slate¨ theory
- led to the skepticism of the knowledge that defined the Enlightenment

Peace of Utrecht

1712

This treaty...
- decreased France´s power in Europe
- recognized Queen Anne as the rightful leader of Great Britain
- helped end the War of the Spanish Succession

Seven Years War

1755

This war...
- changed political relations with Britain and the colonies
- put Great Britain and France in debt
- gave Great Britain a lot of land in North America

The Social Contract

1762

The Social Contract...
- inspired political revolutions in Europe
- gave people the right to take political power from an unjust monarch or leader
- influenced the development of the democratic theory

The Social Contract

1762

This was the most important event of the 18th century because it inspired people to revolt and take political power from an unjust monarch. This book inspired the French Revolution which led to the Reign of Terror and Napoleon's rule over France. EVentually, the people of France would finally get their wish for a democratic government. This book helped guild them into fighting for freedoms and rights.

Steam Engine

1768

This invention...
- allowed factories to be anywhere by replacing water power
- helped build cities and towns around factories
- benefited transportation like railroads

Wealth of Nations

1774

This book...
- created the ideas for laissez-faire economics
- helped individuals pursue their own economic self-interest to benefit society and themselves
- anticipated the industrial age

Tennis Court Oath

1788

This event...
-helped create the new Constitution
- created the base for the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen
- led to the storming of the Bastille

Reign of Terror

1792

This event...
- created the Committee of Public Safety
- led to the Directory's rule
- led to Napoleon's rule over France

Napoleon's coup

1799

This event...
- ended the Revolutionary Era
- gave Napoleon power as First Consul
- overthrew the Directory

Napoleon's Invasion of Russia

1810

This invasion...
- stopped Napoleon's march across Europe
- resulted in Napoleon's first exile
- ended French hegemony

Congress of Vienna

1815

This event...
- restored the French throne to the Bourbons
- abolished the slave trade
- created a balance of power throughout Europe

Congress of Vienna

1815

This is the most important event of the 19th century because it abolished the slave trade and restored a balance of power in Europe. It also restored the French throne to the Bourbons. The Congress of Vienna helped create a time of peace in Europe and keep countries from taking over as Napoleon did.

1848 Revolutions

1848

These revolutions...
- led to the abolishment of feudalism in Austria and Prussia
- aided to create the French Second Republic
- failed to create democratic governments

Crimean War

1852

This war...
- caused the Russian Empire to lose many alliances
- caused the decline of the Ottoman Empire
- led to the Treaty of Paris, ending the war

Austro-Prussian War

1866

This war...
- resulted in Prussian control over German states
- created the North German Confederation
- created a shift in power from Austria to Prussia

Franco-Prussian War

1869

This war...
- overthrew the Second Government and created the Third French Republic
- led to the unification of Germany and Italy
- made the constitution Bismarck drafted for the North German Confederation the constitution for the new German Empire

Second Industrial Revolution

1870

This event...
- improved living conditions with electricity, sanitation, and leisure activities like soccer
- created new transportation and communication methods like the steamship and the telegraph
- led to the imperialism of Africa and Asia

Berlin Conference

1883

This conference...
- led to the disimissal of Bismark by Kaiser Wilhelm II
- set the rules for the colonization of Africa, countries needed a presence of political administration and military
- European powers agreed to boundaries and trade arrangments

Start of World War 1

1913

This war...
- made the United States a leader in industrial power
- pulled most of Europe into debt
- created growth in nationalism around the world

Bolshevik November Revolution

1916

This event...
- led to the communist take over of St Petrograd
- removed the Provisional Government from power
- established the first communist government

End of World War 1

1918

This war...
- gave women a stronger voice in politics
- led to the rise in fascism and communism in countries like Russia and Italy
- took a toll on Germany's economy by making them pay reparations

Treaty of Versailles

1919

This treaty...
-forced Germany to surrender colonies, pay reparations, and accept guilt for starting the war
-created the Leauge of Nations
-gave powers like France territories

Great Depression

1929

This event...
- caused oppression and hatred towards Jews, socialists, and communists
- left many unemployed, poor, malnourished, and homeless
- caused investors to pull their money out of Germany and demand repayments of loans

Hitler appointed Chancellor

1933

This event...
- gave Hitler the power to make laws
- led to the Night of Long Knives, which eliminated potential opponents of Hitler
- led to Hitler outlawing other political parties and becoming the sole leader of Germany

Spanish Civil War

1936

This war...
- inspired the mural, Guernic, by famous artist Picasso
- affected Spain's economy and society, there was a great loss of life and they were set back in trade and industry
- allowed Germany to test their machinery and technology, which would be helpful in WW2

Nazi Invasion of Poland

1938

This event...
- caused France and Britain to declare war on Germany
- gave Russia a free hand to reannex territories because of their neutrality
- allowed Hitler to carve up Poland and give out territories

Operation Barbarossa

1941

This attack...
- killed more than 3 million Soviet soldiers
- was a major turning point in the war because the Germans failed to defeat the Soviets
- caused Germany to suffer many casualties

World War 2

1942

This was the most important event of the 20th century because it changed history forever. The Cold War was started after WW2 because of tensions between the United States and the Soviet Union. It would also help the spread of communism. It changed the economy and population greatly. It made the United States a superpower and leader in economics. Technology advancements made the war, like the atomic bomb.

End of World War Two

1945

This war...
- left millions dead and homeless
- divided Germany up into 4 divisions, which would cause Cold War issues
- affected European power's economies greatly, but made the U.S an economic superpower

Berlin Airlift

1948

This event...
- led to the creation of NATO and the Warsaw Pact
- established West and East Germany
- led to the outbreak of the Cold War

Hungarian Rebellion

1956

This event...
- weakened the already falling apart communism
- killed and wounded thousands of Hungarians
- placed Hungary under even more communist control

Prague Spring

1968

This event...
- removed Alexander Dubček from office
- the Soviet Union moved troops into Czechoslovakia
- resulted in anti-communist ideas which helped in 1989, when Czechoslovkia broke free from the Soviet Union

Fall of the Berlin Wall

1989

This event...
- helped Germany unify into one country
- increased the spread of capitalism
- was the final event to help end communism

End of the USSR

1991

This event...
- gave independence to countries who were previously under the control of communism and the Soviet Union
- gave Boris Yeltsin the presidency of the Russian Republic
- switched Eastern European communism to democracy

Maastricht Treaty

1992

This treaty...
- created the European Union
- helped create a single currency, the euro, which created the European Central Bank
- increased European countries wealth and power