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The British gain control of the Cape Colony in South Africa from the Dutch
In the year of 1806, the Cape, which is now controlled by the Batavian Republic and is now South Africa, was occupied by the British after their victory in the Battle of Blaauwberg. The British set up a colony and hoped for the keeping out of Napoleon from the Cape, and also to control the Far East trade routes. It was under Dutch rule from 1652-1795 and then later again from 1803-1806. It was then renamed to the Province of the Cape of Good Hope. -
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Opium Wars
These 2 wars were based on conflicts between China and the British Empire over the British trade of opium in the mid-19th century and also China's sovereignty. The First Opium War, Anglo-Chinese War, was from 1839–1842 and was between China and the United Kingdom over diplomatic relations, administration of justice, and trade. The second Opium War, the 2nd Anglo-Chinese War or the Arrow War, was from 1856–1860 and was between the United Kingdom with the French Empire vs. China. -
Treaty of Nanking
This was a peace treaty that ended the First Opium War, the first of the unequal treaties that China later called and paid the British an indemnity and then ceded the territory of Hong Kong which then agreed to establish a “fair and reasonable” tariff. After this, the British merchants who had been previously allowed to trade only at Canton, were now permitted to trade at five “treaty ports”. These British merchants could also trade with whomever they wanted to. -
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Danish War
The First Schleswig War, 1st round of military conflict in Southern Denmark and Northern Germany (1848-1851), rooted the Schleswig-Holstein Question. It contested the issue of who should control the Duchies of Schleswig and Holstein. The Second Schleswig War (1864), conflict over the settlement of the Schleswig-Holstein, was from problems that arose from a relationship between the Duchies of Schleswig and Holstein to Denmark and German Confederation. -
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Indian Revolt
This was a rebellion against British rule in India but was unsuccessful. A major uprising in India against the rule of the British East India Company (BEIC). This functioned as sovereign power on behalf of the British Crown. -
Austro-Prussian War AKA Seven Weeks War
A war fought between the Kingdom of Prussia and Austrian Empire. They both had various allies within the German Confederation. The Kingdom of Prussia won the victory, which resulted in exclusion of Austria from Germany. This issue was decided in Bohemia, where the Prussian armies met with Austrian forces. Led to German unification under the leadership of Prussia. -
Tokugawa Shogun lost power and the Japanese Emperor was restored to power
During this year, Tokugawa Shogun ruled Japan during the feudal period but lost his power and the emperor was restored to the supreme position (direct imperial rule). The emperor then took the name Meiji as his reign name. This event that took place is known as the Meiji Restoration. -
Suez Canal Opens
The Suez Canal connects the Mediterranean Sea and the Red sea. On this day it opened to navigation and was only 25 feet deep, 72 feet wide at the bottom, and 200 to 300 feet wide at the surface. Fewer than 500 ships navigated it in its first full year of operation. Construction began in April 1859, and at first digging was done by hand with shovels and picks by forced laborers. Later, European workers with dredgers and steam shovels arrived. -
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Franco-Prussian War
This war was a conflict between the Second French Empire (then later the Third French Republic) and German states of the North German Confederation (led by Kingdom of Prussia). The French were defeated and it marked the end of the French hegemony in Europe and resulted in the creation of a unified Germany. -
Otto Von Bismarck becomes Chancellor of Prussia
The new constitution was a revision of the Prussian constitution from 1867 which had the position of chancellor and was designed to have Bismarck specifically take that place. He remained prime minister of Prussia until 1890. -
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Prussia declares a German Empire AKA the Second Reich
German nation-state existed from Unification of Germany in 1871 until abdication of Kaiser Wilhelm II in 1918. Founded when South German states, except for Austria, joined the North German Confederation. Has a federal monarchy as government and the capital is Berlin. -
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Beginning of the Scramble for Africa
Was the occupation, division, and colonization of African territory by European powers during New Imperialism period. The Berlin Conference regulated European colonization and trade in Africa, -
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Great Britain occupies Egypt
Occupied by British forces during the Anglo-Egyptian War, until 1956, when last British forces withdrew in accordance with Anglo-Egyptian treaty of 1936. This treaty gave Britain the right to station troops in Egypt for defense of Suez Canal (link with Indian Empire).The state of affairs lasted until Ottoman Empire joined the First World War and Britain unilaterally declared a protectorate over Egypt. -
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Berlin Conference
Regulated European colonization and trade in Africa during New Imperialism period. It coincided with Germany's emergence as an imperial power. European nations met to decide all questions connected with the Congo River basin in Central Africa. The conference declared the Congo River basin neutral and guaranteed freedom for trade and shipping for all states in the basin, but it forbade slave trading which made possible the founding of the independent Congo Free State. -
French gain control of Indochina
French Indochina, Indochinese Union, after 1887 and the Indochinese Federation after 1947, was a grouping of French colonial territories in Southeast Asia. French Indochina formed from Annam, Tonkin, Cochinchina and the Kingdom of Cambodia was formed in 1887. Laos was added after the Franco-Siamese War in 1893. -
Convention of Constantinople
Drafted on March 2, 1888 and later signed on October 29, 1888. A treaty signed by the United Kingdom, Germany, Austro-Hungary, Spain, France, Italy, the Netherlands, the Russian Empire, and the Ottoman Empire. Britain had recently acquired control over the Suez Canal and Egypt. -
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France occupies Djibouti
In 1894, Léonce Lagarde established a permanent French administration in the city of Djibouti. He named it French Somaliland, which lasted from 1896 until 1967. It was then renamed to Territoire Français des Afars et des Issas. On June 27, 1977, Djibouti gained independence from France and it was the last of France’s colonies in Africa. The country then changed its name to Djibouti, after its biggest city, and then became known as the Republic of Djibouti. -
Battle of Adwa
Battle between the Ethiopian Empire and the Kingdom of Italy near the town Adwa, Ethiopia. Was a defeat for Italy and it secured Ethiopian sovereignty. The victory had significance for being the first defeat of a European power by African forces during the colonial era. -
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Boxer Rebellion
Was an anti-foreign, anti-colonial, and anti-Christian uprising that took place in China. It supported peasant uprising of 1900 that attempted to drive all foreigners from China. The original goal was to destroy the Qing Dynasty and also of the Westerners that had a privileged position in China. -
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Russo-Japanese War
War between the Russian Empire and the Empire of Japan. It was over rival imperial ambitions in Manchuria and Korea. The President of the United States, Theodore Roosevelt, served as mediator at the peace conference. As a result of the Treaty of Portsmouth, Japan gained control of the Liaodong Peninsula, Port Arthur, and the South Manchurian Railway, as well as half of Sakhalin Island. -
Meiji Emperor died
Was the 122nd emperor of Japan from February 3, 1867 until his death, due to Uremia.