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May 29, 1453
Fall of Constantinople
The fall of Constantinople took place in Constantinople, and what is now Istanbul. The fall was significant because it marked the end of the Byzantine Empire. It happened because of invasions by the Ottoman Empire using advanced tactics. From this, the Ottoman Empire was able to expand their empire and solidify control in southeastern Europe. -
Oct 12, 1492
Columbus "Discovers" the New World
Christopher Columbus set out to find a westward route by sea to Asia. Instead of Asia, he landed in the Caribbean. It is commonly believed he was the first to discover this land, however Native Americans were there first. The biggest things that came from this are the start of European colonization in the New World and the Columbian Exchange. -
1493
Spanish Colonization of the Americas
This began shortly after Christopher Columbus returned from his first journey to the Americas. The Spanish set out in search of gold and to spread the religion of Christianity. The main money makers were mining, agriculture, and trade, all of which left permanent scars on the terrain. -
Dec 22, 1501
Safavid Empire is Established
The Safavid Empire was located in what is now Iran, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Armenia, Georgia, Russia, Iraq, Kuwait, Afghanistan, and Turkey. It started when Ismail I defeated much of Persia and declared himself the Shah. Shia Islam became the dominant religion and the Safavid Empire was not tolerant of other religions. -
Apr 21, 1509
Henry VIII Becomes King - England
Henry VIII became the King of England when his father, Henry VII died of tuberculosis. King Henry VII is widely known for his six wives and desperately trying for a son. He also established the Royal Navy and the Church of England by breaking away from Rome. -
Oct 31, 1517
Martin Luther's 95 Theses - Germany
Martin Luther wrote 95 reasons he was upset with the Catholic Church. He posted these 95 reasons on the door of the church in Wittenberg, Germany. This led to his papers being widely distributed and people grew upset with the Church. This was one of many things that caused the Protestant Reformation. -
Sep 20, 1519
Ferdinand Magellan Becomes First to Circumnavigate the World
Magellan and his crew started sailing to find a route to the Spice Islands in southeast Asia. Magellan didn't actually finish the mission, because he was killed in battle. However, the remaining crew continued on and became the first to circumnavigate the globe. This not only proved that Earth is round, it also revolutionized trade and navigation. -
Aug 13, 1521
Hernan Cortes Defeats Aztecs - Mexico
Cortes worked with nearby civilizations, in Mexico, that opposed the Aztecs, to bring them down. Even though the Aztecs had the numbers, they were brought down because Cortes and the others used superior tactics. Cortes was also able to take advantage of internal divisions in the Aztec Empire. -
Apr 21, 1526
Mughal Empire Is Established - India
The Mughal Empire, in modern day India, was established when Babur defeated the Delhi Sultanate. His descendants, particularly Akbar the Great, expanded the empire. The Mughal Empire is one of the three gunpowder empires, and it was religiously tolerant. -
Aug 29, 1533
Francisco Pizarro Defeats Incas - Peru
In what is now Peru, Pizarro led an expedition to defeat the Incas. The Incas were already weakened by a civil war and were also vulnerable to diseases brought by Europeans. Francisco Pizarro was able to take advantage of this and defeat the Incas. Pizarro and his army also had superior weapons and tactics. This marked the start of Spanish rule in South America. -
1543
Copernicus Proposes Heliocentric Theory - Poland
Nicolaus Copernicus was the first to propose that the sun, and not the earth, was at the center of the universe. This challenged the idea of the geocentric model, which had earth at the center. The heliocentric model was initially controversial, but it led to future discoveries from scientists such as Galileo and Kepler. This marks the beginning of the Scientific Revolution. -
1545
Council of Trent - Italy
The Council of Trent was a series of meetings by officials of the Catholic Church to discuss a response to the Protestant Reformation. The council made key decisions on topics such as scripture, the seven sacraments, and faith for salvation. The council also aimed to decrease corruption within the Church. This strengthened the Catholic Church and slowed the spread of Protestantism. -
Jan 26, 1547
Ivan the Terrible Becomes Ruler - Russia
Ivan the Terrible became the first tsar of Russia when his father died. He was initially a reformist, he centralized power and introduced new laws. When his wife died, Ivan became increasingly violent and cruel, he executed thousands and confiscated land. Despite this, he was successful in centralizing power and taking over some of Siberia. -
1575
The Dutch Golden Age Begins - The Netherlands
The Dutch Golden Age was a time of incredible success for the Netherlands. They became a major powerhouse because of their trade, economy, culture, and military. They were able to establish colonies in Asia, Africa, and the Americas. This era also saw famous artists such as Johannes Vermeer and Rembrandt. The Dutch also made huge advancements in science and technology. -
Edict of Nantes is Written - France
The Edict of Nantes, issued by King Henry IV, gave freedom of religion to French Protestants. This was significant because this same group faced violence and persecution earlier. This helped resolve conflict between Catholics and Protestants, at least until Louis XIV revoked this. -
Tokugawa Shogunate is Established - Japan
The Tokugawa Shogunate became a thing when Tokugawa Ieyasu took victory at the Battle of Sekigahara. In this era, Japan heavily limited foreign contact and trade, basically eliminating foreign influence. The government also became more centralized, which gave daimyos less power. -
Slave Trade Begins - Africa, New World
The Transatlantic Slave Trade began when European countries established colonies in the New World and needed workers. A majority of the Native Americans had been killed off from European diseases, so Africans were forcibly captured, taken to the New World, and were forced to be slaves. This continued for centuries, it left a lasting impact on the population and culture in Africa. -
Ming Dynasty Capital Falls - China
Beijing, capital of the Ming Dynasty fell from both internal conflict and external threats. When this happened, the Manchu people invaded and took control. This marked the end of the Ming Dynasty and the start of the Qing Dynasty, which ruled over China for three centuries. -
English Civil War Ends - England
The war came to an end when Oliver Cromwell and the Parliamentary Forces defeated King Charles I. King Charles I was captured, tried, and executed. After his death, England abolished the monarchy and became a Commonwealth. After Cromwell's death, England became a monarchy again. -
Isaac Newton Discovers Laws of Motion - England
Isaac Newton published his three laws of motion in the book, Philosophiæ Naturalis Principia Mathematica. These three laws revolutionized the physics and engineering fields, and they are still very relevant today. Before Newton, Aristotle's ideas were often used, which a lot of the time were flawed.