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1492 BCE
Columbus discovers the Americas
The discovery of the America's would lead to colonization, that would lead to the western world as we know today. He made it possible to transfer plants, animals and diseases and a mix of cultures. He didn't know he found the America's though, he thought he was in India.
http://www.history.com/topics/exploration/christopher-columbus -
770 BCE
The Great Wall of China
The first construction began in 770 BC and the last construction was in 1878. The wall is over 2,600 years old and the world's longest and biggest ancient architecture. The wall was built to defend off the invasions from northern invaders.
http://www.chinahighlights.com/greatwall/ -
Jan 1, 1439
Johann Gutenberg invents the printing press
More books were made and the study of art and science grew. It also spread information quickly and accurately. Books also got cheaper which helped poor people learn how to read.
read.http://www.biography.com/people/johannes-gutenberg-9323828 -
Jan 1, 1512
Michelangelo paints the Sistine Chapel
The Sistine Chapel ceiling, painted by Michelangelo between 1508 and 1512, is a cornerstone work of High Renaissance art. The ceiling is that of the Sistine Chapel, the large papal chapel built within the Vatican between 1477 and 1480. The chapel was named after the Pope Sixtus IV.
http://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/the-measure-of-genius-michelangelos-sistine-chapel-at-500-123313873/ -
Jan 1, 1517
Martin Luther's 95 theses
Martin Luther posted his 95 Theses on the door of the Catholic church. He listed all his problems with the church, he was later excommunicated from the Catholic church. He created the form of Christianity what we know today as Protestantism.
http://www.history.com/topics/martin-luther-and-the-95-theses -
Jan 1, 1534
The Acts of Supremacy
Two acts of the Parliament of England passed in 1534 and 1559 which established King Henry VIII of England and subsequent monarchs as the supreme head of the Church of England. The act required the English subjects to recognize his marriage to Anne Boleyn. In 1559 though a new Act of Supremacy was adopted.
https://www.britannica.com/topic/Act-of-Supremacy-England-1534 -
Jan 1, 1538
The Protestant religion was the official religion of Norway and Denmark
Christian III of Denmark was a strong believer in Martin Luther and his teachings, officially naming the Protestant religion the state religion of Norway and Denmark. Norway was under Danish control at the time so Protestant was imposed to their country. They banned the Catholics and had this be their new religion instead.
http://www.museeprotestant.org/en/notice/protestantism-in-the-scandinavian-countries/ -
Jan 1, 1553
Mary Tudor becomes Queen of England
Mary Tudor was the daughter of King Henry VIII of England. She was known as bloody Mary when she started to kill people who didn't believe what she did. She died on February 18,1516.
http://www.biography.com/people/mary-tudor-9401296#synopsis -
Jan 1, 1560
The French Wars of Religion
Fought between French Catholics and Protestants, nearly 4,000,000 were slaughtered. Eventually, Protestants were given substantial rights and freedom. A peace compromise in 1576 allowed the Huguenots the freedom to worship whoever they wanted.
https://www.britannica.com/event/Wars-of-Religion -
Thirty Years War
It was a war between Catholics and Protestants. They signed the Treaty of Westphalia, ending the war. They lost most of their German territory and split the Holy Roman empire into two.
http://www.history.com/topics/thirty-years-war -
The Qing dynasty was founded
The Qing dynasty was the last and longest Chinese dynasty ruled by foreigners (1644-1911). The dynasty's capital was Beijing were emperors ruled from the Forbidden City.
https://www.travelchinaguide.com/intro/history/qing.htm -
Hobbes publishes Leviathan
Hobbes book is divided into 4 parts; of commonwealth, of man, of Christian commonwealth, and of the Kingdom of Darkness. He argued the only true form of government was absolute monarchy. Hobbes ideas, including rights of the individual, republican government, and acts are allowed if they are not expressly forbidden, was hugely influential.
http://www.biography.com/people/thomas-hobbes-9340461 -
English Bill of Rights
This bill includes separation of powers, limits power of the king and queen, enhances the democratic election and strengthens the freedom of speech. It was a constitutional form of government in which rights of the individual were protected under English law. It had a massive influence on North America and the Constitution of the United States.
https://www.britannica.com/topic/Bill-of-Rights-British-history -
Tibet Rebellion Against Chinese
Tibet rebellion begins against Chinese commissioners by Chinese army. This keeps 2,000-strong garrison in Lhasa. Dalai Lama government appointed to run daily administration under supervision of commissioner.
http://www.history.com/topics/boxer-rebellion -
The French and Indian War
The French and Indian War lasted 7 years. The war was between the French colonies and the British colonies. The British beat the French ending in the Treaty of Paris.
http://www.history.com/topics/french-and-indian-war -
The Spinning Jenny is invented.
James Hargreaves, a British carpenter and weaver, invents the spinning jenny. The machine spins more than one ball of yarn or thread at a time, making it easier and faster to make cloth. It was so useful, around eighty people could work at the same time.
http://www.bl.uk/learning/timeline/item107855.html -
Sugar Act
The Sugar Act was designed to raise revenue from the American colonists in the 13 colonies. It set a tax on sugar and molasses imported to the colonies which impacted the manufacture of rum. It regulated trade and reduced smuggling bribery.
http://www.ushistory.org/declaration/related/sugaract.html -
The Stamp Act
The act imposed a tax on all paper documents in the colonies. The British Empire was deep in debt from the Seven Years War. Colonists insisted the act was unconstitutional and resorted to violence to intimidate stamp collectors.
https://www.history.org/history/teaching/tchcrsta.cfm -
Articals of Confederation
The Articles of Confederation were a written document to serve as the nation government after the United States declared its independence from Britain. They couldn't keep keep states from wanting to become independent. The problem that came with the Articels lead to the Constititonal Convention that form our curent governmant.
https://history.state.gov/milestones/1776-1783/articles -
Treaty of Paris
The Treaty of Paris was the negotiation between the United States and Britain that ended the revolutionary war. It was a document that recognized the independence of America from Britain. It was singed in 1783.
http://www.history.com/topics/american-revolution/treaty-of-paris -
Storming of the Bastille
It occurred in Paris, France. The storming was a symbol of abuses by the monarchy, its fall was the flash point of the French Revolution. In France, Bastille Day, is today a public holiday.
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/french-revolutionaries-storm-bastille -
Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen
Is a fundamental document of the French Revolution and in the history of human and civil rights. The Declaration was directly influenced by Thomas Jefferson. It became the basis for a nation of free individuals protected equally by law.
http://avalon.law.yale.edu/18th_century/rightsof.asp -
Women's March on Versailles
Seven thousand working women marched in the rain from Paris to Versailles. This march was a chancing point in the French Revolution. The women were mad about the high prices and the lack of bread. This event helped ending the king's independence in France.
http://www.historywiz.com/womensmarch.htm -
King Louis XVI is executed
After being put on a trial in August 1792, King Louis XVI was founded guilty on charges of "conspiracy against Liberty". He was executed by the guillotine on January 21 just one day after he was convicted. He started this road by having serious financial problems he inherited from his grandfather.
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/king-louis-xvi-executed -
The Opium Wars
The Opium Wars of 1839 to 1842 and 1856 to 1860 defeated China's military which forced their rulers to sign treaties opening many ports to foreign trade. As opium flooded into China, its price dropped and the drug penetrated all levels of society.
https://www.britannica.com/topic/Opium-Wars -
Samuel Morse invents the telegraph
Samuel Morse invents the telegraph. This allows messages to be sent quickly over a wire. By 1860, telegraph wires stretch from the east coast of the United States west of the Mississippi River. http://www.history.com/topics/inventions/telegraph -
Alfred Nobel creates dynamite.
Alfred Nobel invents dynamite. This is a safer way to blast holes in mountains or the ground than simply lighting black powder. Dynamite is important in clearing paths to build things such as roads and railroad tracks. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Alfred-Nobel -
Dalai Lama Flees
Dalai Lama flees from British military expedition under Colonel Francis Younghusband. Then Britain forces Tibet to sign trading agreement in order to forestall any Russian overtures. Dalai Lama is basically exiled from Tibet.
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-pacific-17046222 -
Henry Ford creates the Model T
Henry Ford creates a type of car called the Model T. It is much cheaper than other cars because it is made on an assembly line. The assembly line allows many more people to buy cars. https://media.ford.com/content/fordmedia/fna/us/en/news/2013/08/05/model-t-facts.html -
The Xinhai Revolution
Was a revolution that overthrew China's last imperial dynasty (the Qing dynasty), and established the Republic of China (ROC). The revolution lasted 4 months and 2 days.
http://www.hanban.com/chinese-culture/chinese-history-culture/chinese-xinhai-revolution.html -
February Revolution
Revolution centered in Petrograd (St. Petersburg). Happened in March but is called the February Revolution because of Russia's use of the Julian calendar. The revolution overthrew the the tsarist government and replaced it with a provisional government. http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/february-revolution-begins -
Russian czar abdicates
Czar Nicholas ll was ruler since 1894. During the February Revolution he was forced to abdicate the throne. He was forced because he striked and general revolts broke out in Petrograd (St. Petersburg).
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/russian-czar-abdicates -
The Red Army was founded
The Workers and Peasants made up the Red Army. The air force of the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic. The army was established right after the October Revolution in 1917. http://russiapedia.rt.com/of-russian-origin/red-army/ -
Execution of the Romanov family
The Russian Imperial Romanov family, czar Nicholas II, his wife and their five children, were shot in Yekaterinburg by Bolshevik troops. This brought an end to the three-century-old family. After their bodies were mutilated, they were burned and buried in a field.
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/romanov-family-executed -
After World War II in Korea
After World War II, Korea is divided into communist North Korea and anti-communist South Korea at a spot called the 38th parallel. Russia controls North Korea and the U.S. controls South Korea. This causes tention.
http://www.softschools.com/timelines/korean_war_timeline/36/ -
War of Resistance
The Viet Minh seizes power and announces Vietnam's independence. French forces attack Viet Minh in Haiphong in November. This sparked the war of resistance against colonial power.
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-pacific-16568035 -
The creation of the "Iron Curtain"
The Iron Curtain was the name for the boundary dividing Europe into two separate places from 1946 to 1991. Established by the Soviet Union. It stopped allies from open contact with the West and other non communist areas.
http://www.encyclopedia.com/social-sciences-and-law/political-science-and-government/military-affairs-nonnaval/iron-curtain -
Forming of NATO
The United States and 11 other countries (including Denmark) formed the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. They formed this to stop Communist expanding. NATO stood as the main U.S-led military alliance against the Soviet Union during the Cold War. https://history.state.gov/milestones/1945-1952/nato -
Execution of 100,000 People
Worried that South Koreans will join the communists, President Syngman Rhee starts the Summer of Terror and orders over 100,000 people killed. After this the US decides to join the war. The President sends troops to Korea.
http://www.softschools.com/timelines/korean_war_timeline/36/ -
Korean War Ends
The republic of Korea is proclaimed. South declared independence sparking North Korean invasion. Then the armistice ends Korean War which lost two million lives in the process.
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-pacific-15292674 -
Korean Agreement
North Korea and South Korea sign an agreement to stop fighting. Korea is still divided, but the two countries agree to create a neutral zone called the Demilitarized Zone to separate the countries. The US and China talk about uniting Korea but they can not come to an agreement and stay divided.
http://www.softschools.com/timelines/korean_war_timeline/36/ -
The Vietnam War
The Cold War was a fight between the United States and the USSR. South Vietnam was an allie of the US and North Vietnam was an allie of the USSR. The war ended with a North Vietnamese victory. http://www.historynet.com/vietnam-war -
Creation of the Berlin Wall
Constructed by the German Democratic Republic (GDR, east Germany). The wall cut completely West Berlin off from surrounding East Germany and East Berlin. The wall costed around $25 million to build. http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/places/berlin_wall -
US Enters War
Viet Cong guerrillas in South Vietnam defeats the ARVN. President Diem is overthrown and then killed in a US-backed military coup. The US enters the war soon after.
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-pacific-16568035 -
Test of the first nuclear bomb in China
The People's Republic of China conducted its first nuclear test. This made China the fifth nuclear-armed nation in the world. The test happened at "Lop Nur Test Ground" and had a yield of 22 kilotons.
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/china-joins-a-bomb-club -
The Cultural Revolution
Was a sociopolitical movement (1966-1976), set into motion by Mao Zedong. Its goal was to preserve true Communist ideology by removing the remaining of capitalist and traditional elements from Chinese society.
https://www.britannica.com/event/Cultural-Revolution -
US Massacre
A combined assault by Viet Cong and the North Vietnamese army on US positions begins. More than 500 civilians die in the US massacre at My Lai. Thousands are killed by communist forces during their occupation of the city of Hue.
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-pacific-16568035 -
Lon Nol
Lon Nol overthrows Sihanouk. He proclaims the Khmer Republic and sends the army to fight the North Vietnamese in Cambodia. Then Sihanouk while in China for exile brings up his own guerrilla movement.
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-pacific-13006828 -
Dong Fang Hong I
Was the People's Republic of China's (PRC) first space satellite. At 381 lb it was heavier than the first satellites of other countries. China became the fifth country to independently launch a satellite.
http://www.astronautix.com/d/dfh-1.html -
President Nixon visits China
The U.S president Nixon visit to the PRC was an important step in normalizing things between U.S and China. The visit to the PRC was the first one from an american president which also ended 25 years of separation between the two countries.
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/nixon-arrives-in-china-for-talks -
Khmer Rouge
Lon Nol is overthrown by the Khmer Rouge. It is led by Pol Pot who is an evil ruler who kills a bunch of his own people. The country is renamed Kampuchea when Sihanouk becomes head of state for a while.
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-pacific-13006828 -
The Dalai Lama is awarded the Noble Peace Prize
The 14th Dalai Lama (Tenzin Gyatso) won the Noble Peace Prize because of his Buddhist peace philosophy on reverence for all living things and the idea of a universal responsibility that embraces both man and nature.
http://www.nytimes.com/1989/10/06/world/dalai-lama-wins-the-nobel-peace-prize.html -
China lifts martial law in Tibet
The Chinese government decided to lift the martial law in the city of Lhasa almost 14 months after Chinese troops marched into Tibet's capital to end violent protest for independence.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1990/05/01/china-lifts-martial-law-in-tibet/b9e78110-e92b-48e7-acd2-4f9aef1a8f97/?utm_term=.d74aa6f8a9f3 -
Peace Agreement
A peace agrement is signed in Paris. A UN transitional authority shares power temporarily with representatives of the various factions in Cambodia. Sihanouk becomes head of state again.
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-pacific-13006828 -
Tribunal
A law setting up a tribunal bring genocide charges against Khmer Rouge leaders is passed. International donors encourage by reform efforts pledge $560 million in aid. Pol Pot already dies 3 years before so he did not get charged.
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-pacific-13006828 -
Russia Hands Back Cam Ranh
Russia hands back the Cam Ranh Bay naval base that belongs to Vietnam. It once the largest Soviet base outside the Warsaw Pact. President Tran Duc Luong reappointed for second term by National Assembly, which also reappoints Prime Minister Phan Van Khai for second five-year term.
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-pacific-16568035
