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War of Spanish Succession
The Grand Alliance was created after Philip (grandson of Louis XIV of France) was named king since King Charles II was childless. The Grand Alliance feared that France was becoming too powerful, leading to a decade of war. The Treaties of Utrecht, Rastatt, and Baden end the war. They state that Philip must separate France and Spain to keep a power balance in Europe. -
Tulip Period
This event occurred in the Ottoman Empire and was described as a time of peace and prosperity. It was unlike the time period before and after the event. There was a rebirth in the architecture and art of the Ottoman Empire. Tulips (as the name suggests) were very popular during this time with the nobles. -
Great Plague of Marseille
It is known as the last outbreak of the Bubonic Plague in Western Europe. It started because of the ship Grand-Saint-Antoine. Although it was put on quarantine, nobles forced the city to lift the quarantine so they could acquire the merchandise on it. Before the outbreak, 90000 people lived in Marseille; only 40000 survived. This outbreak marks the end of a long list of Bubonic Plagues that occurred in Europe throughout history. -
Evangelical Revival
This series of Christian revivals swept England in the 1730s. The people involved in this revival strove to increase religious devotion, permanently affecting Protestantism. Many Evangelicals were united (despite being from different denominations) English Angelicans grew to be a part of the Church of England. -
Peak of the Little Ice Age
During the Little Ice Age, winters were colder and summers were shorter and wetter. There were extended periods of drought and moisture swings in certain regions. Crop failure in Europe was common as a result of the temperatures and climate. Because of this crop failure, the famine also increased. This harmed European society and made it difficult to recover. -
A Dictionary of the English Language Published
Although Samuel Johnson's dictionary was not the first English dictionary, it was the most organized and the best researched. During this time period, many people were learning how to read and needed set spelling and definitions of words. Johnson's dictionary is seen as one of the greatest achievements of this time period. It established grammar, which was important (and would be important for the rest of our existence) during this time -
French and Indian War
The French and Britain went to war to determine who would ultimately control portions of the Upper Ohio River Valley. Although France dominated for a portion of the war, Britain ultimately won. New France fell in 1760 during the Battle of Quebec. The French were forced to sign the Treaty of Paris to give up control to the British. This marked one of the greatest power shifts of this century. -
British Industrial Revolution Begins
Inventions such as the steam engine, the cotton gin, and the Spinning Jenny were created during this time period. These inventions allowed for faster and larger productions. Prior to the creation of these machines, manufacturing was expensive and required manual labor. The Industrial Revolution led to better living conditions and population growth. -
French Revolution
People continuously demanded reform from King Louis XVI. They suffered from a collapsing economy and poverty and grew tired of this. The first major event in the war was the Storming of the Bastille, which ended the Bourbon Dynasty (and the monarchy). In 1992 the monarchy was executed, leading to the start of the First French Republic. Eventually, Napolean was put on the throne, and the Napoleanic Wars soon began. -
Smallpox Vaccine Created
Edward Jenner created a smallpox vaccine using the cowpox virus. Before his vaccine, an estimated 400,000 Europeans died from the smallpox virus each year. His vaccine became the first vaccine ever created. It changed European society because it provided people the opportunity to live longer, and increased the understanding of diseases.