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1469
Isabella & Ferdinand unify Spain
Unification of political opportunism, not romance. Isabella needed help to gain succession of the throne. -
Jan 28, 1547
Henry VIII resigns in England
Ruled England for 36 years and was known for his chaotic love life. He presided over changes that brought his nation into the Protestant Reformation. -
Period: Nov 17, 1558 to
Elizabeth I reigns England
Regarded as one of the greatest monarchs of England. The period she ruled was considered the "Elizabethan Age". -
Edict of Nantes
Enforced by Henry VI which granted a large measure of religious liberty to his Protestant subjects. -
Don Quixote is published
Published in two parts by Spanish writer Miguel de Cervantes. It was one of the most widely read classics of Western literature. -
Period: to
Thirty Years' War
A series of wars fought by various nations for various reasons, including religious, dynastic, territorial, and commercial rivalries. -
Petition of Right signed
The Petition of Rights pushed for commoners' voices to be heard in the government. -
Long Parliament
Charles I issued the Long Parliament to raise income to combat Scotland. -
Period: to
Louis XIV reigns as king of France
Succeeded his father Louis XIII and ruled for 72 years, making his reign the longest of any European monarch. -
Peace of Westphalia is signed
Treaties that ended the Thirty Years' War. -
Thomas Hobbes publishes "Leviathan"
Thomas Hobbes wrote that citizens had to transfer some of their freedom in exchange for protection and security from sovereign authority. -
Period: to
Charles II regions England
Charles II was king of Great Britain and Ireland who was restored to the throne after years of exile. The years of his reign were known as the Restoration period. -
Period: to
Peter the Great reigns as tsar of Russia
Reigned jointly with his half-brother Ivan V. -
Period: to
Glorious Revolution
Events of King James II of England getting removed from office and getting succeeded. -
John Locke publishes "Two Treaties of Government"
Major statement of the political philosophy of John Locke. -
English Bill of Rights signed
One of the basic instruments of the British constitution. The main purpose was to declare illegal various practices of James II. -
Daniel Dafoe publishes "Robinson Crusoe"
First published in London, he explained how he ignored his family's advice and left his middle-class home in England to go to sea. -
Jonathan Swift publishes "Gulliver's Travels"
Four-part satirical work that was published anonymously. -
Johann Sabastian Bach height of his career
Height of his musical career took off and he wrote his famous "Draft of a well-appointed church music". -
Period: to
Frederick II reigns Prussia
A brilliant military campaigner who enlarged Prussia's territories and made it the foremost military power in Europe. -
Baron de Montesquieu publishes "The Spirit of Laws"
This principle work of Baron de Montesquieu is one of the most influential studies in political theory. -
Denis Diderot publishes his "Encyclopedia"
One of the principal works of the Age of Enlightenment. -
Period: to
Seven Years' War
Conflict between France and Great Britain that began as a dispute over North American land claims. -
Voltaire publishes "Candid"
Voltaire's most famous work demonstrating satire and deals with some of his most significant philosophical viewpoints. -
Period: to
George III reigns England
England's longest-ruling monarch before Queen Victoria. During his reign, he pushed through the Seven Years' War victory. -
Jean Jacque Rousseau publishes "Social Contract"
People would receive a better kind of freedom in exchange for their independence. -
Period: to
Catherine the Great reigns Russia
Came to power after overthrowing her husband Peter III. -
Boston Massacre
Battle between British troops and a crowd in Boston, Massachusetts. -
Boston Tea Party
342 chests of tea belonging to the British East India Company were thrown from ships into Boston Harbor by disguised American patriots. -
Intolerable Acts
Four punitive measures enacted by British Parliament in retaliation for acts of colonial defiance. -
Battle of Lexington & Concord
Initial battles between British regulars and American provincials marking the beginning of the American Revolution. -
Period: to
American Revolution
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Adam Smith publishes "Wealth of Nations"
Adam Smith publishes the "Wealth of Nations", which became a foundational study in the history of economics. -
Declaration of Independence signed
The founding document of the United States was signed by 56 delegates. -
Period: to
Joseph II reigns Austria
Was co-regent of Austria with his mother from 1765 and then later succeeded as sole ruler in 1780. -
Battle of Yorktown
The final battle of the American Revolution. -
Treaty of Paris
Treaty signed between American colonies and Great Britain that ended the American Revolution and formally recognized the U.S. as an independent nation. -
U.S. Constitution ratified
Time when the Constitution of the United States was finally accepted by the delegates. -
Tennis Court Oath
Men of the National Assembly swore an oath never t stop meeting until a constitution had been established. -
Storming of the Bastille
Parisians stormed the Bastille for gunpowder and to free the prisoners. -
Declaration of the Rights of Man
One of the basic charters of human liberties containing the principles that inspired the French Revolution. -
Women's march on Versailles
Tens of thousands of women marched on Versailles seeking better provisioning, the royal family's return to Paris, and the resolution of constitutional debates. -
Declaration of the Rights of Woman
Pamphlet made by Olympe de Gouges asserting that women are equal to men in society and entitled to the same citizenship rights. -
Mary Wollstonecraft publishes "A Vindication of the Rights of Woman"
Mary Wollstonecraft argued that women should be treated with equal dignity and respect to men, especially regarding education. -
Period: to
Radical Phase
During the Radical Phase, France was made a republic, abolishing the monarchy and executing the king. -
National Convention formed
Created to provide a new constitution for France after the overthrow of the monarchy. -
Committee of Public Safety created
The Committee of Public Safety was set up to provide for the defense of the nation against its enemies and to oversee the already existing organs of executive government. -
Period: to
Reign of Terror
People in France were arrested for not supporting the Revolution and many were executed. -
Five Man Directory created
French Revolutionary government set up by the Constitution of the Year III. -
Napoleon Bonaparte becomes Emperor
Crowned himself Emperor under the name of Napoleon I. -
Battle of Trafalgar
Naval engagement of the Napoleonic Wars which established British naval supremacy for more than 100 years. -
Battle Austerlitz
First engagement of the War of the Third Coalition and one of Napoleon's greatest victories. -
Battle of Leipzig
The defeat for Napoleon resulting in the destruction of what was left of French power in Germany and Poland. -
Napoleon exiled to Elba
Was the emperor of France and one of the greatest military leaders in history. He abdicated the throne and was banished to Elba in the Treaty of Fontainebleau. -
Period: to
Congress of Vienna
Assembly that reorganized Europe after the Napoleonic Wars. -
Napoleon exiled to St. Helena
Napoleon was exiled to St. Helena after he was defeated by the British at the Battle of Waterloo.