-
500 BCE
Theraveda Buddhism (CDI)
The more traditional form of Buddhism which acknowledges the Buddha’s humanity. It is widely practiced in countries such as Thailand, Myanmar, Cambodia, Sri Lanka, and Laos. -
500 BCE
Daosim (CDI)
Religion that began in East Asia that emphasized living according to the laws of nature and looking towards nature as a guiding principle of how to live. -
497 BCE
Confucianism (CDI)
A philosophy that was developed in China based on the teachings and life of Confucius. It emphasizes the idea of roles and responsibilities in society and that to bring peace and order, everyone must act according to their role. It is extremely influential and guides governance and culture in China, as well as where it spread to Japan and Korea. -
497 BCE
Filial Piety (CDI/SIO)
An important component of Confucianism and Chinese culture that emphasizes respect of one’s ancestors and elders. -
Period: 250 BCE to 900 BCE
Maya City States (GOV)
Systems of governance in Mayan culture were decentralized into local rulers who claimed divinity. -
206 BCE
Magnetic Compass (TEC)
The Magnetic Compass was invented during the Han Dynasty in China. The compass was adopted by the Song Dynasty and later by the Europeans because of its capabilities to allow ships to not rely on the coasts. -
Period: 130 BCE to 1453
Silk Roads (ECN)
Trade network connecting Asia and Europe that spread goods, people, and culture. Focused primarily on luxury goods such as silk, porcelain, and spices such as saffron. During the Pax-Mongolica, the Silk Roads flourished due to the high level of safety Mongol domination provided to the Silk Roads. -
100 BCE
Mahayana Buddhism (CDI)
Form of Buddhism that is popular in China, Japan, and Korea and considers Buddha a deity. It is the largest sect of Buddhism today and was the result of syncretism. -
10
Sternpost Rudder Used by Europeans (TEC)
Invented during the Han Dynasty in the first century, the sternpost rudder allowed for easier steering and control. It made its way to Europe through trade. -
98
Lateen Sail (TEC)
Sail developed in the Dar-Al-Islam that allowed for travel against winds. Important for maritime trade (UNIT 2). -
500
Astrolabe is Invented (TEC)
Navigational aid developed in Dar-Al-Islam that could determine location using the stars and planets. Important for trade (UNIT 2). -
750
House of Wisdom (TEC)
Learning center and library in Baghdad which opened in the eighth century and was integral in the translation and preservation of knowledge. -
Period: 750 to 1258
Abbasid Caliphate (GOV)
Muslim caliphate centered around Baghdad (Iran) that spread influence through large parts of Asia, Europe, and Africa. The caliphate was instrumental in the development of technology and knowledge through things such as the House of Wisdom. In 1258, the Mongol Empire took control of the Abbasid Caliphate. -
800
Gunpowder is Discovered (TEC)
Gunpowder was discovered by the Chinese by Chinese monks during the 9th century when trying to discover a magical elixir. Later, as this spread along trade routes, it became incredibly important and increased empires ability to expand. (UNIT 3, LAND BASED EMPIRES EXPAND) -
Period: 800 to 1400
Feudalism in Europe (SIO)
European social system where peasants lived on the land they worked in exchange for protection from nobles. Was used due to the decentralized nature of Western Europe during the Middle Ages. -
Period: 800 to 1500
Indian Ocean Basin Trade
Maritime trade route that transported bulk goods along the Indian Ocean. The Indian Ocean Basin Trade was the center of the trade world during the time period 1200-1450. -
Period: 960 to 1279
Song Dynasty (GOV)
Chinese dynasty from 960-1279 that made major strides in government, and technology and left a lasting imprint on Chinese culture. -
1000
Neo-Confucianism (CDI)
A revival of Confucianism emerged in the Song Dynasty which incorporated elements of Buddhism and Daoism. -
1012
Champa Rice is Introduced to China (ENV)
A variety of rice was able to procure multiple harvests per year and was drought resistant. This had the ability to sustain and feed China's large population and upon its introduction as a gift during the Song Dynasty, and led to more population growth. -
Period: 1037 to 1306
Seljuk Empire (GOV)
Turkish Empire who were Sunni Muslim and operated in Central Asia. They expanded into modern-day Iran, which transformed the empire's Persian culture. They unified large parts of Central Asia and played an important role in the First and Second Crusades. -
Period: 1095 to 1492
Crusades (SIO)
Series of wars and conflicts waged by Christian armies in an attempt to claim Holy Land and convert Muslims to Christianity -
Period: 1206 to 1277
Mongol Empire under Genghis Khan
The Mongols established the largest contiguous land empire in history as nomadic people from Central Asia. They conquered through brutal, violent methods, yet when they established power, brought peace to the trade routes due to their expansive control. Upon the death of leader Genghis Khan, the empire was split into four Khanates. -
Period: 1206 to 1526
Delhi Sultanate (GOV)
A kingdom in Northern India from 1206-1526 in which Muslims ruled over the majority population of Hindus. -
1215
Magna Carta is Signed
British document that was signed to limit the rights and power of the kings. Influenced future political development such as the English Bill of Rights. -
Period: 1250 to 1350
Great Zimbabwe (GOV)
African state between 1250-1350 that was prosperous as a result of the gold trade on the East African Coast. -
1258
Siege of Baghdad (GOV)
The Mongols invade Baghdad, ending the Abbasid Caliphate and destroying the House of Wisdom along with its contents. The Mongol takeover of the Abbasid Caliphate marked the end of the Islamic Golden Age. -
Period: 1271 to 1295
Marco Polo's Travels (CDI)
Marco Polo was a traveler from Venice whose books about China and Central Asia sparked interest in Europeans about faraway cultures -
Period: 1279 to 1368
Yuan Dynasty (GOV)
Chinese Dynasty that followed the Song Dynasty and was ruled by Mongols from 1279-1368 in which religious tolerance was practiced and arts and literature flourished. Much more decentralized as a government. -
1283
Grand Canal is Finished (TEC)
The Grand Canal was a major technological feat that connected North China to South China. Construction of the canal began in the 7th century during the Sui Dynasty but was strengthened and much was rebuilt by the Ming Dynasty. -
Period: 1299 to
Ottoman Empire (GOV)
The Ottoman Empire was a Muslim empire that was at its height during the 17th century, spanning three continents. They used the system of devshirme, taking young boys from the Balkans and training them to be loyal bureaucrats and elite warriors called Janissaries. The empire declined due to a lack of industrialization, WWI, European rivalry, nationalist movements, etc. -
1325
Mansa Musa's Pilgrimage (GOV/CDI)
Mansa Musa was an extremely wealthy king of the Mali Kingdom who converted to Islam and spread Islam through Africa through his pilgrimage to Mecca. -
Period: 1325 to 1354
Ibn Battuta's Travels (CDI)
Muslim traveler and scholar who traveled the Dar-Al-Islam and documented it in a book, The Rihlah. -
Period: 1347 to 1351
Bubonic Plague (ENV)
An extremely contagious disease that spread on trade routes leading to a global pandemic -
Period: 1368 to
Ming Dynasty (GOV)
Chinese Dynasty following the Yuan Dynasty improved infrastructure and saw a double in population size. The Ming Dynasty built the Forbidden City and reintroduced the Civil Service Exam. -
1369
Civil Service Exam is Reintroduced (GOV)
The Civil Service Exam was a system of choosing educated bureaucrats in China that was based on Confucian thinking. It was first developed in the Sui Dynasty but was abandoned during the Yuan Dynasty under Mongol Rule. The Ming Dynasty brought back the Civil Service Exam, and it remained a way to decide bureaucratic officials until 1905. -
Period: 1400 to 1533
Incan Empire Flourishes (GOV)
The Incan Empire was the largest indigenous empire in the Americas and they lived in the South American Andes. The empire was centralized and centered largely around agriculture. They developed a system using knotted ropes to keep records called quipu and used a forced labor system called the mita. -
Period: 1405 to 1433
Zheng He's Voyages (ECN/CDI)
A Chinese Muslim whose voyages in the Indian Ocean helped to spread and emphasize Chinese dominance in maritime trade and culture -
Period: 1428 to 1521
Mexica Empire (GOV)
The Mexica Empire was in Mexico, centered around the large city, of Tenochtitlan. They were largely decentralized with local rulers and ruled using polytheistic religions that relied on tributes. The Mexica used innovative agricultural technology such as chinampas, which were floating agricultural plots. -
1440
Printing Press Invented (TEC)
The printing press was invented by Johannes Gutenberg and allowed for much quicker dissemination of information throughout Europe. -
1450
Caravel is Invented (TEC)
The caravel is invented around 1450 by Prince Henry the Navigator who was from Portugal. These were Portuguese ships that were much smaller and facilitated quicker trade. -
1453
Ottomans Capture Constantinople (GOV)
The Ottoman capture of Constantinople marked the end of the Byzantine Empire, a Christian Empire. The Byzantine Empire had been in a long period of decline. -
1469
Sikhism Begins (CDI)
Sikhism is a monotheistic religion that was founded in the fifteenth century after the birth of the first guru, Guru Nanak, in 1469. It was founded in India and combines the principles of both Hinduism and Islam. -
1492
Columbus Sails to the "New World" (CDI)
Columbus "discovered" the New World in 1492 when he landed in the Bahamas. With him, he brought disease as well as goods, changing global interactions forever. -
1492
The Spanish Expulsion (CDI)
Jewish people were expelled from Spain and Portugal by Ferdinand and Isabella in 1492. Many of the expelled Jews fled to the Ottoman Empire, who provided them with safety and religious freedom. -
Period: 1500 to
Mercantilism (ECN)
Economic system which emphasized the idea of fixed wealth. It was the most widely used economic system from the 16th century to the 18th century and focused on maintaining a favorable balance of trade, meaning that exports outweighed imports. -
Period: 1501 to
Safavid Empire (GOV)
The Safavid Empire was a gunpowder empire who were Shi'a Muslims, causing many conflicts with their Sunni Ottoman neighbors. The empire spanned modern-day Iran and neighboring countries and was founded by Shah Ismail in 1501. Literature, arts, and architecture flourished in the Safavid empire, and Shi'a Islam was the governing religion. -
Period: 1503 to
Encomienda System (ECN)
The right given to the Spanish colonizers to use the Natives on their land as forced labor. The Spanish crown granted the right to colonizers. -
1517
Martin Luther Publishes his 95 Theses
Martin Luther posted his 95 Theses on the door of a church in Wittenberg to air his grievances against the Catholic Church. This act marked the beginning of the Protestant Reformation. -
Period: 1517 to
Protestant Reformation (CDI)
Religious Movement which led to changes in both Europe and the Catholic church. The main concerns were the selling of indulgences and the corruption of the Catholic Church. -
Period: 1519 to 1522
Magellan Circumnavigates the Earth
Sponsored by the Spanish crown, Portuguese sailor, Ferdinand Magellan circumnavigated the globe. However, while in the Philippines, he was killed but since one of the ships finished the journey, circumnavigation was complete. -
Period: 1523 to
Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade (SIO)
The slave trade transported 10-12 million slaves from Africa to the Americas. -
1524
Cortez Conquers the Mexica (GOV)
After a three-month siege, Hernan Cortez and the Spanish conquistadores conquered Tenochtitlan, and with it, ended the Mexica Empire. -
Period: 1526 to
Mughal Empire (GOV)
The Mughal Empire were Muslims who ruled over a majority Hindu population in India and centralized the government of India. They fostered development in the arts and culture, and under Akbar the Great, religious tolerance was practiced and maintained. They used local kings called Zamindars to collect taxes for the bureaucracy. -
1543
Silver is Discovered at Potosi (ECN)
When the Spanish discovered silver in the Andes mountains in Potosi, it spurred global trade. The Spanish enlisted the forced labor of thousands of Native Americans (through the mit'a system), who mined the silver which was then sent to Spain or Manila to be distributed throughout the world. It was used as a form of currency, and allowed for more trade between the Spanish and rest of the world. -
Period: 1550 to
Scientific Revolution (CDI/TEC)
An influential time period when scientists and philosophers such as Galileo, Copernicus, Kepler, and Newton expanded scientific knowledge and developed the scientific method. -
Period: 1556 to
Akbar the Great rules the Mughal Empire (GOV/SIO)
Akbar the Great was a Mughal ruler who promoted religious tolerance and ruled at the height of the Mughal Empire. He unified the Empire by working with both Muslims and Hindus and extending the influence of the Mughal Empire. -
Period: 1573 to
Mit'a System (GOV/ECN)
Program used in Incan Empire that mandated labor for a set amount of time. -
Fluyt is Invented (TEC)
The Fluyt, a Dutch ship, is invented in the late sixteenth century. This ship was designed for the specific purpose of trade, rather than war. -
British East India Company Established (ECN)
The British East India Company was a joint stock company. These were companies that monopolized trade in the Indian Ocean and were backed by investors which allowed for minimal risk. -
Dutch East India Company is Established (ECN)
Another joint stock company chartered by the Dutch to establish trade in Asia. They eventually became larger than the British East India Company and monopolized the spice trade. -
Period: to
Tokugawa Shogunate (GOV)
The Tokugawa Shogunate was a feudal government in Japan. They worked to centralize Japan by moving the capital to Tokyo and requiring all daimyos (the warrior class) to move to the capital. The shogunate was ruled by a shogun and a class of military lords called the daimyo, who helped rule more locally. Foreign trade was largely restricted and highly regulated. -
Period: to
Chattel Slavery (SIO)
System of forced labor typically used in the Americas characterized by the slaves being the property of their owners. -
Period: to
Qing Dynasty (GOV)
The Qing Dynasty was established by the Manchus, who came from Manchuria in the Northeast and ousted the Shun Dynasty. While they worked to implement Chinese culture in their government, such as implementing the Civil Service Examination but were still strict in maintaining their cultural identity away from the Han Chinese. Intermarriage was banned between Manchu and Han, and Han men were required to wear their hair in a queue, a typical Manchu hairstyle. -
Leviathan (GOV)
Thomas Hobbes introduced the idea of the social contract in his book, Leviathan. The social contract is the idea that the people and the government are engaged in a mutual contract with mutual benefits. The people, given that they are born with inalienable rights, give up some of the rights to allow leaders power, and in exchange, the government promises to protect the rights of the people. If the contract is not upheld, the people have the right to replace the government. -
Period: to
Metacom's War (GOV)
Also known as King Philip's War, it was a series of violent conflicts between Natives and European colonists (along with their Native allies). Led by Metacom, the Native Americans sought to rid their land of colonists who had displaced them. -
Pueblo Revolts (CDI)
Revolt against Spanish rule that drove Spanish out of Southwest for over a decade -
Two Treatises of Government (GOV/SIO)
John Locke's highly influential book introduced the idea of natural rights. This is the idea that people are born with certain inalienable rights such as life, liberty, and property. -
Period: to
The Enlightenment (CDI/GOV/SIO)
An intellectual and philosophical period that emphasized reason, rationality, and individualism. This period was incredibly influential in politics, economics, and social justice efforts. -
In the Spirit of Laws (GOV)
Baron de Montesquieu's book which introduced the idea of separation of powers and a system of checks and balances. -
Period: to
7 Years' War (GOV)
Also known as the French and Indian War. It was a war fought between France and Great Britain that had many lasting impacts. Because of the debts incurred by the French, the beginnings of the French Revolution can be seen. Through this war, the English defined themselves as a strong naval and military power, but so did the Americans who fought for them, which can be seen to lead to the American Revolution. -
Period: to
First Industrial Revolution (ECN/TEC)
The First Industrial Revolution was focused on steam power with the invention of the steam engine and the discovery of fossil fuels. It began in Great Britain and then spread throughout Europe and to the United States leading to industrialization, urbanization, and the development of many different technologies. -
Period: to
American Revolution (GOV)
The American Revolution gave the United States independence from Great Britain following unfair taxation and lack of representation in Parliament. It was heavily inspired by Enlightenment ideals and came as a result of the Revolutionary War. -
Common Sense is Published (CDI)
Common Sense was the American pamphlet written by Thomas Paine in which he outlined the reasons for independence from Great Britain. It was incredibly influential and led to cries for independence. -
Wealth of Nations if Published (ECN)
Adam Smith's book, the Wealth of Nations describes how a country could become wealthy. The book can be seen as the beginning or inspiration of free-market capitalism. -
Estates General of 1789 (GOV)
At this meeting, the Three Estates (French system of assembly consisting of the clergy, nobility, and commons) was called to address the economic situation of France, which had spent the last few decades spending exorbitantly. It resulted in the ended of the Estates General, the forming of the National Assembly, and is widely considered to be the start of the French Revolution. -
Period: to
French Revolution (GOV)
Because of inspiration from both the Enlightenment and the American Revolution, the French stormed the Bastille and overthrew the absolute monarchy of Louis XIV. In the wake, Napoleon established the French empire. -
Period: to
Haitian Revolution (GOV)
The Haitian Revolution was led by Toussaint L'Ouverture and was a slave revolt against the Spanish colonizers in Saint Domingue. As a result, this was the first successful slave revolt and the first independent black republic. -
A Vindication of the Rights of Woman (SIO)
Mary Wollstonecraft published her book in 1792 and argued against the inferiority of women and advocated for education for women. -
Period: to
Sokoto Caliphate (GOV)
A Muslim nation in West Africa which was ruled by a Caliph (political+religious leader) and was the largest African state in the 19th century. -
Period: to
Latin American Revolutions (GOV)
The Latin American Revolutions were a series of revolutions led by Simon Bolivar where Creoles rose up against the Peninsulares and led to the development of many independent nations. -
Britain Bans the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade (SIO)
-
Period: to
Zulu Kingdom (GOV)
State in Southern Africa that was extremely centralized due to their strong military presence and ruling. -
Monroe Doctrine (GOV)
The Monroe Doctrine was made by James Monroe. In it, he announced that the Western Hemisphere was under the United States' control and that no European countries had the right to colonize countries under the United States protectorate. -
Period: to
Tanzimat Reforms (SIO)
Series of reforms in the Ottoman Empire that tried to modernize the Ottoman Empire with more Western ideals. These attempts largely failed due to a rejection of the modern ideals by traditional elites, although aspects of the Ottoman did modernize. -
Period: to
First Opium War (GOV/ECN)
Britain was trading silver for Chinese tea, which resulted in unbalanced trade, which the British rectified through the trade of opium. However, when the Chinese emperor outlawed opium, the British continued to sell it to the Chinese people, as they were addicted. In response, the Chinese government destroyed a large amount of British opium, sparking the war and eventual British victory which led to the signing of the Treaty of Nanjing. -
Treaty of Nanjing (ECN)
The Treaty of Nanjing was the treaty that ended the first Opium War. It is known as the Unequal Treaty because China was required to open up ports to trade with European powers and gave Hong Kong up to the British. -
Communist Manifesto Published (ECN)
Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels introduced Marxism through the Communist Manifesto. As a response to increased industrialization in Germany and the mistreatment of the working class, Marx and Engels argued for a society without class, where the proletariat controlled the means of production, rather than capitalists. -
Seneca Falls Convention (SIO)
The first convention regarding women's rights and suffrage. In attendance were people such as Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Lucretia Mott, and Frederick Douglass (the only African-American there). At the convention, they signed the Declaration of Sentiments, as written by Stanton, which mirrors the Declaration of Independence and calls for more rights for women. -
Period: to
Taiping Rebellion (GOV)
The Taiping Rebellion was a peasant uprising, in which Hong Xiuquan, who claimed to be the son of God, and his followers, took over control of the city of Nanjing for over a decade before the Qing Dynasty was able to regain control with the help of Western powers. As a result, an estimated 20 million people died, making it one of the most deadly events in history. -
Sepoy Rebellion
Indian rebellion against British rule. Initially began over suspicions over the use of animal fats to grease bullet cartridges of the sepoys (soldiers) which went against their religious beliefs. -
Treaty of Kanagawa (ECN)
At pressure from Commodore Matthew Perry, Japan opened its borders to trade with the signing of the Treaty of Kanagawa. Perry first arrived with US gunships in 1853, but Japan was reluctant to speak. However, after mounting pressure, when he returned in 1854, the Japanese finally opened their borders to trade. -
Period: to
Second Opium War (GOV/ECN)
Fought between the Chinese and the British/French. Frustration over the continued opium trade frustrated the Chinese. Tensions mounted when Chinese officials took over the British ship, Arrow, and detained crew members. Fighting then broke out in Canton, where the British were victorious and the Chinese signed the Treaty of Tientsin. These wars weakened the Qing Dynasty and allowed for much more foreign influence in China. -
Period: to
Xhosa Cattle-Killing Movement (GOV)
Southern African resistance movement by the Xhosa people in which it was believed that by killing all of their cattle, their ancestors would return to reclaim their land from Europeans. -
Treaty of Tientsin (ECN/GOV)
This series of treaties ended the Second Opium War. It expanded the Treaty of Nanjing by opening even more Chinese ports to trade. It also handed over the Kowloon Province to the British, allowed Europeans to freely travel in the interior of China, gave residence to European officials in Beijing, and gave Christian missionaries the right to travel throughout China. -
Russian Serfdom Ends (SIO)
Alexander II emancipated the serfs in 1861. -
Period: to
Self Strengthening Movement (GOV/ECN)
Movement in the Qing Dynasty attempted to introduce Western economics and modernization such as the building of factories and railroads and Western military training. The goal was to modernize in order to be better able to defend themselves against outside influence or powers. -
Emancipation Proclamation (SIO)
Proclamation by Abraham Lincoln that declared that all enslaved people in the Confederate states were to be immediately freed. However, it is important to consider the fact that Lincoln didn't have much power in Confederate states because they has seceded. -
Slavery is Abolished in the United States (SIO)
The United States abolished slavery upon the passing of the 13th Amendment. -
Period: to
King Leopold of Belgium Rules the Congo (GOV)
-
Suez Canal is Opened (ECN)
The canal built by the Egyptians and French which drastically reduced the distance needed to travel between Europe and Asia/Africa. -
Meiji Restoration (GOV)
The Meiji Restoration brought the end of the Tokugawa Shogunate and took power away from the shoguns, daimyo, and samurai. Feudalism was ended, and rapid industrialization and modernization commenced under the leadership of the Meiji. -
Period: to
Second Industrial Revolution (ECN)
The Second Industrial Revolution focused on steel, chemicals, and electricity rather than steam power in the First Industrial Revolution. -
Unification of Germany (GOV)
Under the leadership of Otto Von Bismarck, Germany became unified under one leadership because of the ideals of nationalism. Because of common language and cultural ideals, Von Bismarck was able to unify Germany. He followed the ideals of Realpolitik, which meant he made decisions based on practicality rather than aligning with a specific ideological framework. -
Italy is Unified (GOV)
Unification began in 1848 but wasn't fully successful until Camillo di Cavour united Italy in 1871. Cavour was a proponent of Realpolitik and used it in his decision-making, along with promoting nationalism and using it as a unifying force. -
Berlin Conference (GOV)
The Berlin Conference was a conference where European leaders met to discuss the partitioning of Africa amongst themselves. No African delegates were present at the conference, and borders were drawn without any considerations apart from European imperialism. -
Period: to
Mahdist Wars (GOV)
Series of wars in Sudan fought between the British/Ottomans and Mahdist state under Muhammad Ahmad. The Mahdists rebelled against Ottoman rule, and the British intervened due to vested interests in Sudan and eventually defeated the Mahdists. -
Chinese Exclusion Act (SIO)
A law that banned the immigration of Chinese people to the United States. -
Founding of Indian National Congress (GOV)
Indian political group founded by western-educated Indians who sought to reform the government and fight for more participation. In the 1920s-1930s, they began to work as an influential body in fighting for Indian independence from British imperial rule -
Period: to
Ghost Dance Rebellion (GOV)
A religious and cultural movement in the United States among Natives who believed that by performing a ritual dance, their ancestors would come back to rid their lands of Europeans. The United States saw this movement as threatening and therefore took action to stop it. -
First Modern Olympic Games (CDI)
The modern Olympic Games are a symbol of globalization as they began in 1896, bringing together countries from all around the world. -
United Fruit Company (ECN)
A multinational company from the United States that exerted extreme control over underdeveloped nations in Central and Latin America. In many instances, they influenced political, economic, and other important decisions such as infrastructure development, cementing Western dominance over underdeveloped nations. -
Period: to
Boxer Rebellion (GOV)
The Boxer Rebellion was a peasant uprising with the goal of removing foreign influence from China. Boxers were a Chinese secret society that resented European imperialism and the foreign influence it brought. -
White Australia Policy (SIO)
A racially motivated law in Australia prohibited the immigration of anyone other than Europeans, especially targeting Chinese people and Pacific Islanders. -
Period: to
Russo-Japanese War (GOV)
War that was fought between Japan and Russia over territorial disputes in Manchuria. Japan was victorious, marking the first victory of a non-European nation against a European nation in modern history, and led Japan to be recognized as a global power. -
Muslim League Founded (GOV/SIO)
Indian Muslim organization that fought for and promoted the rights of Muslim Indians in the fight for Indian independence. The organization was led by Muhammad Ali Jinnah who feared a lack of Muslim representation in the Hindu majority and therefore advocated for Indian partition. -
Period: to
Mexican Revolution (GOV)
The Mexican Revolution ended the dictatorship of Porfirio Diaz and through the 1917 constitution, established a republic, redistributed land, and gave rights to labor unions. -
Period: to
World War I (GOV/TEC)
The world's first total war that was fought between the Allied (Great Britain, France, Russia, US) and Central (Ottoman Empire, Germany, Austria-Hungary) powers using new technology and methods such as trench warfare. The Allied powers won, and as a result, new nations formed, independence movements began, and the US emerged as a world power. -
Period: to
Armenian Genocide (SIO)
The systemic killing of the Christian Armenians by the Ottomans through death marches and systematic deportations. An estimated 600,000-1.5 million died and the Turkish government still does not acknowledge the tragedy as a genocide. -
Russian Revolution (GOV)
As a result of factors such as the Russian loss in the Russo-Japanese war, the ineffective ruling of Tsar Nicholas II, and food shortages, violent demonstrations began which resulted in the abolishment of the Russian monarchy. This event led to the rise of the Bolshevik government and the USSR. -
Treaty of Versailles (GOV)
The Treaty of Versailles was the peace settlement that formally ended WWI. Through the War Guilt Clause, all blame was placed on Germany who had to pay steep reparations, disarm, and give up territories. -
Influenza Pandemic (ENV)
A global pandemic of Influenza hastened by the ongoing WWI and spread around the world. Approximately 50 million people died. -
Period: to
Harlem Renaissance (CDI)
A cultural movement that started in Harlem that emphasized and promoted African-American culture through art, literature, music, and more. -
Period: to
Chinese Civil War (GOV)
Fought between Mao and the CCP and the Nationalist Party under Chiang Kai-Shek. This resulted in a communist takeover and nationalist retreat to Taiwan, who took the treasury with them. -
Period: to
Five Year Plans (ECN)
Period of intense economic growth and industrialization in the USSR enacted by Stalin that set strict quotas. This led to famine and was followed by two more Five Year Plans. -
Salt March (GOV)
The Salt March was a movement of resistance against British rule in India led by Gandhi. In response to harsh salt laws, Gandhi and his followers marched to the sea and in an act of civil disobedience, collected salt when they reached the sea. -
Japanese Invade Manchuria (GOV)
The Japanese invasion of Manchuria marked a pivotal moment for the Chinese Communist Party, as they opted to fight against the Japanese alongside the People's Liberation Army, which grew their support as well as opposition against the Kuomintang who opted to continue fighting the CCP. -
Japan Invades Manchuria (GOV)
Japan invaded Manchuria in their quest to expand their power and gain more access to natural resources. Increased tensions leading up to WWII. -
FDR's New Deal (ECN/GOV)
The United States' response to the Great Depression that sought to stimulate economic growth through investment in social reforms. It increased the government's role in the economy and reduced unemployment. However, it is hard to say how successful these programs were as WWII launched the US out of depression. -
Nuremberg Laws Introduced (SIO)
A set of laws in Germany against Jewish people allowed for discrimination and persecution against them. -
Japan Invades China (GOV)
After invading Manchuria in 1931, Japan invades China in 1937 in their quest to expand their power and influence outside of Japan and gain access to more natural resources. -
Period: to
World War II (GOV)
A total war fought between the Axis (Germany, Italy, Japan) and Allied (USA, Great Britain, USSR) powers whose beginning is commonly believed to be the invasion of Poland by Germany. It ended in the eventual victory of the Allied powers after the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. -
Period: to
Franco Rules Spain (GOV)
Francisco Franco was a fascist dictator who overthrew the previous Spanish government during the Spanish Civil War. He was extremely brutal in his ruling and while officially neutral, helped the Axis powers in WWII. -
Germany Invades Poland (GOV)
Commonly believed to be the start of WWII. Began a chain reaction of war declarations. -
Period: to
Final Solution (SIO/GOV)
The Final Solution was the name used to refer to the final stages of the Holocaust, where Jews and other minorities were systematically murdered in concentration camps. -
Pearl Habour (GOV)
Japanese bombing of the US naval base in Hawaii which led to the United States entering WWII. -
World Bank (ECN)
International financial organization that gives loans, and financially assists developing nations. It began as a way to fund European nations who were rebuilding after WWII but has since expanded. -
United Nations (CDI)
The United Nations is a global organization that was founded by the Allies after WWII whose main goal is to maintain peace and prosperity and protect human rights. -
Yalta Conference (GOV)
Meeting between Churchill, Stalin, and Roosevelt where the leaders discussed the fate of Europe after the war. They decided to divide Germany into occupation zones and that the USSR would set up temporary governments in Eastern European countries to establish democratic governments. However the latter did not happen, and the USSR created a buffer zone. -
Potsdam Conference (GOV)
The final meeting between the Allied leaders at the end of WWII, however after the death of FDR, Harry Truman represented the United States. Stalin's distrust of Truman led to a lack of conclusions of consensus leaving the meeting, and increased tensions between the two superpowers. -
Hiroshima is Bombed
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Nagasaki is Bombed
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Partition of India (GOV)
The nation of Pakistan was created to become a Muslim nation through the partition as advocated for by the Muslim League and Muhammad Ali Jinnah. As a result, mass migration of Muslims to Pakistan and Hindus to India resulted, and violent conflicts resulted in a large death toll. Borders were drawn hastily, sometimes crossing through towns or even houses. -
Truman Doctrine (GOV/ECN)
American policy by Harry Truman which stated that the United States would take measures to stop the spread of communism through economic and military aid to democratic nations. -
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Cold War (GOV/TEC)
A conflict between the USSR and the United States with no direct fighting between the two. It was fought through proxy wars, arms races, and through diplomacy. Mounting tensions were felt throughout the world and the threat of nuclear war loomed. -
Marshall Plan (GOV)
United States program that lent money to European countries rebuilding after WWII. The goal was to contain the spread of communism. -
Israel Founded (GOV)
Israel was founded as a Jewish state following the Holocaust. The resulting displacement and subsequent encroachment on Palestinians have caused decades of violent and hostile conflict, which continues to this day. -
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Berline Blockade and Airlift (GOV)
The Soviets blocked off Berlin from the United States, as Berlin was in Soviet-occupied Germany. This led the US to airlift supplies into Berlin for a year. -
Communist Revolution in China (GOV)
In 1949, after decades of struggling for power, Mao Zedong and the Chinese Communist Party found the People's Republic of China. -
NATO Established (GOV)
The North Atlantic Treaty Organization was a Cold War alliance consisting of Western European countries and the United States to protect its members from Soviet or communist threats. -
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Korean War (GOV)
Cold War proxy fought in Korea between the Soviet-backed North Koreans and the United States-backed South Koreans. The war ended in a stalemate with no gains for either side. -
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Green Revolution (ENV/TEC)
The Green Revolution was the global increase in agricultural production as a result of agricultural technology such as fertilizers and pesticides. -
Khrushchev Comes to Power (GOV)
Russian leader who led de-Stalinization in the USSR and believed that the USSR and the United States were able to peacefully coexist, so took steps to achieve that. -
Warsaw Pact (GOV)
Cold War alliance between Eastern European nations that was made in response to NATO and provided military aid and influence in Eastern Europe. -
Non-Aligned Movement (CDI)
The Non-Aligned Movement was an alliance of countries, most of which were newly independent, who pledged neutrality in the Cold War at the Bandung Conference. -
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Vietnam War (GOV)
Cold War proxy war between the communist North Vietnamese who were backed by China and the USSR and the South Vietnamese who were supported by the United States. -
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Great Leap Forward (GOV/ECN)
Mao Zedong introduced the Great Leap Forward as a way to modernize and industrialize the PRC rapidly through the mobilization of peasants. Farmers built backyard steel furnaces to increase production which was incredibly ineffective, and were made to move onto communes rather than owning land. The Great Leap Forward was ultimately a failure as it was poorly managed and led to the death of millions through famine. -
Amnesty International (GOV)
Amnesty International seeks to correct and highlight political or economic abuses of power and fights for human rights throughout the world. Humanitarian organization made in response to human rights abuses. -
Cuban Missile Crisis (GOV)
Period of intense global tension and nuclear threat when US imagery discovered nuclear missiles in Cuba planted by the USSR. President Kennedy blockaded Cuba and demanded that the USSR get rid of the missiles. Finally, after fourteen days, Khrushchev dismantled the missiles in exchange for the US agreeing to not invade Cuba. -
Greenpeace (SIO)
An environmental non-governmental organization that seeks to expose environmental issues. -
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Cultural Revolution (CDI)
Mao incited the Cultural Revolution as a way to spark communist zeal in the Chinese people. Through the help of the Red Guards, young men fighting for the CCP, he sought to rid China of any capitalism or signs of the old tradition or customs. As a result, many young people denounced authority and the revolution was largely a failure. -
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Pinochet rules Chile (GOV)
Augusto Pinochet, with the help of the United States, overthrew Salvador Allende to become a militaristic dictator of Chile. While he improved Chile's economy and was an advocate for free market economics, he arrested, tortured, and disappeared thousands of political dissenters. -
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Margaret Thatcher (GOV)
British prime minister known as the Iron Lady who worked to end inflation, restrict unions, and promoted free enterprise (extremely limited government control, economy controlled and regulating by supply and demand as well of private interest) -
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Cambodian Genocide (SIO)
Systemic extermination of Cambodians through famine, execution, and widespread disease enacted by the communist leaders, the Khmer Rouge, under Pol Pot. -
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Angolan Civil War (GOV)
Cold War proxy war between the anti-communist UNITA (supported by US) and socialist MPLA (supported by USSR) who struggled for power post-colonization. A cease-fire was finally reached in 2002. -
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Sandinista Conflict (GOV)
Conflict in Nicaragua between the communist Sandinistas, who were leading the country, and a group of anti-communist fighters called the Contras, who were funded and supported by the United States. -
The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (SIO)
The CEDAW is a legal document that is used in the United Nations General Assembly that aims to protect women's rights and end gender-based discrimination. -
Iranian Revolution (GOV/SIO)
In 1979, the Iranian democracy under the leadership of Mohammed Reza Shah Pahlavi was overthrown and the Islamic Republic was formed. Ayatollah Khomeini replaced The Shah and formed a Theocracy with extremely strict Islamic laws. -
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Shining Path (CDI)
Peruvian militant groups who waged war against the government in an attempt to establish communist rule. -
Perestroika and Glasnost (GOV)
Political reforms by Gorbachev which led to the collapse of the USSR. Brought more democratization to USSR and loosened centralization, allowing for some private interest and decision-making for businesses. -
Tiananmen Square (GOV)
A series of protests against the Chinese government in Tiananmen Square by primarily young students, many of whom had been introduced to foreign ideas regarding government and the economy which was violently suppressed by the CCP. Death estimates are not certain being as the Chinese government has attempted to erase the event from history. -
World Fair Trade Organization (ECN)
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Berlin Wall Falls (GOV)
Event that marks the end of both the Cold War and the fall of the USSR, as well as communism in Europe. -
End of Apartheid (SIO)
Apartheid was the South African system of racial segregation and discrimination. Because of mounting pressures from other nations and protests from within South Africa, Apartheid was ended. 1994 marked the first elections in which everyone could vote, and Nelson Mandela won in a landslide victory. -
Fall of USSR (GOV)
After a period of decline and instability, the USSR finally fell in 1991 for a combination of reasons including their failed invasion of Afghanistan, US technological advances, and modernization by Gorbachev. -
NAFTA is Formed (ECN)
The North American Trade Agreement is a trade pact between the United States, Canada, and Mexico to reduce and eliminate trade barriers such as tariffs between the countries. -
Rwandan Genocide (SIO)
Systemic extermination of the Tutsi people of Rwanda by the Hutus, the governing ethnic group. The Hutus executed 500,000 to 1 million people quickly and brutally. -
EU is Formed (ECN/GOV)
The European Union is an organization of European countries that aims to unite Europe through economics, laws, and security. -
World Trade Organization (ECN)
International trade organization that works to reduce trade barriers and facilitate international trade. -
Kyoto Protocol (ENV)
International agreement to curb carbon emissions and other greenhouse gas emissions that hasten climate change. -
Battle for Seattle (CDI)
Series of protests in Seattle against the WTO who was convening in the city. Protesters were against globalization, yet it was one of the first protests to be organized and spread through the Internet. -
9/11 (GOV)
Terrorist attacks on the United States by the militant group Al-Qaeda on the Twin Towers and the Pentagon. -
World Social Forum is Created (GOV/CDI)
The World Social Forum is an annual meeting with non-governmental organizations that seek to work together for global peace and social justice. -
United States Invades Iraq (GOV)
The United States invaded Iraq after suspicions of weapons of mass destruction. -
Facebook is Founded (CDI)
Facebook globalized communication, and gave people the platform to spread and consume almost any information they wanted. -
Arab Spring (GOV)
Aran Spring was a series of protests that were against the authoritarian governments in North Africa and the Middle East. Word of these protests spread quickly through social media. -
Paris Climate Accords (ENV)
International treaty and agreement to help curb climate change and carbon emissions. -
2016 Olympics (CDI)
3.6 billion tuned in to watch the Olympics in Rio, a sign of globalization and the development of a global culture. -
2018 World Cup (CDI)
3.5 billion tuned in to watch, a sign of large-scale globalization and the development of a global culture.