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Period: 130 to 1453
Silk Route Road
The Silk Road was a network of trade routes connecting China and the Far East with the M.E. and Europe. Established when the Han Dynasty in China officially opened trade with the West in 130 BC, the routes remained in use until 1453 AD when the Ottoman empire boycotted trade with China and closed them. Although it's ben nearly 600 years since the Silk Road has been used for international trade, the routes had a lasting impact on commerce culture and history that resonates even today. -
1275
Marco Polo
Marco Polo returned to Venice, again via the Silk Road routes, in 1295, just as the Mongolian Empire was decline. His journeys across the Silk Road became the basis for his book, The Travels of Marco Polo, which gave Europeans a better understanding of Asain commerce and culture. -
1453
Fall of Constantinople
The closing of the Silk Road forced merchants to take to the sea thus initiating the Age of Discovery which led to world-wide interaction and the beginnings of a global community. Its closure would propel Europeans across the ocean to explore, and eventually conquer, the so-called New World of the Americans. In this way, the Silk Road can be said to have established the groundwork for the development of the modern world. -
1498
Vasco Da Gama
Being born in 1460 and sailing from Lisbon in 1497 on a mission to reach India, Vasco Da Gama reached India in May of 1498. He sailed down the western coast of Africa and rounded the Cape of Good Hope, during his expedition he made numerous stops in Africa before reaching the trading post of Calicut, India. He was the first European to reach India by sea. -
Queen Elizabeth gave English Royal Charter
Queen Elizabeth I of England grants the English Royal charter to the London merchants trading to the East Indies, hoping to break the Dutch monopoly of the spice trade. The East India Company made less progress in the East Indies than it did in India itself. This was due to the unequaled trade privileges from India’s Mogul emperors. Once the 1630s came along, the company abandoned its East Indies operations almost entirely to concentrate on its trade of Indian textiles and Chinese tea. -
Battle of Plassey
British East India Company force's victory over the Nawab of Bengal and his French allies. They purchased the Bengali land and treasury—over the nawab (provincial governor or viceroy) of Bengal and his French allies led to the "company rule in India" or "Company Raj," as what is known among Indians. -
United States gain Independence
On July 4, 1776, the Declaration of Independence was formally adopted by 12 colonies. New York being the 13th colony, approved it on July 19. On August 2, the declaration was signed. The Americans would then be in a War for Independence for 5 years. Other events would come in the future like the bitter winter at Valley Forge before the U.S. could gain Independence. In 1783, with the signing of the Treaty of Paris with Britain, the United States formally became a free and independent nation. -
Sepoy/Indian Mutiny
A failed, year long uprising amongst Indian Troops(Sepoys) that were serving the British East India Company that spread throughout India and was known as the "First War of Independence". Due to an ever growing level of Westernization, the conceived idea that British were degrading Indian traditional Culture, and increasing level of Sepoy discontent, multiple events took place involving mutinous actions over the course of a year including the Mutineers seizure of Dehli on May 10, 1857 -
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Indian Civil Service
Its members (roughly 100,000) ruled more than 300 million people in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Burma (then comprising British Raj). They were ultimately responsible for overseeing all government activity that comprised British India. -
Invention of Electricity
The first light bulb was invented in 1879 by a man named Thomas Edison. The creation of the light bulb helped pave a way for further inventions with electricity. It also helped reduce the fire danger by replacing gas-fed street lamps and paved the way for everything from the television and the radio to the refrigerator and the curling iron. -
Death of Mahatma Gandhi's father
The death of Mahatma Gandi's father in 1885 took a huge toll on Gandhi's life. This epiphany in Gandhi's life made him ashamed of his actions. Instead of fulfilling his Dharma and taking care of his sick father, he went upstairs and went to bed with his wife at the age of 16. His father would later die after trying so hard to save himself with doctors' help. -
New Zealand first country to grant women suffrage
Women getting the right to vote in New Zealand was an international movement for women to exit from an inferior position in society and enjoy equal rights with men. Most prominent woman right's activist was Kate Sheppard wherein 1887 she became head of the WCTU’s. Women additionally had a long list of demands of what they wanted for them in their country. This consisted of equal pay, prevention of violence against them, pension and etc. -
Mahatma Gandhi Train Incident
A white man objected to Gandhi's presence in a first-class carriage and was ordered to move to the carriage at the end of the train. Gandhi had a first-class ticket but refused, and therefore was thrown off the train. Gandhi made a decision to stay in South Africa and fight the racial discrimination against Indians there. Out of that struggle emerged his unique version of nonviolent resistance, Satyagraha. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=duZm6OytAns -
Creation of the Muslim League
Strong advocacy for the establishment of a separate Muslim-majority nation-state, Pakistan. Its goals were to protect the interests, liberties, and rights of Muslims and to promote an understanding between the Muslim community and other Indians. Promoted non-violence. -
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World War I
World War I also known as the First World War or the Great War, was a global war originating in Europe. It was described as "the war to end all wars." Two powers known as the Allied and Central fought together for more than 4 years resulting in millions of deaths. The Allied Powers would go on to win. The League of Nation would be created due to this war along with the fall of all continental empires in Europe (including Germany, Russia, Turkey, and Austria-Hungary). -
Lucknow Pact
An agreement reached between the Indian National Congress and the Muslim League which allowed the overrepresentation to religious minorities in the provincial legislatures. This was the first time that Hindus and Muslims made a joint demand to the British for political reform. Now it was seen that Home Rule in British India was actually possible. The relationship between both parties had increased dramatically. -
Massacre at Amritsar
Troops of the British Indian Army under command Colonel Dyer fired rifles into a crowd of Indians, who had gathered in Jallianwala Bagh, Amritsar, Punjab. The Indians were there celebrating the Sikh new year. More than 1,100 were wounded and 379 dead. It is estimated though that more than 1,000 died. Dyer was censured and forced to retire by the House of Common in July 1920. He only stopped firing because he ran out of ammo. He became a celebrated hero in the UK. End British Rule in India. -
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The Salt March
Gandhi set out on a religious retreat, with several dozen followers on a journey of about 240 miles to the town Dandi on the Arabian Sea. Gandhi and his supporters were to defy British policy by making salt from seawater. More and more people joined the salt march due to Gandhi's speeches along the way. Gandhi himself was arrested along with thousands of others. He would later be released under Lord Irwin, the viceroy of India. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SITkKXDptPg -
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World War 2
World War II also known as the Second World War, was a global war that lasted for 6 years. The vast majority of the world's countries—including all the great powers—eventually formed two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis. Millions of deaths, more than World War 1 would come to follow. The Allies would later win against the Axis. This would become a downfall of Nazi Germany, the start of the Cold War, the creation of the U.N., and the beginning of the Nuclear Age. -
Quit India Speech
A Speech made by Mahatma Gandhi on the day before the Quit Indian Movement. He delivered this speech in Mumbai, and had a Do or Die attitude toward this address. The motive for his speech was to help India gain its independence. Soon after he delivered this speech the Congressional leadership was put into confinement for the rest of the war. -
Partition of India
It accompanied the creation of two independent dominions (colony, territory), India and Pakistan. India gained its independence from the British after 350 year of their presence due to tensions between Hindus and Muslims living in the country. Roughly 200,000 to 2 million people died, and 14 million people were displaced. -
Assassination of Gandhi
Mahatma Gandhi was killed by a Hindu extremist named Nathuram Vinayak Godse. He was shot three times at the Birla House where he conducted his multi-faith prayer meetings. The reason to which why he was killed was because the assassin did not like Gandhi's preach of peace within Pakistan. Thirteen days of mourning followed his death, along with no public entertainment, and flags at half mask. The assassin was sentenced to death on November 8, 1949, and was hanged on November 15, 1949.
