Timeline of Europe from 509 BCE to 1945 CE

By A Budoff
  • 509 BCE

    First Roman Republic Created

    The Romans created a republic where citizens have the right to vote.
  • 500 BCE

    Greek Voting in Athens

    Solon, the leader of Athens, granted citizens the right to vote for government officials
  • 450 BCE

    World's First Democracy Created in Athens

    Pericles, the leader of Athens, created the world's first direct democracy. The people were able to vote directly to change laws and make government decisions.
  • 431 BCE

    War Between Sparta and Athens

    Sparta and Athens, the two most powerful Greek city-states, went to war against each other. Sparta won and Athens was defeated.
  • 80 BCE

    Roman Republic Falls

    Rome had many civil wars, from which an emperor named Augustus emerged and took power. Augustus' reign led to a time of peace called the Pax Romana.
  • 4 BCE

    Jesus is Born

    Jesus of Nazareth is born. Jesus was a major religious teacher and his teachings form the basis of Christianity.
  • 312

    Christianity is Adopted in Rome

    The Roman emperor, Constantine I, converted to Christianity. Christianity became the official religion of the Roman Empire. Christians were no longer persecuted, and over the next 100 years Christianity was adopted by most of Europe.
  • 400

    Western Roman Empire Falls

    Civil wars broke out, and the Western Roman Empire fell. The Eastern Roman Empire survived and became the Byzantine Empire. This started the Middle Ages, also know as the the Medieval Ages.
  • 1054

    The Great Schism

    Christians disagreed over who should be in control of the church. The church split into the Eastern Orthodox Church and the Roman Catholic Church.
  • 1096

    The Crusades

    The crusades were military expeditions to take control of Palestine. The crusaders captured Jerusalem, which was then recaptured by the Muslims.
  • 1215

    Magna Carta

    Lords and church leaders rebelled against King John and forced him to sign the Magna Carta, which limited the king's power.
  • 1337

    Hundred Years' War

    The Hundred Years' War was fought between France and England from 1337 to 1453. France won.
  • 1400

    The Printing Press

    In the 1400s, Johanns Gutenberg invented the printing press. This machine allowed books to be printed using movable type. Bibles and other books could be created cheaper and in great numbers.
  • 1500

    The Scientific Revolution

    The Scientific Revolution was a time from the 1500s to the 1600s when scientists applied logic and reason to their studies. Many discoveries were found during this period, such as gravity and bacteria.

  • The Enlightenment

    The Enlightenment was a time from the 1600s to the 1800s when it was determined that people had natural rights and that governments existed to serve the people. Many revolutions occurred during this time, such as the American Revolution in 1776.

  • The English Bill of Rights

    The English Bill of Rights is a document signed by a new king and queen. This document limits the monarch's power and protects the rights of the English people and Parliament.

  • Industrial Revolution

    The Industrial revolution began in the mid-1700s. Machines were used in factories, which produced a greater amount of products faster.

  • World War I

    In 1914, World War I broke out in Europe. The Allies defeated the Central Forces in the largest war ever seen to that time. The war ended in 1918, with millions of casualties on both sides.

  • The Great Depression

    The Great Depression started in 1929, when the stock market collapsed. Million of Americans lost money, their homes, and struggled to obtain basic necessities. It ended in 1941, when the United Stated joined World War II.

  • World War II

    World War II officially began on September 1, 1939, when Germany invaded Poland. The Allied Forces fought against the Axis Powers. It ended in 1945 and reshaped the modern world.