-
Jan 1, 1395
Johannes Gutenberg
Johannes Gutenberg was a goldsmith, businessman, printer, and publisher from Mainz, Germany who would go on to create the Printing Press, which began the revolution of the production of books. Along with the invention of the printing press, came the creation of the Gutenberg Bible. He died at the age of 70, on February 3, 1468. -
Jan 1, 1400
Capitalism
Capitalism is the social system based on individual rights. It is the system of laissez-faire, or freedom. Trade, industry, and the means of production are controlled by private owners with the goal of making profits in a market economy. -
Jan 1, 1448
The Printing Press
This device, invented by Johannes Gutenberg, made it possible, for the first time in history, for the common person the opportunity to have access to books. Many newer printing technologies were developed based on this printing machine. This device was developed based on innovations of the Chinese's earlier version of the movable type. -
Jan 1, 1455
Gutenberg Bible
Johannes Gutenberg was credited with the printing of the world's first European book using movable type. This book was named the Gutenberg Bible. It consisted of forty-two lines of text. -
Period: Jan 1, 1550 to
Scientific Revolution
The rise of modern science in the fields of mathematics, physics, astronomy, biology, and chemistry. These advancements transformed views of society and nature. The historical changes in thought and belief, to changes in social and institutional organization, occured in Europe beginning with Nicholas Copernicus and ending with Isaac Newton. -
Feb 15, 1564
Galileo Galilei
Galileo was an Italian physicist, mathematician, engineer, astronomer, and philospher who played an important role in teh scientific revolution that occured in Europe. He made major improvements to the telescope, and is sometimes considered the "father of modern observational astronomy". He died at the age of 77, on January 8, 1642. -
Apr 22, 1564
William Shakespeare
Shakespeare was a playwright, poet, and actor who would go on to be the most well known playwright in the world. His work was produced during the English Renaissance. He married Anne Hathaway and had three children. He died on April 23, 1616. -
Thomas Hobbes
Thomas Hobbes was an English philosopher who would write the book, Leviathan. He also contributed in other fields such as, history, geometry, theology, ethics, the physics of gases, and general philosophy. He lived to be 91 years old, and died on December 4, 1679. -
King Charles I
The king of England who often conflicted with Puritan Parliament. He was the son of James I, who succeeded Elizabeth I. His actions led to the English Civil War, which ended with his execution. -
John Locke
John Locke was a British philospher who was known for his liberal, anti-authoritarian theory of the state, his empirical theory of knowledge, his advocacy of religious tolerance, and his theory of personal identity. Locke was the author of Two Treatises of Government. He died in Essex on October 28, 1704. -
Period: to
English Civil War
King Charles I refused to let Parliament meet for eleven years. The time came that he was so desperate for money that he had no other choice but to reconvene Parliament. Several parliamentary leaders used the occasion to promote a decentralized church organization, which resulted in their arrest, ordered by Charles, on charges of treason. The people of London revolted, the king fled, war began. Oliver Cromwell led the opposotion of Charles, and won. The king was found and beheaded. -
Sir Isaac Newton
Isaac Newton was a skilled theoretical and experimental scientist who made major advancements in science, including his statement of the universal law of gravitation. Newton also was one of the inventors of differential calculus, and worked with experiments involving optics. He died on March 31, 1727. -
Period: to
The Enlightenment
The Enlightenment was a time in Europe that was classified as a philosophical, liberal movement that began to apply the scientific revolution to everyday life. The idea of the use of reason over authority became popular. Many different, brilliant philosophers came from this time such as John Locke, Voltaire, and Mary Wollstonecraft. -
Leviathan
Leviathan was a book written by Thomas Hobbes about the structure of society and how a strong, undivided government is important. Hobbes argues for a social contract and rule by an absolute soereign. It was written during the English Civil War -
Principia
Principia is a book which was written by Sir Isaac Newton that discusses the mathematical principles of natural philosophy. There were three editions of this book. It was originally written in Latin, and was later translated into English in 1728. -
Two Treatises of Government
This book was written by John Locke regarding political philosophy. THe first treatise analyzes and attacks patriarchalism. The second treatise outlines Locke's ideas on natural rights and contract theory that would result in a more civilized society. -
Baron de Montesquieu
Montesquieu was a French social commentator and political thinker who lived during the enlightenment. His theory of separation of powers is widely popular. This ideas were all used in the creation of his book, The Spirit of Laws. -
Voltaire
Voltaire was a French Enlightenment writer, philosopher, and historian. He was known for his attacks against the Catholic Church, his advocacy of freedom of religion and expression, and his promotion of the separation of church and state. His real name was François-Marie Arouet, Voltaire was his pen name. -
Period: to
Agricultural Revolution in Europe
The Agricultural Revolution in Europe was the gradual transformation of the traditional agricultural system that began in Britain. Some of the aspects of this revolution included the reallocation of land ownership to make farms more compact and an increase investment in technological improvements. The improvements included new machinery, better drainage, crossbreeding, and crop rotation. This revolution was an essential prelude to the Industrial Revolution that occured. -
Jean-Jacques Rousseau
Rousseau was a Genevan philosopher, composer, and writer whose political philosophy influenced the French Revolution. HE is the author of The Social Contract. He wrote several operas, and made some contributions to music as a theorist. He was the most popular philisopher to be a member of the Jacobin Club. -
Adam Smith
Adam Smith was a Scottish moral philosopher and an important figure of political economy. He was also a significant figure of the Scottish Enlightenment. One of his best known works was his book, The Wealth of Nations. -
James Watt
James Watt was a Scottish inventor and mechanical engineer whose improvements upon the existing steam engine, brought forth the rapid success of the Industrial Revolution. This engine was called the Watt steam engine. He died at the age of 83 in 1819. -
Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson was one of America's founding fathers. He was the main author of the Declaration of Independence, and became the third president of the United States of America. Jefferson oversaw the purchase of the vast Louisiana Territory from the French and was responsible for the Lewis and Clark Expedition. He was also a leader of the Enlightenment, who spoke five different languages and was interested in science, invention, architecture, religion, and philosophy. -
Toussaint L'Ouverture
Toussaint was the leader of the Haitian Revolution. Haiti gained its independence and abolished slavery due to his military and political leadership. Because of him, Haiti became the first black-ruled republic in the Americas. He died in exile in France. -
The Spirit of Laws
The Spirit of Laws was a book written by Baron de Montesquieu. It was written in French in 1748, and began to influence other cultures due to its rapid translation beginning. It covered topics that included many things such as the law, social life, and the study of anthropology. Montesquieu promoted a constitutional system of government, the separation of powers, the end of slavery, and the preservation of civil liberties and the law. -
Factory System
This system was first used in England at the beginning of the Industrial Revolution as a method of manufacturing. This replaced the cottage industry. The main factor to this new system was the use of machinery. -
Miguel Hidalgo
Hidalgo was a Mexican priest who launched the first stage of the Mexican war for independence. He appealed to mestizos and Indians, and therefore, viewed with suspicion by Mexican criollos. He was captured and executed in 1811. -
King Louis XVI
The King of France whose inability to adequately reform the French fiscal system, began to drain money from the people of France, and in turn led to the French Revolution. After him and his wife, Marie Antoinette, showed reluctance to rule as a constitutional monarch, they were arrested and beheaded by republican revolutionaries. -
Marie Antoinette
Marie Antoinette was born as the archduchess of Austria, and became the wife of King Louis XVI, of France. She was not particularly liked by the French people due to her lavish spending. In fact, she became known as Madame Deficit. She, and her husband were executed by revolutionaries. -
Period: to
Industrial Revolution
This revolution was the great transition to new manufacturing processes, such as new machines, new chemical manufacturing, improved efficiency of the use of water power, popularity of steam power, and the develpment of machine tools. Textiles were the dominant industry during this era. This time period marks a major turning point in history. It began in Great Britain and spread to Western Europe and the United States. -
The Social Contract
The Social Contract was a book written by Jean-Jacques Rousseau about the best way to set up a political community while enduring problems of commercial society. This book helped inspire political reforms and revolutions in Europe, specifically in France. Rousseau argued that only people who are sovereign have the powerful right to legislate. -
Jose Maria Morelos
Morelos was a Mexican priest who led the Mexican War of Independence movement, after the execution of Hidalgo. He was later captured by the Spanish colonial authorities and executed for treason on December 22, 1815, at the age of 50. -
Napoleon Bonaparte
Napoleon was a military commander who gained control of France after the French Revolution. He declared himself as the emperor in 1804 and attempted to expand French territory, but failed when he could not beat Great Britain and overthrown in 1814. He died in exile in 1821. -
Steam Engine
The Steam Engine, developed by James Watt, produced continuous rotative motion. It was a huge advancement that would boost efficiency during the Indutrial Revolution. It was teh first steam engine to make use of steam at a pressure just above atmospheric to drive the piston helped by a partial vacuum. -
Period: to
The American Revolution
The American Revolution was the battle against the Thirteen American Colonies and Great Britain, because of the United States' desire to be a free and independent nation without the control of Britain. Some of the events that led up to the revolution consist of Parliament's taxation placed on the colonists without giving them any elected representation, the Boston Tea Party, and the Intolerable Acts. George Washington was the commander-in-chief of the Continental Army. -
The Wealth of Nations
An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations, or more commonly known as The Wealth of Nations, was written by Adam Smith and disussed the factors that go into building a nation's wealth. The book also covers topics such as division of labor, productivity, and free markets. -
USA Independence
-
The Declaration of Independence
This document was written mainly by Thomas Jefferson, and it was the official announcement of the separation of the thirteen original American colonies from Great Britain. It declared that these colonies were now an independent, new nation, the United States of America. -
Jose De San Martin
Martin was an Argentine general and the prime leader of the southern part of South America's successful struggle for independence from the Spanish Empire. He is viewed as a national hero of Argentina and Peru, and one of the liberaors of Spanish South America. He died on August 17, 1850, at the age of 72. -
Simon Bolivar
-
Simon Bolivar
Simon Bolivar was born in Venezuela. He led military forces throughtour Ecuador, Bolivia, Columbia, and Peru. He was became the most important military leader in the struggle for independence in South America. He became known as "El Libertador" to many people in South America. -
American Constitution
The American Constitution is the official document that rules as the supreme law of the United States of America. It was organized by the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The laws are refered to as amendments. It is still in place today, and is interpreted by constitutional law. -
First Estate
The first estate consisted of 1% of the population, which was the clergy. This was the highest ranking of the legal estates of the French society. -
Second Estate
The Second Estate consisted of 1% of the population, which was the nobility. They, along with the First Estate, had most of the power in the French legal society. -
Jacobins
Jacobins were the most radical republican faction in the National Convention. They organized a military force that saved the republic. They were led by Maximilien Robespierre, who ruled by decree and set in motion the Reign of Terror. -
Estates General
The Estates General was the representaive assembly of the three estates of France. It was the first meeting since 1614. It was called by King Louis XVI to propose solutions to his government's financial problems. When the three estates went to vote on the matters, the first and second estates were favored over the third estate. This resulted in the people of the third estate to form the National Assembly. -
The National Assembly
The National Assembly was the prior third estate. This group of people were angry at the King and the first and second estates because they were'nt fairly viewed when voting. This Assembly launched the French Revolution. They agreed on the "Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen", which they forced the King to sign. -
Period: to
The French Revolution
The French Revolution was a period of social, radical, and political upheaval in France that inpacted modern history greatly. It ultimately resulted in the abolition of the French monarchy. The start of this revolution began with the poor ruling of King Louis XVI. -
Bastille Day
Bastille Day is the commemoration of the beginning of the French Revolution that began with the Storming of the Bastille, a prison in Paris. On this day, a mob stormed this prison, and demanded the arms and ammuntion being stored there. When the force guarding the building resisted, the attackers captured the prison, and released the prisoners being held there. It became a symbol of the beginning of the French Revollution. -
The Declaration of the Rights on Man and Citizen
The document created by the National Assembly that declared that freedom of thought and religion were now established, and mandatory payments to the Catholic Church were eliminated. It also said that men are born and remain free and equal in rights. -
Period: to
The Haitian Revolution
The Haitian Revolution was a slave reolt in the French colony of Saint-Domingue. This revolt was the only one of its kind, due to its success. Toussaint L'Ouverture was the leader of this revolution. Haiti finally became an independent country on January 1, 1804. -
Guillotine
The guillotine was a device designed for carrying out executions by beheading. The angled blade would be released from the top of the tall structure to swiftly behead the condemned person, who was secured at the bottom of the frame. This device was popular during the French Revolution. -
A Vindication of the Rights of Women
This was a book written by Mary Wollstonecraft, an English author and reformer who advocated equality of rights for women. This was one of the earliest works of feminist philosophy. She argues that women should have an education and deserve the same fundamental rights as men. -
Committee on Public Safety
The Committee on Public Safety was created in France by the National Convention. Maximilien Robespierre was the head of the committee. Its role was to protect the newly established republic against foreign attacks and internal rebellion. -
Bank of France
This is the central bank of France, and is linked to the European Central Bank. It is located in Paris, France. The Protestant bankers, who were involved in the rise of Napoleon during the French Revolution, were rewarded for their support when he gave them a monopoly over French finance by giving them control over the new Bank of France. -
Haiti Independence
-
Napoleonic Code
This code is the French civil code established under Napoleon. The code forbade priveleges based on birth, allowed freedom of religion, and specified that government jobs should go to the most qualified. It was a major step in repacing the previous patchwork of feudal laws. -
Venezuela Independence
-
Columbia Independence
-
Mexico Independence
-
Chile Independence
-
Paraguay Independence
-
Argentina Independence
-
Karl Marx
Karl Marx was a economist, historian, philosopher, and revolutionary socialist. He was the author of The Communist Manifesto and Das Kapital. His work in economics laid the basis for the currect understanding of labor and its relation to capital. Marx's theories about society, economics, and politics, known as Marxism, hold that human societies progress through class struggle. -
Electricity
Electricity was one of the most important inventions for the Industrial Revolution. By the late 1800s, hydroelectric power was spread through wires over long distances. It provided fast communication, powered light bulbs, and electric motors. -
Petroleum
Petroleum became a very important factor in the Industrial Revolution, just like electricity, because of the things that could be powered by petroleum. This led to faster production and higher quantities. -
Peru Independence
-
Ecuador Independence
-
Brazil Independence
-
Cottage Industry
This industry was based on the creation of products and services in one's home, rather than in a factory. Some industries which are usually operated from large centralized factories were cottage industries before the Industrial Revolution. -
Bolivia Independence
-
Uruguay Independence
-
The Communist Manifesto
The Communist Manifesto is a short publication written by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels. It is one of the world's most influencial political documents. It contains Marx and Engels' theories about the nature of society and politics. -
Communism
Communism is a socioeconomic system based on a common owership of the means of production. This idea was introduced by Karl Marx, and was adopted by Lenin. There is an absense of classes, money, and the state. -
Bessemer Process
This process was the first inexpensive industrial prosess for the mass production of steel from molten pig iron prior to the open hearth furnace. Henry Bessemer, was the developer of this device and its process. The key factor is the removal of impurities from the iron by oxidation with air being blown through the molten iron. -
Vladimir Lenin
Lenin was the Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars of the Soviet Union, a position that he created. He was a Russian communist revolutionary, politian, and political theorist. Under his administration, the Russian Empire was replaced by the Soviet Union, a one-party socialist state. He died at the age of 53, in 1924. -
Interchangeable Parts
These parts are components that are identical. They are made to specifications to ensure that they will fit into any assembly of the same type. This idea was crucial to the introduction of the assembly line in the early 1900s. It allowed the easy assembly of new devies, and easier repair of existing devices. -
Period: to
Mexican Revolution
The Mexican Revolution was a major armed struggle that started with an uprising by Francisco I. Over time, the Revolution had changed from a revolt against the established order to a multi-sided civil war with frequently shifting power struggles. This lasted until 1920. -
Period: to
Russian Revolution
A series of revolutions in Russia, is collectively known as the Russian Revolutions. This resulted in the removal of the Tsarist autocracy and led to the creation of the Russian SFSR. The abdication of Nicholas II was during this time, and Vladimir Lenin, a Bolshevik, replaced him.
