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1271
Marco Polo Travels to China
Marco Polo was a European who spent and documented lots of his time in China. He worked with and was a diplomat and consort for the Mongol Empire in the 13th century. At the time, the Mongol Empire was largely unknown to the inhabitants of the Holy Roman Empire in Europe. His works drastically helped expose Europe to eastern culture. He wrote his book, The Travels of Marco Polo, that influenced many European explorers in future years. -
1300
Little Ice Age
The Little Ice Age marked a period of climate change in Europe. The climate cooled and as a result, harvests suffered. Many crops died and as the price of food rose, people often had to go hungry. This led to The reduction in their caloric intake caused them to be more susceptible to disease, allowing for disease to ravage the population. -
1309
Babylonian Captivity
During these years, the Papacy was located in Avignon at the request of the French king in order to keep a closer eye on the Church.This became known as the Babylonian Captivity in reference to the 70 years that the ancient Hebrews were held captive by the Babylonians. The Popes in Avignon lived very extravagantly and damaged the reputation of the papacy. It set the stage for a much bigger religious conflict; the Great Schism. -
1315
Great Famine
The Great Famine was a time of great scarcity throughout Europe due to a series of bad harvests. Workers who didn’t have enough to eat were less productive which meant lower output and higher prices, creating a cycle that was difficult to break out of. The food shortage also caused people to become weak and lacking the proper nourishment, they were vulnerable to disease, giving the Black Death the chance to come in and infect thousands. -
1492
Columbus Lands in the Americas
In 1492, Christopher Columbus, funded by Spain, set out in an attempt to find a new trade route to the Indian Ocean trade so he could avoid the Ottomans who controlled the land trade. His motives were mainly becoming rich, and spreading Christianity to natives.He impressed spanish royalty and this led to Spain having a massive empire in the new world, which helped them get richer, which led to other European powers exploring the new world so they wouldn’t fall behind. -
1517
95 theses
Martin Luther, a German professor and priest, was deeply troubled by the practice of selling indulgences by the Catholic church and wrote his “95 Theses on the Power of Indulgences” in which he argued that indulgences undermined salvation. This paper propelled the Protestant Reformation and began a movement to return to the true message of the Bible. -
1519
Cortes Conquers Mexico
In the early 16th century, spanish conquistador Hernan Cortes conquered the Aztec Empire in present day Mexico for Spain. He did this relatively quickly with so little troops, by turning conquered natives against the Aztecs, the diseases the Spanish brought, and the superior technology they had. Once he conquered the Aztecs, he eventually became the ruler of the area they controlled, now called New Spain. -
1521
Diet of Worms
A diet was an assembly of the nobility, clergy, and cities of the Holy Roman Empire and the Diet of Worms was the first one held by Charles V. Martin Luthor was summoned to appear at the meeting where he refused to recant any of the statements he had made. This appearance actually created an even broader audience for reform ideas. -
1526
Turkish Victory at Mahocs
This was a battle between the Ottaman Turks and the Kingdom of Hungary. The events that led up to the battle were ongoing conflicts between the Ottomans and the Hungarians, with Ottoman aggression prominent at the time. As well as this, the Hungarian throne was its most vulnerable with a weak king, Louis II, sitting on the throne. The end result of the battle was the disunification of Hungary as a Kingdom, with the region being divided between the Ottomans and the Hapsburgs. -
1532
Pizarro Conquers Inca Empire
In the 16th century, spanish conquistador Francisco Pizarro conquered the Incan Empire. Once he did, Pizarro and his conquistadors, thanks to their superior technology, wiped out the Incans, all the way until the captured the capital city, and the Incan Emperor, who Pizarro held hostage. The Incans complied with his demands, and then he went and executed the emperor, ending the Incan Empire for the most part. Later, Pizarro founded the city of Lima, in present-day Peru. -
1534
Henry VIII Ends Papal Authority in England
When Henry VIII of England was rejected an annulment of his marriage to Catherine of Aragon by the Pope, he decided to remove England from the Catholic church. By doing this, he established the church of England, a protestant church, and annulled his marriage. The end result was that the Pope had no remaining authority in England as they were no longer a Catholic country. -
1543
Scientific Revolution
It was the time period that initiated a new school of thought through advancements in math, physics, biology, chemistry, and astronomy. It marked the foundation of what is now modern science, with many of the core concepts studied today originating from this time period -
1543
Scientific Revolution
The Scientific Revolution was an era which marked the emergence of early modern science. Developments in astronomy, physics, biology, chemistry, anatomy, and mathematics transformed the views people had about the world in which people lived in. Many famous scientists that we praise today, such as: Copernicus, Galileo, Descartes, and Newton, were all apart of the Scientific Revolution. The Scientific Revolution brought along the major concepts of empiricism and rationalism. -
1545
Council of Trent
The Council of Trent was a council devoted to the counter-reformation. It was designed to restore the power of the Catholic church through desperately needed reformations. The Council also released decrees relating to proper Catholic worship, decrees on things such as scripture and mass. -
1555
Peace of Augsberg
The Peace of Augsburg was the first permanent truce between Lutherans and Catholics in Germany. Until this point, there had been many violent conflicts between the two religious factions and individual towns and villages were left divided. The treaty allowed for each town to decide whether it would be Catholic or Protestant, and the treaty also allowed for residents who wanted to move safely to do so. -
1558
Reign of Elizabeth I
The reign of Elizabeth I of England came after a period of turbulence in Britain. Before her, her half sister Mary had taken the throne and tried to restore England to a Catholic country. After her short rule, Elizabeth took over and returned England once again to a predominantly Protestant country, mainly by establishing the Church of England. Some key events during her rule were the Spanish Armada and the detainment and execution of Mary Queen of Scots -
1572
St. Bartholomew's Day Massacre
One of the most key events in the French Wars of Religion, St. Bartholomew’s Day Massacre was a turning point of the war. It was a group of targeted assassinations of Hugeot aristocrats that led to mass violence throughout France. The aggressors were Catholics, under the direction of the King, whose aim was to cripple the Protestant movement in the country. It ultimately worked, as the loss of several thousand Protestants brought the French Wars of Religion one step closer to its conclusion. -
England Defeats the Spanish Armada
The Spanish Armada was a massive fleet sent by King Phillip II of Spain to England on the orders of the Pope. After Queen Elizabeth I had Queen Mary of Scots (a Catholic) executed for plotting treason against her, the Pope told the King of Spain, Phillip II to retaliate. He sent a massive navy fleet to England to invade and reconvert England back to Catholicism. England found out beforehand, and was able to prepare accordingly. The victory by England established them as a world and sea power. -
Edict of Nantes
The Edict of Nantes was an edict signed by French King Henry IV. The edict granted French Calvinists (Huguenots) rights in Catholic France. It created a form of religious freedom that tolerated both Catholicism and Protestantism. The Edict of Nantes ended of French Wars of Religion that were happening in the 16th century. -
English Restoration
This was the restoration of the monarchy in England and was marked by the return of Charles II to the throne after Oliver Cromwell’s commonwealth. The period was marked by an expansion in colonial trade, the Anglo-Dutch Wars, and a revival of drama and literature. -
Last Outbreak of Bubonic Plague
The last outbreak of the Bubonic Plague was in the 17th century, specifically in London, England. The plague killed around 100,000 people in London, more or less a quarter of the population in the city. While it was not killing people on a scale close to the first outbreak of the infamous plague, it still certainly killed many. -
Last Outbreak of Bubonic Plague
The last outbreak of the Bubonic Plague was in London, England. It killed around a quarter of the cities population in around 18 months. A smaller scale version of the plague that affected all of Europe, the plague had similar social effects in causing many to flee the city in fear of the disease. -
Start of Peter the Great's Reign
His reign was a turning point in Russian history. He greatly modernized Russia and transformed it into a major player on the global stage. Through his numerous reforms, Russia made incredible progress in the development of its economy and trade, education, science and culture, and foreign policy. -
Revocation of Edict of Nantes
Louis XIV revoked the Edict of Nantes, which had granted Huguenots religious freedom, through the Edict of Fontainebleau. This new Edict took away religious freedom from protestants and many chose to leave the country, though they were not really allowed to do so. -
Glorious Revolution
This so-called bloodless revolution involved the overthrow of Catholic King James II, who was replaced by his daughter Mary II and her husband William III, stadholder of the United Provinces of the Netherlands. James’ catholicism made him unpopular and his close relationship to France contributed to his downfall. William and Mary accepted a more limited monarchy than any others before and adopted a Bill of Rights for the country. This was the first step to a constitutional monarchy. -
War of Spanish Succession
A conflict that arose out of the disputed succession to the throne of Spain following the death of the childless Charles II. By 1702 Europe was divided into two large factions. On one side there was an alliance between France, Bourbon Spain, Bavaria and Cologne On the contending side a coalition between Austria, England, the Dutch Republic, and Portugal decided to support a contestant to the Spanish Crown. -
Enlightenment
The Enlightenment was a philosophical movement that spread all over the western world. The Enlightenment championed major concepts of government in today’s world, such as individualism and reasoning. Many Enlightenment thinkers were deists, in that they believed in a supernatural, non-interventionist deity. -
Enlightenment
A period in Europe where there was a turning tide in philosophical and intellectual beliefs. This ultimately led to a new way of thing, which stemmed from Renaissance humanism and birthed several philosophies that still stand today such as classical liberalism. -
7 Years War & Treaty of Paris
The 7 years war was a war that pitted many of the kingdoms and countries within Europe against each other. Stemming from a dispute over the region of Silesia between Austria and Prussia, the fight quickly grew to encompass the major European powers, France, England, Austria, and Prussia, and many of the lesser countries in Europe and across the globe. The Treaty of Paris, signed by France, England, and Spain, saw England gain a significant amount of land in the New World and influence in India -
Industrial Revolution
The industrial revolution marked a period of time during the late 18th century and the 19th century where innovation and new technology allowed more efficiency in the production of goods. This created the factory system and as suggested by its name, revolutionized the economy of Europe and the world. Cities grew exponentially and the standard of living for most people rose as more jobs were available. -
Start of Reign of Catherine the Great
Catherine the Great was a ruler in Russia for 34 years, the longest time any female had spent on the Russian throne. She carried on the work of Peter the Great and westernized Russia, bringing European culture to Russia. Catherine was a patron of the arts and reorganized Russian law code. She expanded Russian territory in Europe, taking much of Poland and Crimea. She died after having a stroke on the toilet. -
Reign of Catherine the Great
The empress of Russia who significantly westernized the country, bringing it power and prestige on the global stage. She was able to expand Russian territory west into Poland and south into Crimea, while also turning Russia into one of the more prominent figures in Europe -
Watt Patents Steam Engine
By the time Watt was born, the Newcome steam engines were being used all over England. But they were quite inefficient and so Watt decided to improve on the design. He designed a separate condensing chamber for the steam engine that prevented enormous losses of steam. -
Adam Smith’s Wealth of Nations
The Scottish philosopher Adam Smith wrote a book titled An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations, commonly referred to as The Wealth of Nations. The philosophies in the book opposed many of the ideas the Declaration of Independence was based on these ideals coming from Jean-Baptiste Colbert. The book is the basis for the study of economics. -
Thomas Paine’s Common Sense
A pamphlet written by the philosopher Thomas Paine. It advocated for the thirteen colonies to revolt against the king of England and declare their independence. He preached ideals that would ultimately spark the revolution in America and the one in France. -
American Revolution
An event that gained America its independence from Great Britain. The revolutionary war that was the prerequisite for this independence was supported by the french army, and this support was a big part of why the Americans won the war. This support bankrupted France more than they already were, which led to further tensions between the nobles and peasants. Also created an example of a democratic state and the ideals behind it, which inspired the French Revolution -
Ratification of the US Constitution
The Constitution of the United States was ratified on June 21, 1788. The Constitution was one of the first constitutions in history that truly limited the power of the government, and gave power to the people instead. -
Storming of the Bastille
he Bastille was a prison in Paris, France. After word got out that King Louis XVI was sending troops to Paris to quell a rebellion, the citizens stormed the Bastille prison and stole the guns in it to protect themselves from the troops sent by the crown. The day goes down in history as France celebrates Bastille Day on July 14th every year. -
French Revolution
The French Revolution was a revolution in France that lasted for almost a decade. The revolution brought about a change of rule in France, with enlightenment ideals being brought into France, as they executed their Absolute Monarch in King Louis XVI. The revolution ended when Napoleon Bonaparte assumed complete power of The Directory. -
Wallstonecraft’s Vind. of Rts. of Women:
a ground-breaking piece of literature that promoted human rights and feminism. It still resonates in modern day feminism to this day. When the book was published, liberals gave it positive feedback, and basically everyone else in the world viewed it negatively. -
Execution of Louis XVI
There was widespread anger toward the king as they resented his absolute power and way of ruling. The revolutionaries believed that to have a government of the people, they needed to kill the king. He was charged with treason for opposing the revolution and XVI was sent to the guillotine and executed. -
Reign of Terror
A period of time during which the Committee on Public Safety sought out enemies of the revolution and sent to the guillotine to be executed. Some 17,000 people were killed and many were falsely accused. -
Napoleon Invades Russia
Napoleon led troops to Russia, where the Russians initially refused to engage in battle and retreated. They ultimately faced off in a battle and the French suffered a huge loss of 30,000 men. Napoleon still wanted Tsar Alexander to surrender but that did not happen. They retreated to Poland and of the 600,000 that were sent, only 40,000 made it out alive. -
Napoleon defeated and exiled
The Battle of Waterloo was the last attempt by Napoleon to establish himself in France and Europe. Napoleon again led troops into Russia but lost most of his men to the harsh winter. The French Empire was weakened by this and eventually, the allies (Britain, Russia, Austria, and Prussia) invaded France and restored the Bourbon monarchy. Napoleon was then exiled. -
Stephenson's Rocket
World's first steam-powered engine. Revolutionized the idea of transportation and made goods/ideas -
Congress of Vienna
A meeting of the major European powers after the Napoleonic wars to ensure that other countries would not follow with tyrannical conquests as Napoleon had. They met to keep liberal ideas from spreading and formed a Holy Alliance to keep the status quo in Europe. Also discussed reparations from France for war and restored Bourbon dynasty in France -
Battle of Waterloo
The Battle of Waterloo was a battle that ended Napoleon’s reign across all of Europe. He was defeated mostly by the British and the Prussians. Napoleon abdicated for the second time, and was once again exiled to a remote island, this time Saint Helena. He lived his remaining years out on Saint Helena. The Battle of Waterloo also marked the end of French imperialism across Europe. -
Karlsbad Decrees
The Karlsbad Decrees were a set of resolutions issued by a conference of ministers from the majority of the German states. The states at the meeting included: Prussia, Austria, Bavaria, Saxony, and many others. Metternich called for the meeting to take advantage of an opportunity to suppress liberal ideas in the german states. The decrees were very reactionary and repressive. -
Reign of Charles X
Charles X was the king of France after the death of Louis XVIII. He was about as conservative as you could get. Charles wanted to be an absolute monarch, who had divine right to the throne. He wanted to remove every aspect of the French Revolution, and go back to the way things were before the revolution. Due to his extreme conservative policies, an insurrection broke out in Paris, and Charles X fled. Louis Phillippe was given the throne. -
Reign of Louis Philippe
Louis Phillippe became king of France after Charles X fled France. He took a middle road with conservative and liberals. Overall, Louis Phillippe was a rather weak ruler, and was more of a puppet for the merchant and middle class. Due to the revolution in 1848, he eventually had to abdicate the throne. He was the last king of France. -
Great Exhibition of London
The industrial revolution brought many new inventions to the European world. The great exhibition of London showcased these new innovations and celebrated scientific endeavors.
