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Period: Jan 1, 1419 to Nov 13, 1460
Henry the Navigator
Important figure of the Portuguese Empire. He started developing the European exploration and maritime trade with other continents. -
Period: Jan 1, 1492 to Jan 1, 1503
Christopher Columbus
Was an explorer, colonizer, and navigator from Genoa (Italy). His voyages caused European awareness of the American continents. Established colony on the island of Hispaniola which the Spanish colonized. Model for future European colonization. Made four trips between Spain and the Americas. -
Period: Jan 1, 1492 to
Columbian Exchange
Between Eastern and Western hemisphere. Exchange of animals, plants, culture, human populations (including slaves), communicable diseases, and ideas. Started by Columbus, -
Period: Jan 1, 1492 to
Creation of Colonies in the New World
Colonies created for economic and/or religious reasons.
France and England: First attempted colonies were short-lived. No permanent colonies before 1600. In Canada and the US.
Spain: Created big colonial enterprise. New Spain in Mexico. Carribean islands and Central America. Explored North America for gold and silver. Florida. Eastern South America.
Portuguese: Brazil.
Dutch: Small colonies in northern South America.
Russian: Alaska. -
Period: Jul 8, 1497 to Dec 24, 1524
Vasco da Gama
Portuguese explorer. Commander of the first ship to sail directly from Europe to India. Around tip of Africa. -
Period: Jan 1, 1501 to
Safavid Empire
Iranian kingdom established by Ismail Safavi, who declared Iran a Shi'ite state. -
Period: Feb 13, 1502 to Jun 26, 1541
Francisco Pizarro
A Spanish conquistador that conquered the Incan Empire. Founded Lima, capital of Peru. Many expeditions to South America. -
Period: Jan 1, 1504 to Dec 2, 1547
Hernán Cortés
Spanish conquistador who led an expedition that caused the Aztec Empire to fall. Took control of most of Mexico. First of Spanish explorers that started the Spanish colonization. -
Period: Jan 1, 1505 to Apr 27, 1521
Ferdinand Magellan
Portuguese explorer that searched for "Spice Islands" in Indonesia. First to sail from Atlantic to Pacific (named the Pacific). First to circumnavigate the Earth. -
Jan 1, 1517
Protestant Reformation
Split from Roman Catholic Church when Martin Luther post 95 Theses. -
Period: Jan 1, 1526 to
Mughal Empire
Muslim state exercising domination over most of India in the 16th and 17th centuries. Highly centralized administration connected different regions. Expanded Persian culture in India. Muslim minority ruled Hindu majority. Fell to British. -
Period: Apr 30, 1526 to Dec 26, 1530
Babur
Military adventurer from Central Asia. Rose to power in Kabul (Afghanistan). Laid basis for Mughal Empire. Responsible for the Persian culture spread into India. -
Period: Jan 1, 1543 to
Scientific Revolution
A period of new ideas in physics, astronomy, biology, human anatomy, chemistry, and other sciences. Laid foundation for modern science. Started after Renaissance and ended in end of 18th century, -
Period: Feb 15, 1564 to
Galileo Galilei
Italian physicist, mathematician, astronomer and philosopher. Played a major role in the Scientific Revolution. Improved telescope and made astronomical observations. "Father of modern science." Heliocentric universe. -
Period: Apr 18, 1575 to
Triangle Trade
Trade between Americas, New England, Europe, and Africa from late 16th century to early 19th century. Transatlantic slave trade. Rum and goods to Africa, slaves to America, Sugar to New England. -
Period: Sep 1, 1578 to
Matteo Ricci
Italian Jesuit priest. Tried to spread Christianity to China. Accepted Chinese culture and tried to "blend" Christianity and Confucianism. -
Period: to
Tokugawa Shogunate
Last of the three shogunates of Japan. Feudal regime--strict class hierarchy. Abolished during the Meiji Restoration. Daimyo (lords), samurai (warriors), farmers/artistans/traders. -
Period: to
Thirty Years' War
Largely a religious conflict between Protestants and Catholics in the Holy Roman Empire. Evolved into a more general war between most European countries. -
Period: to
Qing Dynasty
Last ruling dynasty established in China by Manchus who overthrew the Ming Empire in 1644. Became highly integrated with Chinese culture. At various times the Qing also controlled Manchuria, Mongolia, Turkestan, and Tibet. The last Qing emperor was overthrown in 1911. -
Period: to
Peter the Great
Ruled Russia and then Russian Empire. Had a policy of modernization and expansion. Made Russia a major European power. -
Period: to
Enlightenment
Reason becomes primary source of legitimacy and authority. Questioned traditional institutions, customs, and morals. Centered upon 18th century. -
Period: to
French-Indian War
War between Great Britain and France in North America. Became Seven Years' War. Outcome: French Louisiana to Spain and Britain gains control of French Canada. -
Period: to
Catherine the Great
Empress of Russia. Helped Russian Empire expand, improve administration, and continue to modernize along Western European lines. Her rule revitalized Russia--it was stronger than ever. -
Period: to
Louis XVI & Marie Antoinette
King and Queen of France during the French Revolution. King was executed during revolution. Queen executed afterwards. Both convicted of treason by the National Convention. -
Period: to
American Revolution
13 colonies joined together to break free from the British Empire to become the United States of America. No taxation without representation. Declaration of Independence in 1776. War ended with Treat of Paris in 1783. -
Storming of the Bastille
Parisian militia storms Bastille. Revolt against monarchy. Third event of revolution; first was revolt of the nobility (refusing to pay taxes), second was formation of the National Assembly and the Tenis Court Oath. -
Period: to
French Revolution
Radical social and political upheaval in France. Third Estate makes Tennis Court Oath, assault of the Bastille, Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen, march on Versailles that forced royal court back to Paris. King Louis XVI beheaded. Result was the abolition and replacement of the French monarchy with a radical democatic republic--Napoleon. -
Declaration of the Rights of Man
Document of the French Revolution. Said that the rights of men are universal. Called for liberty, property, security and resistance to oppression and for the end of aristocratic privileges--equal taxation. Called for popular sovereignty instead of divine right of the kings. Influenced by Enlightenment ideas and the US DOI. -
Period: to
Haitian Revolution
French colony of Saint-Domingue breaks free. In the end, slavery was stopped and Haiti became an independent republic. Started with a slave revolt. -
Period: to
Napoleon Bonaparte
Military and political leader in French Revolution. Become Emperor of France. Took over much of Europe and sought to spread revolutionary ideals. His invasion of Russia marked a turning point in his fortunes--he was forced to abdicate and exiled to island of Elba. He escaped and returned to power a year later, but was defeated at the Battle of Waterloo. -
Period: to
Congress of Vienna
Conference of all European countries to settle and address issues after French Revolution, Napoleonic Wars, and the dissolution of the Holy Roman Empire. Redrew boundries. -
Battle of Waterloo
Napoleon was defeated in this battle (in Belgium) after he returned from his exile. Marked the end of Napoleon's reign as Emperor of France.
