-
Period: 718 to 1492
Reconquista of Spain (Unit 4)
A centuries long continuation of battles by Christian states to expel the Muslims, who from the 8th century ruled most of the Iberian Peninsula. Due to this, Spain became one of the most powerful countries in Europe. (Europe - Political) -
960
Song Dynasty Replaces Tang Dynasty in China (Unit 1)
China's Golden Age: Agricultural productivity from Champa rice led to population boom. Experienced proto-industrialization and became the first commercialized society. (East Asia - Political) -
962
Beginning of the Holy Roman Empire (Unit 1)
Otto the first was crowned, unifying Western Europe culturally under the Catholic Church, which was the more prominent religion of the time period. (Europe - Cultural and Political) -
1000
The Hausa Kingdoms Take Control of Modern Day Nigeria (Unit 1)
Seven states connected by kinship ties. Each state had a specialty resource that it exported to the other kingdoms through trade such as leather, gold, cloth, salt, kola nuts, animal hides, and henna. (West Africa - Political) -
1000
Lateen sail, Stern Rudder, & Astrolabe invented (pre 1000s) (Unit 2)
The lateen sail, stern rudder, and astrolabe allowed for increased trade and travel, as well as facilitating further exchange of goods and cultural diffusion throughout the world. (Indian Ocean - Political) -
1054
The Great Schism (Unit 1)
Eastern Orthodox Church and Western Catholic Church excommunicated each other due to a mix of religious and political disagreements. This permanently divided Europe culturally and led to further splits in Christianity, and example of this is the protestant reformation. (Europe - Cultural) -
Period: 1096 to 1099
The First Crusade (Unit 1)
The first crusade was the Catholic Church's attempt at revitalizing their power. Goal was to "reclaim" Jerusalem, was followed by 3 more major crusades. (Middle East - Cultural / Political) -
1100
Swahili City-States Grow in Wealth (Unit 2)
Very influential in the spread of Islam throughout East Africa. Vigorous trade with Asia was a major point on the Indian Ocean trade routes. (East Africa - Economic) -
Period: 1200 to 1300
Pax Mongolica (Unit 2)
The Pax Mongolica, Latin for “Mongol peace,” describes a period of relative stability in Eurasia under the Mongol Empire during the 13th and 14th centuries. Silk Roads were protected; caravanserai & oasis cities (Kashgar, Samarkand, ect.) facilitated trade. (Asia / Silk Roads - Political / Economic) -
Period: 1206 to 1368
The Golden Horde (Unit 2)
The Golden Horde was the European appanage of the Mongol Empire. Begun by Batu Khan in 1227 CE, the territory that would eventually become the Golden Horde came to encompass parts of Central Asia, much of Russia, and other parts of Eastern Europe. (Central Asia - Political) -
1235
The Mali Empire replaces the Ghana Empire (Unit 1)
Mali empire was extremely prosperous in gold/salt trade and allowed its diverse peoples to be quite independent. When Mansa Musa passed through Cairo-Fustat on his way to hajj, the amount of gold he infused into the economy was so great that it caused an incredible amount of inflation. (West Africa - Political) -
Period: 1250 to 1517
Mamluk Sultanate (Unit 1)
Turkish slaves rebelled against the Abbasid Empire and took over Egypt. Flourished in the trade of cotton & sugar. (Middle East - Political / Cultural) -
1258
End of the Abbasid Empire (Unit 1)
The Abbasid Caliphate began to decline due to sectarian violence and regional revolts, eventually falling to the Seljuk Turks & Mongols in 1258. (Middle East - Political) -
1295
Marco Polo Returns (Unit 2)
Marco Polo has travelled all throughout Asia to the court of Kublai Khan, and wrote a book on his travels which sparked European interest in China. He returned back to Venice after 24 years of traveling. (Europe - Cultural) -
1325
The Aztecs Found Their Capital City in Tenochtitlan (Unit 1)
The Aztecs went on to conquer the rest of Central America. Formed a theocracy and required subservient states to give tribute to the Aztec empire, including land, crops, and human sacrifices. (Latin America - Political) -
1325
Ibn Battuta Begins His Travels (Unit 2)
Wrote a book called "A Gift to Those Who Contemplate the Wonders of Cities and the Marvels of Traveling", and traveled through every region of Asia, Spain, North Africa, & Mali. He widely spread knowledge of his travels and of other regions. (Silk Roads - Cultural) -
Period: 1346 to 1352
The Black Death / Bubonic Plague (Unit 2)
Killing more than 25 million people, or at least one third of Europe's population during the fourteenth century, the Black Death was one of mankind's worst pandemics that began in China and was spread mainly by the Mongols. (East Asia - Cultural / Economic / Political) -
1368
Yuan Dynasty Overthrown and Replaced by Ming Dynasty (Unit 2)
Led by Zhu Yuanzhang, the White Lotus Society organized a revolt against the Yuan dynasty. The defeat in China began the decline of the Mongols, and the empire began to fall. (East Asia - Political) -
1375
Songhai Kingdom Rises to Power (Unit 2)
Replaced Mali as the powerhouse of West Africa, and thus became even larger & richer than Mali. Islam grew even more prominent in the Songhai Kingdom. (West Africa - Cultural / Economic) -
1400
Malacca Sultanate gains power through trade (Unit 2)
The period of the Malacca Sultanate, which lasted from 1400 to 1511 AD, was a landmark in the history of Malaysia. It was situated at a strategic position at the Straits of Malacca and controlled domestic and international trade in the Malay Archipelago. (Southeast Asia - Economic) -
Period: 1400 to
Renaissance in Europe (Unit 1)
Europe began to recover from the "dark ages", leading to the revival of interest in Greek and Roman Art, literature, and architecture. It changed the way the citizens thought, with first the rediscovery of classical philosophy, literature, and art, as well as the new discoveries in travel, invention, and style. (Europe - Cultural / Social) -
Period: 1405 to 1407
First Voyage of Zheng He (Unit 2)
Displayed the power of the Ming dynasty with his huge fleet (300+ ships). Stirred controversy in China; many did not want to interact with outsiders. (East Asia - Political) -
Period: 1438 to 1533
Height of the Inca Empire (Unit 1)
The Incas were most notable for establishing the Inca Empire in Pre-Columbian America, which was centered in modern day South America in Peru and Chile. Formed by tribal leader Pachacuti, who unified surrounding tribes, and started the very successful Mit'a labor system. (Latin America - Political) -
1453
Fall of Constantinople (Unit 3)
Conquered by the Ottomans; became capital of the Ottoman empire and was renamed Istanbul. (Europe - Political) -
1488
Dias Rounded the Cape of Good Hope (Unit 4)
Bartolomeu Dias sailed around the southern tip of Africa, proving that the Atlantic and Indian Ocean flowed into each other. Dias’ discovery paved the way for Vasco da Gama’s voyage to India. -
1492
Columbus Sailed to Americas (Unit 4)
Though he did not “discover” the so-called New World—millions of people already lived there—Columbus’ journeys marked the beginning of centuries of exploration and colonization of North and Latin America. (North/Latin America - Political / social) -
1493
Askia the Great of Songhai Rises to Power (Unit 3)
Led Songhai to be the largest & most powerful kingdom in West Africa. Legitimized his rule by promoting Islam. (West Africa - Political / Cultural) -
1501
Safavids conquer Persia & Part of Iraq (Unit 3)
Restoring Persia as a major center of political power and cultural creativity, they also established one of the strongest and most enduring centers of Shi'ism within the Islamic world. Led by Safavid military hero Ismail
Ismail eventually conquered all of Iran and was proclaimed Shah. (Middle East - Cultural / Political) -
1502
First Slaves to Americas (Unit 4)
The date historians recognize for the arrival of the first enslaved Africans in Virginia is 1619, but the first recorded arrival in North America occurred 117 years earlier in 1502 when Juan de Córdoba sent several of his slaves from Spain to Hispaniola. -
1517
Martin Luther / 95 Theses (Unit 4)
Martin Luther's “96 theses”, which showed two central beliefs, that the Bible is the central religious authority and that humans may reach salvation only by their faith and not by their deeds, was the spark to the Protestant Reformation. (Europe - Cultural) -
1521
Pope Leo X Excommunicated Martin Luther (Unit 3)
Martin Luther led the Protestant reformation. One of the first branches to break away from the Catholic Church, followed by Calvinism & Anglicanism. (Europe - Cultural) -
Period: 1526 to
Mughal Empire (Unit 3)
The Mughal Empire was important for bringing almost the entire Indian subcontinent under one domain, drawing the subcontinent's regions together through enhanced overland and coastal trading networks. It was also known for its cultural influence and its architectural achievements such as the Taj Mahal. (South Asia - Political / Cultural) -
1532
Pizarro Toppled the Incan Empire (Unit 4)
After years of preliminary exploration and military skirmishes, 168 Spanish soldiers under conquistador Francisco Pizarro, his brothers, and their indigenous allies captured the Sapa Inca Atahualpa in the 1532 Battle of Cajamarca. (Latin America - Political) -
1541
Ottomans stopped Safavids from Invading Tabriz (Unit 3)
Conflict mainly because of differences between Sunni (Ottomans) & Shi’a (Safavids) Islam. Conflicts over trade; both wanted control over land trade routes. (Middle East - Political) -
1547
Crowning of Ivan IV (Unit 3)
The grandson of Ivan the Great, Ivan the Terrible, or Ivan IV, acquired vast amounts of land during his reign (1533-1584), an era marked by the conquest of the khanates of Kazan, Astrakhan and Siberia. (Eastern Europe - Political) -
Battle of Sekigahara (Unit 4)
The Battle was the largest battle of Japanese feudal history and is often regarded as the most important. Toyotomi's defeat led to the establishment of the Tokugawa shogunate (East Asia - Political) -
Period: to
Tokugawa Shogunate (Unit 3)
Japan had previously been under the decentralized rule of the daimyo, who took over large areas. Power shifted to the city of Edo under Shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu; led into the Period of Great Peace. (East Asia - Political) -
Foundation of Jamestown (Unit 4)
The Jamestown colony was the first permanent English settlement in North America. It was founded on the banks of Virginia’s James River and led to the beginning of colonization in North America. (North America - Economic / Social) -
Period: to
30 Years War (Unit 4)
The primary cause of the thirty Years war was the actions of Emperor Ferdinand II in forcing the protestants into Catholicism. It remains one of the longest and most brutal wars in human history with more than 8 million casualties (Central Europe - Cultural / Political) -
Louis XIV Crowned King of France (Unit 3)
Ruled an absolute monarchy, and legitimized power with the building of the palace of Versailles. The reign of Louis XIV is often referred to as “Le Grand Siècle” (the Great Century), forever associated with the image of an absolute monarch and a strong, centralized state. (Europe - Political) -
Replacement of the Ming Dynasty with the Qing Dynasty (Unit 3)
The Manchu from Manchuria took over and expanded the size of China for a while, but were held off by Mongol forces. (East Asia - Political) -
Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen (Unit 5)
Signed in 1789 by France’s national constituent assembly, the declaration of the rights of man and of the citizen declared that all “men are born and remain free and equal in rights”. (Europe - Political) -
Period: to
Haitian Revolution (Unit 5)
The Haitian Revolution has often been described as the largest and most successful slave rebellion in the western hemisphere. Led by Toussaint Louverture, slaves initiated the rebellion in 1791 and by 1803 they had succeeded in ending not just slavery but French control over the colony. (Caribbean - Political / Cultural) -
Creation of Communism (Unit 5)
A political theory derived from Karl Marx, advocating class war and leading to a society in which all property is publicly owned and each person works and is paid according to their abilities and needs. -
Letter from Jamaica is Written (Unit 5)
Written by Latin American soldier, revolutionary, and statesman Simon Bolivar, the Jamaica letter is in which he articulates his desire for Latin American unity and his vision of a republican government. (Latin America - Political) -
Period: to
Tanzimat Reforms (Unit 5)
The Tanzimat-i Hayriye (Auspicious Reorganization) was a series of governmental reforms between 1839 and 1876 that sought to centralize and rationalize Ottoman rule and capture more tax revenues for the military defense of the empire. (Middle East / Europe - Political / Cultural) -
Period: to
Opium Wars (Unit 6)
The Opium Wars were two minor wars fought between China and Great Britain (primarily) over the opium trade in China. They took place during the middle of the 1800s near the end of the Qing Dynasty. Some historians consider the Opium Wars to be the start of the modern era in China. (East Asia - Economic / Political) -
Seneca Falls Convention (Unit 5)
The first woman's rights convention in the United states was held in Seneca Falls, New York, and in its conclusion, 68 women and 32 men had signed a document calling for American Women to be extended the same rights as men (North America - Political) -
Introduction of Marxism (Unit 5)
Created in 1848, Marxism states that the struggle between social classes (specifically between the bourgeoisie, and the proletariat) defines economic relations in a capitalist economy and will lead inevitably to a communist revolution (Europe - Political / Economic) -
Period: to
Sepoy Mutiny (Unit 6)
A revolt of the sepoy troops in British India, resulting in the transfer of the administration of India from the East India Company to the crown. (South Asia - Political) -
Period: to
British Raj (Unit 6)
The British Ras was the rule of the British Crown on the Indian subcontinent. It was also called Crown rule in India, or Direct rule in India, and lasted until 1947. (South Asia - Political) -
Period: to
Self-Strengthening Movement (Unit 5)
The movement which Qing Dynasty China introduced Western methods and technology in an attempt to renovate Chinese military, diplomatic, fiscal, and educational policy (East Asia - Cultural) -
Period: to
Meiji Era (Unit 5)
During the Meiji period, Japan adopted a constitution and a parliamentary system, instituted universal education, built railroads, and installed telegraph lines along with establishing strong army and navy forces. (East Asia - Economic / Political / Environmental) -
Introduction of Social Darwinism (Unit 6)
Social Darwinism refers to the transposition of Darwinian theories from nature to society. The expression appeared in Europe in the 1880s and later in Anglo-Saxon countries, in which it was used to justify European and White superiority (Europe - Social) -
Beginning of Mass Urbanization (Unit 5)
Urbanization, occurring rapidly in the second half of the nineteenth century, is the mass movement of people from rural areas to more densely populated environments, and the growth of cities is the response to this evolutionary change (Economic / Political / Cultural / Environmental) -
Chinese Exclusion Act (Unit 6)
The Chinese Exclusion Act was passed by the US Congress and signed by President Chester A Arthur, which provided an absolute 10 year ban on Chinese laborers immigrating to the US. (North America - Cultural / Economic) -
Period: to
Scramble for Africa (Unit 6)
The Scramble for Africa refers to the period between 1884 and 1914, when the European colonists partitioned the African continent into colonies. (Africa - Political) -
Indian National Congress (Unit 7)
Aired grievances against colonial (British) rule, and became a voice of independence in 1918. Mohandas Gandhi demonstrated civil disobedience and led the Salt March. (South Asia - Social) -
Spheres of Influence (Unit 6)
The first agreement to use the term “spheres of influence” was one concluded between Britain and Germany that separated and defined their respective territories on the Gulf of Guinea. The term is later used to describe the division of Qing China by eight European countries. (Africa and Asia - Political) -
Period: to
World War One (Unit 7)
World War I was a global conflict that took place between 1914 and 1918. The war began with the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand and led to ideas such as militarism, alliances, imperialism, and nationalism. The war was mainly split into two sides, the central powers (Germany, Austria-Hungary, & ottoman empire), and the allies (Britain, France, US, Italy, Russia, Japan). (Global - Political) -
Belfour Declaration (Unit 7)
British government created a home for Jews in Palestine. Zionists were known as supporters of Jewish homeland, and Britain controlled mass migration. (Middle East - Political / Cultural) -
Period: to
Russian Revolution (Unit 7)
Lenin and the Bolsheviks created a communist government to overthrow the Tsar. Other causes include Bloody Sunday, Russo-Japanese War, and WW1. (Russia - Political) -
Treaty of Versailles (Unit 7)
After WW1, Germany was forced to pay billions in reparations, give up its colonies, and restrict size of the armed forces. The treaty ended WW1 but inevitably caused mass inflation in Germany. (Europe - Political) -
Antibiotic (Unit 9)
Discovered by Alexander Fleming (penicillin), and was used in WWII, saved many lives. Later spread to civilian use. (Invented in London, England - Social / Technology) -
Period: to
Great Depression (Unit 7)
Agricultural overproduction & stock market crash in US
Germany suffered most. Africa, Asia, Latin America suffered because they depended on imperial powers. (Global but mostly Imperial Powers - Economics) -
Period: to
Holocaust (Unit 7)
Heinrich Himmler was the leader of Nazi police. Nuremberg Laws made it so Jews were banned from certain professions and schools. Jews were forced to live in ghettos, later sent to concentration camps (Auschwitz), and over 6 million were killed. (Europe - Political / Social) -
Period: to
World War Two (Unit 7)
Hitler rose to power through the Nazi party-(started war by breaking peace treaty) in Germany. Axis powers included Germany, Italy, and Japan. Allied powers included Britain, France, US, and Soviet Union. Over 75 million deaths. (Global - Political / Cultural / Economic) -
The Yalta Conference (Unit 8)
World leaders met at a resort on the Black Sea. Roosevelt wanted democratic elections in Eastern Europe, Stalin wanted to make it a buffer zone. This led to a discussion of postwar reorganization of Germany and Europe. (Europe - Political) -
The Marshall Plan (Unit 8)
United States provided assistance to European countries post-WW2. $12 billion spent on aid to other countries including Germany which increased economic output. (Europe - Economics) -
Period: to
Cold War (Unit 8)
US was capitalist and democratic, Soviet Union was communist and Authoritarian, both of which fought in proxy wars in colonies. Cold war led to the Space Race where SU launched sputnik and US launched their own satellite. Mutual Assured Destruction; Agreed not to start nuclear war because of assured mutual destruction. (US and SU - Political / Technology) -
Universal Declaration of Human Rights (Unit 9)
Promotion of human rights to all people created by United Nations. Included several rights and freedoms including the right to life, liberty, free speech and privacy. It also includes economic, social and cultural rights, like the right to social security, health and education. (Global - Social) -
NATO / Warsaw Pact (Unit 8)
North Atlantic Treaty Organization pledged mutual support against war and conflict among European nations. Warsaw pact was the Soviet Union’s response; included communist bloc (eastern European countries). (Europe - Political) -
Hydrogen Bomb (Unit 8)
US and Soviet Union each created a form of this bomb (more powerful than the atomic bomb). Worry for military-industrial complex meant alliances between government and large defense contractors. (US / Soviet Union - Political / Technology) -
Reggae (Unit 9)
Blend of New Orleans jazz, African rhythms and European elements in association with Rastafari religion. Promoted of Pan-Africanism, and originated in Jamaica. (Caribbean - Cultural) -
Period: to
Liberation Theology (Unit 9)
Combined socialism and Catholicism (ideas of Jesus with ideas of freeing people from social, economic, and political abuses). Helped overthrow dictatorship in Nicaragua. (Central America - Social) -
Period: to
Green Belt Movement (Unit 9)
Started by Wangari Maathai in Kenya. Movement to repair damage after colonial experience. Helped women plant trees, improve soil, collect rainwater. (East Africa - Interactions with the Environment / Social)