AP World History: Modern — Timeline

By malcantara23
  • Period: 750 to 1258

    Abbasid Caliphate

  • Period: 960 to 1279

    Song China

  • Period: 1095 to 1492

    Crusades

  • Period: 1200 to 1450

    Period 1: Post-Classical Era

  • Period: 1206 to 1526

    Delhi Sultanate (Northern India)

  • Period: 1206 to 1277

    Genghis Khan (Mongol Empire)

  • 1215

    Signing of the Magna Carta

    Guaranteed citizens right to a fair trial.
  • 1258

    Mongols sack Baghdad → End of the Abbasid Caliphate

  • 1279

    Peak of Mongol rule → Pax Mongolica on the Silk Roads

  • Period: 1279 to 1368

    Yuan Dynasty (Mongol)

  • Period: 1299 to

    Ottoman Empire

    Highly bureaucratic form of government. Used the Devshirme system that took Christian boys at a young age and trained them to serve the state in positions such as Janissaries. Though it was officially Islamic, the Ottoman Empire ruled over millets (or communities that were not Islamic) who had to pay the Jizya tax to practice their own religion. Used firearms (Gunpowder Empire)
  • Period: 1300 to

    Italian Renaissance

    Cause: Due to the rise of banking system in Europe, Italy became an important stopping place for Crusaders during the Crusades. With the attainment of knowledge by Crusaders in the Islamic world, these stopping places also received this information, leading Italy into their Renaissance.
  • 1324

    Mansa Musa's Hajj

  • 1325

    Founding of Tenochtitlan (Aztec)

  • Period: 1325 to 1354

    Ibn Battua's Travels

    Much of present knowledge on Dar al-Islam comes from Ibn Battuta's observations of the Dar al-Islam.
  • 1346

    Emergence of the Black Death in China

  • Period: 1347 to 1388

    Spread of the Black Death in Europe

    Almost 1/3 of Europe's population died to the Black Death in an era known as the Dark Ages of Europe.
  • Period: 1351 to 1368

    Red Turban Rebellion in Yuan China

    It was an uprising influenced by the White Lotus Society members that, between 1351 and 1368, targeted the ruling Yuan Dynasty of China. State-Building, Expansion, and Conflict: The rebellions were 1 of the reasons the Yuan Dynasty fell and was overthrown.
  • Period: 1368 to

    Ming Dynasty

    Early Ming Dynasty: Empire based in china that Zhu Yuanzhang established after the overthrow of the Yuan Dynasty. Emperor Yongle sponsored the building of the forbidden city and the voyages of Zheng He. State-Building, Expansion, and Conflict: The earlier part of the empire that emphasized expansion and cultural expansion. Built Forbidden City. Revived civil service exam (and reinvigorated Chinese culture/traditions after the rule of the Mongols)
  • Period: 1405 to 1433

    Zheng He's Voyages

    An imperial eunuch and Muslim, entrusted by the Ming emperor Yongle with a series of state voyages that took his gigantic ships through the Indian Ocean, from Southeast Asia to Africa. His voyages were ended by the Ming Dynasty to eliminate foreign influence from China and maintain the traditions of the Chinese. The government burned down his ships.
  • Period: 1428 to 1521

    Aztec Empire

    Built chinampas-- "floating gardens" or islands for agriculture over their swampy land. Human sacrifice (Consolidated power over tribute nations) Advanced economy, trade, and governmental systems. Gender parallelism (Both sexes in a group or society have separate activities, one for females, another for males. Each having specific but different roles that compliment each other.)
  • Period: 1438 to 1533

    Incan Empire

    Used quipus (knotted cords) in place of writing. Extensive road system. Terrace farming. Used mita system as labor system-- everyone had to work periodically for the state in some form (later taken by Spanish). Gender parallelism.
  • 1441

    Start of the Atlantic Slave Trade

  • Period: 1450 to

    Period 2: Early Modern Era

  • Period: 1450 to 1480

    Russia overthrows Mongol rule in Moscow

  • 1453

    Ottoman Sack of Constantinople

  • Period: 1464 to

    Songhai Empire

  • 1469

    Rise of Sikhism

    Includes elements of Hinduism and Islam, but ultimately an entirely new religion.
  • 1491

    Reconquista of Spain

    The Reconquista was a centuries-long series of battles by Christian states to expel the Muslims (Moors), who from the 8th century ruled most of the Iberian Peninsula. Visigoths had ruled Spain for two centuries before they were overrun by the Umayyad empire (Moors).
  • 1492

    Columbus "Discovery" of the New World

    Led to the Columbian Exchange (Disease, plants, animals)
  • 1494

    Treaty of Tordesillas

    Gave Brazil to the Portuguese, but Spain everything else in the Americas.
  • 1497

    Portuguese began colonizing the Americas

  • 1498

    Vasco da Gama reaches India

  • Period: 1501 to

    Safavid Empire (Shi'a)

    Largest Shi'a Empire (Intensified Sunni vs. Shi'a conflict)
  • Period: 1509 to 1542

    Nzinga Mbemba (Afonso I) rules the Kongo Empire

    King of Kongo who was influenced by the Portugese, African king that converted to christianity, requested missionaries in his land "Great Zimbabwe", then switched to paganism. Resources were exploited and African slaves were taken with his consent. The demand for the slaves grew too much and the Europeans were expanding beyond agreed upon boundaries (kidnapping citizens) and Afonso tried to stop slave trade. Portugal continued to pressure Kongo, they enslaved thousands of Africans each year.
  • 1517

    Start of the Protestant Reformation (Luther's 95 Theses)

  • Period: 1519 to 1521

    Magellan sails around the world (and dies in the Philippines)

    Spain colonized the Philippines.
  • Period: 1526 to

    Mughal Empire

    2 most notable rulers: Akbar and Aurangzeb. Akbar practiced religious tolerance, inviting people of different religions to debate with him and removing the jizyah tax. He also supported the arts (tried to establish "Divine Faith" to unite Hindus and Muslims) Aurangzeb, on the other hand, persecuted Hindus and Sikhs and contributed to the empire's decline. Taj Mahal built during this time.
  • 1534

    France begins to colonize the Americas

  • Period: 1534 to

    Atlantic Slave Trade

    The Portuguese first began the slave trade, and it continued until the 1800s. United States and Britian banned the African slave trade in 1807 but it continued until 1866.
  • 1545

    Discovery of silver at Potosí mine

  • Period: 1550 to

    Scientific Revolution

    A new way of thinking about the natural world, based on careful observations, a willingness for people to question accepted beliefs. Enlightenment. A movement in the 18th century that advocated the use of reason in the reappraisal of accepted ideas and social institutions.
  • 1552

    Rise of the Russian Empire

    Ivan the (3rd) Great - Grand duke of Muscovy whose victories against the Tartars laid the basis for Russian unity (1440-1505) Overthrew Mogul rule, united Russian lands. Ivan the (4th) Terrible - Ivan the great's grandson: harsh rule, started secret police. He conquered Kazan (1552), Astrakhan (1556), and Siberia (1581), but was defeated by Poland in the Livonian War (1558-82) after which his rule became increasingly oppressive.
  • Period: 1556 to

    Akbar the Great rules the Mughal Empire

  • 1571

    Founding of Manila, Beginning of Global Trade

  • Founding of the British East India Company

  • Period: to

    Tokugawa Shogunate

  • Dutch East India Company Founded

  • Britain colonizing Americas with Jamestown

  • Period: to

    Romanov Rule over Russia

    Any member of the Russian imperial dynasty that ruled from the crowning (1613) of Mikhail Fyodorovich to the abdication (1917) of Nicholas II during the February Revolution.
  • Period: to

    Tokugawa Isolationism

  • Period: to

    Louis XIV rules France; Absolute monarchy in France (Versailles)

  • Dutch Boers colonize South Africa

    Cape Town outpost was intended to supply VOC ships on their way to Asia with fresh fruits, vegetables, meat and to enable sailors wearied by the sea to recuperate.
  • Period: to

    Qing (Manchu) Empire

    Foreigners (the Manchu) rule China as the minority. New elite blend their ideas with old Han traditions. Enforce a single hairstyle and dress (upon Han majority) Largest of the Chinese empires.

  • Glorious Revolution in England

    Overthrow of the Catholic king James II, who was replaced by his Protestant daughter Mary and her Dutch husband, William of Orange.
  • Period: to

    Peter the Great rules and westernizes Russia

    Tsar of Russia who introduced ideas from western Europe to reform the government; he extended his territories in the Baltic and founded St. Petersburg.

  • Early Steam Engine Invented

  • Period: to

    The Enlightenment

  • Period: to

    Period 3: Age of Imperialism

  • Period: to

    1756-1763 -- 7 Years' War

    Known in America as French and Indian war. It was the war between the French and their Indian allies and the English that proved the English to be the more dominant force of what was to be the United States both commercially and in terms of controlled regions.

  • Battle of Plassey (Begin British Rule in India)

    Battle in 1757 between troops of the British east India Company and an Indian army under Mughals; British victory resulted in control of northern India.
  • Period: to

    First Industrial Revolution (Water Pump; Textiles; Cotton Gin)

  • Period: to

    American Revolution (Declaration of Independence)

  • Wealth of Nations by Adam Smith (Laissez-Faire)

  • Period: to

    French Revolution

    The successor of Louis XV this king of France from 1774 to 1792 failure to grant reforms and economic downfall (military debts because of aid in the American Revolution) led to the French Revolution; he and his queen were guillotined (1754-1793). 1789: Storming of Bastille by the Third Estate (95% of the population) Third Estate forms the National Assembly and eventually wins control over France, leading to the Reign of Terror and later the reign of Napoleon. Declaration of the Rights of Man
  • Period: to

    Haitian Revolution

    Resulted in the formation of a black independent Haiti in 1803.
    Inspired by the French Revolution and its new ideas about freedom.

  • Vindication of the Rights of Woman by Mary Wollstonecraft

    Beginning of Feminism.
  • Period: to

    Napoleonic Reign in France

    Originally military leader but gave himself absolute power over France. After the French Revolutionary government set up the Constitutional government: Directory, Napoleon overthrew the government to establish the consulate. He restored the Catholic Church. Napoleon launched a massive invasion of Russia in the summer of 1812. Although they were able to destroy several Russian cities, much of the Grand Army collapsed. Paris was captured in 1814 and forced Napoleon to abdicate the throne.
  • Period: to

    Latin American Revolutions (Simon Bolivar)

    Simon Bolivar's Letter to Jamaica: Response to a request that Simon Bolivar expound his views on the independence movement in Venezuela and the form of government under which the country should operate. Simon Bolivar led the Latin American Independence Movement and wanted to form Gran Colombia, but did not. Creoles unhappy with social status against Peninsulares. Independence of Bolivia, Peru, etc.

  • Congress of Vienna

    A series of meetings in 1814-1815, during which the European leaders sought to establish long-lasting peace and security after the defeat of Napoleon.
  • Period: to

    Opium Wars

    Causes: European merchants were restricted to small trading outlet in China and had an unfavorable trade balance with China, so they began trading OPIUM. China made opium trade illegal due to the growing addiction, but British refused to stop. China threw opium into the sea and caused the start of the opium wars. Effects: Treaty of Nanjing (Open the coastal ports to British trade, British given Hong Kong, limited taxes on goods, Chinese pay reparations)
  • Period: to

    Tanzimat Reforms in the Ottoman Empire

    Reforms to industrialize the Ottoman empire and to eliminate corruption from the government. Response to Western influence The Ottoman Empire attempted to industrialize with the Tanzimat Reforms, but government corruption. Ottomans had internal tension, increase in nationalism among ethnic groups. In Egypt, Muhammad led the Mamluks to modernize education, taxes, develop the cotton textile industry. Young Turks: Constitution (eg. European nations) as well as Turkification of ethnic minorities
  • Period: to

    Irish Potato Famine ("Push Factor" Motive for Immigration to the US)

  • Seneca Falls Convention in NY, USA

  • Karl Marx "Communist Manifesto"

  • Period: to

    Taiping Rebellion

    Cause: Unequal treaties from Opium Wars made people think the Qing lost the Mandate of Heaven, Population grew a lot, Land shortages, declining harvests, and flooding led to hunger, Raised taxes Massive rebellion against the Qing by Christian. The imperial system was greatly weakened as a result of the uprising

  • Commodore Perry opens Japan (Ends Japanese Isolationism)

  • Sepoy Rebellion in India

    Cause: Indians believed that the British greased cartridge with pig and cow fat which goes against the Hindu and Muslim religious beliefs. Aim: oust the EIC / restore Mughal power (previous ruling dynasty) Effects: Abolition of EIC, Creation of Raj (governed by British)

  • Independence of Ghana

    This independence movement against Britain (surprise, surprise), was led by Kwame Nkrumah, a leading Ghanaian nationalist who was Western-educated. His tactics were sort of similar to Gandhi’s, leading the charge as Ghanaians refused to cooperate with British authorities and boycotting British goods.
    Eventually, a party pushing for independence was formed (the Convention People’s Party), and Ghana declared independence in 1957, largely peacefully.

  • Suez Canal built by Britain in Egypt

    Similarly, British investors controlled and profited from transportation developments including the Suez Canal in Egypt. Desired a shorter sea based route to Asian trading posts, the British seized control of the Suez Canal, and then began taking over by force. Ship canal in northeastern Egypt linking the Red Sea with the Mediterranean Sea.

  • Russian serfs emancipated (Natural Rights/Abolitionism)

  • Period: to

    Self-Strengthening Movement in Qing China

    Cause: External invasion (Defeat in Opium Wars), After: Improve military using western knowledge, Weakened China and western ideas weakened traditionalism, Internal Rebellion (Taiping) Aimed to modernize China's military to protect from internal (rebellion) and foreign (invasion) threats, support Qing. Failed: Conservative opposition (Cixi, Boxer Rebellion), shortage of capital (money and materials), Corruption, Foreign threats, lack of western knowledge

  • Emancipation Proclamation in U.S. (End of Slavery)

  • Period: to

    King Leopold II rules the Congo

    Founded and owned the Congo Free State privately, but commits extreme human rights crimes (forced-labour system) (ex. cutting off hands of laborers) to get rubber and eventually forced to lose the Congo.

  • Meiji Restoration in Japan

    Embraces Western ideals and modernizes/industrializes within decades. The abolition of the feudal system, granted the emperor with power once again. Causes: Commodore Matthew Perry, Effects: Establishment of a rapidly growing industrial sector based on the latest technology (zaibatsu: conglomerates), constitution, powerful military Zaibatsu became: exerted a great deal of political and economic power in Imperial Japan. By WWII, four of them controlled most of the economy of Japan.
  • Period: to

    Second Industrial Revolution (Internal Combustion Engine: Oil, Electricity)

  • Germany unified under Otto von Bismarck (Nationalism)

    Unified German-speaking countries into the German empire with Prussia at its core, and was its first chancellor. Bismarck aimed to make the German empire the most powerful in Europe.

  • Berlin Conference

    European powers claim parts of Africa to mitigate conflict based on imperialism. Led by Bismarck in Berlin.

  • European spheres of influence in China

    Exclusive rights to trade in parts of China. Japan, Germany, Great Britain, France, and Russia all acquired spheres of influence in China. This struggle for economic power among the European nations caused a rise in tensions between the countries. Within a few decades, these escalating tensions would contribute to the outbreak of global war.

  • Spanish-American War, U.S. acquires Guam, Philippines, Cuba, and Puerto Rico.

  • Boer War

    The Second Boer War was fought between the British Empire and two independent Boer states, the South African Republic (Republic of Transvaal) and the Orange Free State, over the Empire's influence in South Africa.
  • Period: to

    United Fruit Company established (Economic Imperialism)

  • Period: to

    Boxer Rebellion

    The Boxer Rebellion was an uprising against foreigners that occurred in China about 1900, begun by peasants but eventually supported by the government. A Chinese secret society known as the Boxers embarked on a violent campaign to drive all foreigners from China, backed by Empress Cixi. Several countries sent troops to halt the attacks.
  • Period: to

    Period 4: Contemporary Era

  • Period: to

    Russo-Japanese War

    1. Both russia and japan wanted to expand into chinese empire
    2. Russia wanted coastline and ports that weren't iced
    3. Japan wanted land and resources for its growing population
    The war was concluded at a peace conference arranged by President Roosevelt Russia recognised Japan's sphere of influence and surrendered its lease
    3. Defeat by and Asian power increased internal unrest and provoked feelings of shake and anger
    Russia defeated by an Eastern Country (humiliation)

  • Muslim League founded

    Advocated for a Muslim state in the Indian Sub-Continent. Its strong advocacy for the establishment of a separate Muslim-majority nation-state, Pakistan, successfully led to the partition of India in 1947 by the British Empire.
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    Mexican Revolution

    Begins against Porfirio Diaz and would end with the establishment of the Mexican Constitution of 1917. Madero was the opposition against Diaz and ousted him, became president.
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    World War 1

  • Period: to

    US ownership of the Panama Canal

    Ship canal cut across the isthmus of Panama by United States Army engineers; it opened in 1915. It greatly shortened the sea voyage between the east and west coasts of North America. The United States turned the canal over to Panama on Jan 1, 2000 (746)
  • Period: to

    Armenian genocide

    Ottomans attempted an ethnic cleansing of the Armenian Christian population in the Ottoman Empire.

  • Russian Revolution (Rise of USSR)

  • Zimmerman telegram

    Generated widespread American support for getting involved in WWI.

  • League of Nations founded

    Idea was inspired by Woodrow Wilson, but the US failed to join the League of Nations due to Congress opposition and it was ultimately useless. Skeleton for the impending establishment of the United Nations.

  • Fall of the Ottomans, est. of Turkey

  • Period: to

    Chinese Civil War (Kuomintang vs. CCP) for control

    • Fall of the Qing Emperors
    • Rising of nationalist resentment
    • Nationalists convinced abdication of emperor = modernize China
    • power vacuum arose
    • KMT (Socialism) and CCP (Communism) fight over power
  • Period: to

    Great Depression

    Primary Causes in Germany included the price of war reparations as mandated by the Treaty of Versailles and the mass currency deflation which followed as a result of attempting to print money to pay back the rest of Europe and the United States. Stock market crashes and investment withdrawal affected the economy worldwide. Keynesian Ideas: Led to New Deal in the US
    -John Maynard Keynes
    -promoted the idea of deficit spending (Gov spends more than they have to stimulate the economy)

  • Japanese invasion of Manchuria

    By 1932, Japanese troops gained control of Manchuria and established a puppet state in the region.
    -The League of Nations condemned Japan's actions; Japan responded by withdrawing from the League.
    -Following its withdrawal from the League, Japan began to aggressively pursue a militaristic and expansionist policy and in 1937 launched a full-scale invasion of China.

  • American FDR New Deal

    Inspired by Keynesian Economics:
    - Social Security, Welfare for the people
    - Reducing unemployment (Creating jobs for people through building infrastructure)
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    Great Purge (USSR)

    Millions arrested/killed who were viewed as "enemies to state".
    Put many in labor camps (gulags)
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    World War II

  • Pearl Harbor Attack (Japan v. USA)

  • Period: to

    Holocaust

  • Period: to

    Stalin (USSR)

  • Period: to

    Green Revolution

    Green Revolution. Program of improved irrigation methods and the introduction of high yield seeds and fertilizers and pesticides to improve agricultural production; was especially successful in Asia but also was used in Latin America. Dramatically increased global food supply.

  • Est. United Nations

  • Hiroshima and Nagasaki (VJ): End of World War II

    Nuclear attacks during World War II against the Empire of Japan by the United States of America at the order of U.S. President Harry S. Truman: Nagasaki ended the war.
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    Chinese Communist Revolution

    Used the influence of the USSR to control China under communism. Gains support from peasants
    Chinese Communist Revolution: Great Leap Forward, voting rights to women Sun Yat-sen struggled to create a stable, unified China and sought aid from the West. Soviet Union provided aid and many peasants turned and supported communism while many nationalists did not support. Mao Zedong began the communist leader of China who gains his support from agrarian peasants.

  • Philippine Independence

    [1935] Commonwealth of the Philippines was established with US approval.
    On July 4, 1946, full independence was granted to the Republic of the Philippines by the United States.

  • Partition of India (India and Pakistan)

    Gandhi leads peaceful protests for independence.
    Partition itself was bloody.

  • Truman Doctrine (Marshall Plan/Containment)

    Initially, stop the spread of communism to Turkey and Greece.
    Expanded to the Marshall Plan to bring aid to war-torn European countries. Europe became more firmly divided between the East and the West. Stalin prevented some Eastern European countries, such as Czechoslovakia and Poland, from receiving aid.
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    Cold War

    Capitalism (U.S./Western Europe) against communism (USSR and China).
    Lots of suspicion about motives of the other side.
    Tensions in proxy wars, like in Korea and Vietnam.

  • Founding of Israel by the UN (with USA support)

    (Zionist Movement) Gave Jews a homeland, but displaced Palestinians.

  • NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) Est.

    North Atlantic Alliance, is an intergovernmental military alliance between 30 European and North American countries. North Atlantic Treaty Organization; an alliance made to defend one another if they were attacked by any other country; US, England, France, Canada, Western European countries
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    Korean War

    North (Communist) v. South Korea (Democratic) Fought between 1950 and 1953 between North Korea and its Soviet and Chinese allies and South Korea and United Nations' forces directed by the United States; ended in stalemate and creation of new borders and DMZ.
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    Cuban Revolution

    The Cuban Revolution refers to the revolution that led to the overthrow of the United States proxy ruler General Fulgencio Batista's regime on January 1, 1959 by the 26th of July Movement and other revolutionary elements within the country. The revolution was led by Fidel Castro who became the new leader of Cuba as a communist dictator. Aided by Che Guevara.

  • Warsaw Pact

    treaty signed in 1945 that formed an alliance of the Eastern European countries behind the Iron Curtain; USSR, Albania, Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, East Germany, Hungary, Poland, and Romania

  • Bandung Conference (Non-Alignment Movement)

    Conference in which representatives from twenty-nine governments of Asian and African nations gathered in Bandung, Indonesia to discuss peace and the role of the Third World in the Cold War, economic development, and decolonization. The conference denounced colonialism in all its manifestations and said that all countries in attendance would not align with either communism (USSR) or capitalism (US)
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    Vietnam War

    a prolonged war (1954-1975) between the communist armies of North Vietnam who were supported by the Chinese and the non-communist armies of South Vietnam who were supported by the United States. When US withdraws, South Vietnam falls to the Communist North.

  • Khrushchev gains power in USSR; begins de-Stalinization

    Led the de-Stalinization of Russia and argued for major innovations. Wanted peaceful coexistence with the U.S. Eisenhower agreed to a summit conference with Khrushchev, France and Great Britain in Geneva, Switzerland in July, 1955 discuss peaceful coexistence. lessened government control of soviet citizens; seeked peaceful coexistence with the West instead of confrontation, premier (1894-1971) Led the Soviet Union during the height of the Cold War, serving as premier from 1958 to 1964.
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    Great Leap Forward (China under Mao)

    Mao Zedong's idea to boost Chinese economy.
    Combined farmers into small communes-- peasants not allowed to own land.
    Economic downturn.
    20 million died (mostly from hunger).

  • Year of Africa

    1960 is referred to as the Year of Africa because of a series of events that took place during the year—mainly the independence of seventeen African nations—that highlighted the growing Pan-African sentiments in the continent.

  • Cuban Missile Crisis

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    Cultural Revolution in China

    Mao Zedong's attempt to stop influence of capitalism.
    Shipped many off to countryside for "re-education".
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    Pinochet (Chile)

    FASCIST authoritarian military dictatorship: Instituting the reforms set out by the Chicago Boys. His leadership was backed by the US and was carried out through a coup against a democratically elected, leftist leader. At the behest of the advice given by the group, Pinochet forcefully transformed the Chilean economy into one of the freest market economies that the world had even seen.
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    Deng Xiaoping (China: Economic Reforms)

    Successor to Mao Zedong as the leader of Communist China. He advocated modernizing the economy by introducing elements of capitalism in the 1980s.

  • Fall of the Berlin Wall

  • Tiananmen Square Massacre

  • Fall of the USSR

    Causes: •Low output of crops and consumer goods
    •Cold War led to high military spending
    •Ethnic and Nationalist movements
    •Denial of rights and freedoms •War with Afghanistan
    •Food and fuel shortages
    •Demonstrations in the Baltic states
    •Gorbachev's rise to power Effects: •Soviet Union breaks up into 15 republics
    •Russian republic approves of a new constitution
    •Changeover to market econ in Russia
    •cold war ends

  • End of Apartheid in South Africa

    Mandela also began with nonviolent protests against apartheid (a particularly cruel racial segregation) in South Africa with the African National Congress. This political group was famed for their peaceful protests, but when Mandela didn’t see as much progress as he would’ve liked, he joined a more violent branch of the ANC. Though he was put in jail for many years, he eventually emerged on top, becoming South Africa’s first black president in 1994.

  • Rwandan Genocide

    Failure of the UN, Hutus v. Tutsis

  • 9/11 Terrorist Attacks

  • Arab Spring

    The Arab Spring is a movement in the Middle East that aims to end authoritarian rule and corruption, while trying to gain democracy and economic opportunity.
    Pro-democratic protests, which spread rapidly due to social media.