Timeline: Major Events (1492-Present Day)

Mar 31, 1492

jewish holy book is printed

1492 Jan 23, "Pentateuch," a Jewish holy book, was first printed.

Mar 31, 1492

decree expells jews from spain

1492 Mar 30, King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella signed a decree expelling all Jews from Spain. Jews numbered about 80,000 and it was estimated that about half chose to convert

Mar 31, 1492

columbus's fleet sails from gomera, canary islands

1492 Sep 6, Columbus' fleet sailed from Gomera, Canary islands.

Mar 31, 1492

1st recorded reference to tobacco.

1492 Nov 15, Christopher Columbus noted the 1st recorded reference to tobacco.

Mar 31, 1493

columbus returns to spain on his first voyage

1493 Mar 15, Christopher Columbus returned to Spain, concluding his first voyage to the Western Hemisphere.

Mar 31, 1501

black slaves

1501
First black slaves in America brought to Spanish colony of Santo Domingo.

Mar 31, 1532

pizarro marches from panama to peru

Pizarro marches from Panama to Peru, kills the Inca chieftain, Atahualpa, of Peru

Mar 31, 1536

1536 henry VIII executes 2nd wife

1536
Henry VIII executes second wife, Anne Boleyn. John Calvin establishes Reformed and Presbyterian form of Protestantism in Switzerland, writes Institutes of the Christian Religion. Danish and Norwegian Reformations. Michelangelo's Last Judgment.

Mar 31, 1547

1547 Ivan the Terrible is crowned czar of russia

1547
Ivan IV (“the Terrible”) crowned as czar of Russia, begins conquest of Astrakhan and Kazan (1552), battles nobles (boyars) for power (1564), kills his son (1580), dies, and is succeeded by his weak and feeble-minded son, Fyodor I.

Mar 31, 1588

defeat of spanish armada by english

1588
Defeat of the Spanish Armada by English. Henry, King of Navarre and Protestant leader, recognized as Henry IV, first Bourbon king of France. Converts to Roman Catholicism in 1593 in attempt to end religious wars.

Mar 31, 1600

Giordano Bruno burned as a heretic

1600
Giordano Bruno burned as a heretic. English East India Company established.

Mar 31, 1609

french colony establighed in quebec

1609
Samuel de Champlain establishes French colony of Quebec. The Relation, the first newspaper, debuts in Germany.

Mar 31, 1618

start of the 30 years' war

1618
Start of the Thirty Years' War > Protestants revolt against Catholic oppression; Denmark, Sweden, and France will invade Germany in later phases of war. Kepler proposes last of three laws of planetary motion.

Mar 31, 1619

dutch ship brings african slaves to north britain america

1619
A Dutch ship brings the first African slaves to British North America.

Mar 31, 1660

restoration of the monarchy

1660
English Parliament calls for the restoration of the monarchy; invites Charles II to return from France.

Apr 4, 1701

spanish succession

1701
War of the Spanish Succession begins—the last of Louis XIV's wars for domination of the continent. The Peace of Utrecht (1714) will end the conflict and mark the rise of the British Empire. Called Queen Anne's War in America, it ends with the British taking New Foundland, Acadia, and Hudson's Bay Territory from France, and Gibraltar and Minorca from Spain.

Apr 4, 1707

uk is formed

1707
United Kingdom of Great Britain formed—England, Wales, and Scotland joined by parliamentary Act of Union.

Apr 4, 1740

vitus bering employed by russia

1740
Capt. Vitus Bering, Dane employed by Russia, discovers Alaska. Frederick II “the Great” crowned king of Prussia.

Apr 4, 1765

invented: steam engine

1765
James Watt invents the steam engine. Britain imposes the Stamp Act on the American colonists.

Apr 4, 1783

treaty of paris

1783
Revolutionary War ends with Treaty of Paris. William Blake's poems. Beethoven's first printed works.

Apr 4, 1800

napolean conquers italy

1800
Napoleon conquers Italy, firmly establishes himself as First Consul in France. In the U.S., federal government moves to Washington, D.C. Robert Owen's social reforms in England. William Herschel discovers infrared rays. Alessandro Volta produces electricity.

Apr 4, 1820

missouri compromise

1820
Missouri Compromise > Missouri admitted as slave state but slavery barred in rest of Louisiana Purchase north of 36°30' N.

Apr 4, 1834

analytical engine

1834
Charles Babbage invents “analytical engine,” precursor of computer. McCormick patents reaper.

Apr 4, 1839

opium war begins

1839
First Opium War (to 1842) between Britain and China, over importation of drug into China.

Apr 4, 1854

britain and france join turkey in war on russia

1854
Britain and France join Turkey in war on Russia. In U.S., Kansas-Nebraska Act permits local option on slavery; rioting and bloodshed. Japanese allow American trade. Antislavery men in Michigan form Republican Party. Tennyson's Charge of the Light Brigade. Thoreau's Walden.

Apr 4, 1900