Timeline of World History

## Prehistory

*It is recommended to note that all events in this chapter, while part of the collective story of humanity, are not traditionally seen as a part of history.*

* approx. 7 200 000 BCE
	+ Evolution of Graecopithecus, the oldest candidate for the **last common ancestor between humans and chimpanzees,** in what is now Southeast Europe. This marks the beginning of the Human species. There is debate on whether Graecopithecus is related to humans.
* approx. 7 000 000 BCE
	+ **Evolution of Sahelanthropus tchadensis**, another disputed candidate for the chimpanzee-human divergence, in what is now Central Africa. It is unclear whether the species is related to Humans or Gorillas.
* approx. 6 100 000 BCE
	+ Orroin Tugenensis evolves in what is now Ethiopia, the species having the first evidence of being **bipedal**; walking on two legs. This is the oldest known last common ancestor between humans and chimpanzees that is not debated.
* approx. 3 300 000 BCE
	+ **Australopithecus reach Southern Africa.**
	+ Around the same time, the first **stone tools** are developed in East Africa, beginning the Stone Age.
* approx. 2 800 000 BCE
	+ The **Homo genus** evolves, the genus that includes modern humans (Homo Sapiens.) The Homo genus has human-like traits similar to modern humans, such as **less hair and bigger brains.**
* approx. 2 000 000 BCE
	+ Homo Erectus, a close ancestor to modern humans, **leaves Africa** around this time.
* approx. 1 830 000 BCE
	+ The **first stone tools outside of Africa** are developed in what is now Malaysia.
* approx. 1 700 000 BCE
	+ The first evidence of **controlled fire** used by humans. Cooking developed soon after.
* approx. 700 000 BCE
	+ As the human brain continued to expand, Homo heidelbergensis evolves as the **first human species to have language.**
* approx.

## Ancient History

* 3500 BC:
	+ As proto-writing develops further, the first instance of actual writing comes from around this time in Sumer. This is often seen as the **beginning of history.**
	+ **Wheeled carts, ziggurats, and bronze tools and weapons** begin to be used in Sumer.
	+ **Metalcasting begins in Mohenjodaro,** the first instance of metalcasting in the region. This eventually leads to the Indus Valley Civilization.
	+ **Discovery of Tin.**
* 3400 BC:
	+ With the end of the Uruk period in Sumer, **writing begins to develop outside of Sumer.**
	+ Despite the end of the last ice age thousands of years ago, Earth's climate sees another, albeit less drastic period of **lower temperatures and larger glaciers,** possibly due to solar activity.
* 3300 BC:
	+ Construction of the **Red Temple** in Sardinia.
	+ The **Indus Valley Civilization** reaches the bronze age and develops writing; lasts until 1900 BC.
	+ Introduction of writing to Egypt, thus beginning the known history of the **Ancient Egyptian Civilization.** Egypt will undergo three periods of fragmentation over the next 2500 years.
* 3250 BC: **Potters wheel,** a sign of advanced civilization, spreads to abundance in the Near East.
* 3200 BC:
	+ Megalithic Art of Newgrange built in Ireland
	+ Rise of **Norte Chico civilization** in Peru; lasted until 1800 BC
* 3190 BC: The reign of **King Double Falcon** of Lower Egypt begins around this date. This marks the first known king of any polity.
* 3160 BC: **Upper Egypt annexes Nubut,** the first instance of a united Egyptian polity.
* 3138 BC: The **Ljubljana Marshes Wheel** comes from this time. Being over 5000 years old, it is the first known wooden wheel.
* 3114 BC: It is likely the **Mesoamerican Long Count Calendar,** a calendar developed by the Maya spanning over 5000 years and ending in 2012, begins here.
* 3110 BC: Beginning of the reign of **Narmer** of Egypt, introducing the Egyptian 1st Dynasty and ruling from Memphis. There would be 30 other Egyptian dynasties following.
* 3100 BC: **Stonehenge,** a circular earth bank, is constructed around this time.
* 3000 BC:
	+ Rise of **Minoan Civilization** in Crete; lasted until 1100 BC
	+ The **Sydney Rock Engravings,** cave art in Australia, is dated to around this time.
	+ **First pottery in the Americas** emerges in Colombia.
	+ **Domestication of camels** in Egypt.
* 2698 BC or 2638 BC: Starting date of the **Chinese Calendar**. The stories of this time are purely mythical, but it is very possible that they were based on the real story of the unification of the first Chinese tribes.
* 2589 – 2566 BC: **Egypt** — Reign of the Khufu. The construction of the **Great Pyramid of Giza** begins.
* 2334 BC : **Akkadian Empire** established, the first great empire of Mesopotamia. Lasted until 2154 BC
* c. 2200 BC: **Stonehenge** built in England
* 1895 BC: **Babylon** established; fell to the Persians in 539 BC
* c. 1800 BC: Believed birth year of Abraham, the founding father of Judaism and other Abrahamic religions
* c. 1600 BC: **Rise of Shang Dynasty**, the first **Chinese dynasty** supported by archaeological evidence. Lasted until 1046 BC
* c. 1500 BC: Composition of the **Rigveda Holy Book** of Hinduism
* c. 1400 BC: Rise of **Mycenaean civilisation in Greece**; lasted until 1100 BC

* c. 1200 BC:
	+ **Late Bronze Age Collapse** in Europe and south-western Asia. **Decline of various civilisations**.
	+ Rise of **Olmec** civilisation in Mexico; lasted until 400 BC
	+ **Phoenician** writing system emerged, the oldest verified alphabet
	+ **Chinese** writing system emerge
* c. 1050 BC: Rise of the Kingdom of Israel and Judah; lasted until 586 BC
* 1046 BC: **Zhou Dynasty** overthrew the Shang in China; lasted until 256 BC. However, it lost control of all of China in 771 BC during the collapse of their Kingdom.
* c. 1000 BC: Use of **Iron** has spread throughout the Near East

## Classical History

* 814 BC: **Carthage founded**; fell to the Romans in 146 BC
* 808 BC: **Greece** — **Macedonian Kingdom** established; fell to the Romans in 148 BC
* 776 BC: **Greece** — **First Olympic Games**. **Coroebus** wins the only event –a 192-meter foot race called the stade (the origin of the modern “stadium”)–to become the **first Olympic** champion
* 771 BC: **China** — Spring and Autumn period begins. Lasted until 476 BC
* 753 BC: **Founding of** **Rome** according to tradition
* 721 BC: **Deioces** (or Dia-oku) crowned as ***shas***, the title of Iranian/Persian rulers
* 586 BC: Destruction of the First Temple in Jerusalem (Solomon's Temple) by the Babylonians
* 563 BC: **India** — Birth of Siddhartha Gautama or Buddha, the founder of **Buddhism**
* 551 BC: **China** — Birth of Confucius, the founder of **Confucianism**
* 550 BC: **Achaemenid Iranian/Persian Empire** established by Cyrus the Great. **Imperial Iran**as a whole continued to exist until AD 1979, when the monarchy was abolished by the new Islamic Republic. The territory was always known as Iran, but the "Persia" was popularized in the West.
* 549 BC: **India** — Birth of Mahavira, co-founder of Jainism
* 539 – 525 BC: The **Persian Empire** reaches its peak after conquering the Babylonian Empire (thus liberating the Jews) and then Egypt.

* 509 BC: **Roman Republic** founded after the expulsion of the last king of Rome.
* 508 BC: **Democracy** instituted at Athens
* 480 BC: **Persian invasion of Greece** by Xerxes I
* 475 BC: **China** — **Warring States period** began in as the Zhou king became a mere figurehead. Lasted until China imperial unification in 221 BC
* 432 BC: **Greece** — Construction of the **Parthenon in Athens** completed
* 428 or 427 BC: **Greece** — Birth of **Plato**, key founder of Western Philosophy
* 431 BC: Beginning of the Peloponnesian War between the Greek city-states, lasted until 404 BC
* 390 BC: **Gauls** (from modern France) invade and sack **Rome**. This marks the beginning of roman militarization. By this time, Rome has already formed its famous Calendar, the basis for all of Western civilization.
* 371 BC: The Battle of Leuctra ends Spartan hegemony over **Greece**
* 336 – 323 BC: **Alexander the Great of Macedonia** conquers the entire Persian Empire, creating the biggest empire at the time. His death marks the end of **Greek Democracy** and the beginning of the **Hellenistic Period**, when most of the Western World was influenced by Greece.

* 323 BC: **Maurya Indian Empire** established by Chandragupta, who united almost all of India.
* 264 BC: **Roman conquest of Italy ends**. Mediterranean expansion begins with the First Punic War against Carthage.
* 221 BC: **The Empire of China is established** by **Qin Shihuang** (the name *China* may be a variation of “Qin”) following a series of unification wars. He orders the creation of the (Eight Thousand) **Terracotta Soldier** for his tomb and starts the construction of the **Great Wall**. His rise in 221 BC marks the beginning of **Imperial China**, a great and powerufl empire that, although divided many times, would continue to exist all the way up until **1912 AD**.
* 214 – 148 BC: **Macedonian Wars**. The Roman Republic gains control of the Mediterranean.
* 146 BC: **Greece** is conquered by Rome

* 88 – 63 BC: **Roman annexation of Anatolia**. **Decline of the Roman Republic** begins.
* 54 BC: **First Roman-Persian War**. These wars would last until 628 AD
* 49 – 30 BC: Great Roman Civil War and Fall of the Republic. **Egypt**, the last remnant of Alexander’ Empire, falls into Roman control.
* 27 BC: **Roman Empire** established by Octavius Augustus.

## First Millenium

* c. AD 1 : **Birth of Jesus Christ**, founder of Christianity.
* c. 30 : Saint Peter becomes the first Pope.
* 43 : **Southern Britain** annexed by Rome.
* c.150: Invention of woodblock imprint in China
* 220 : Fragmentation of China (Han Dynasty).
* c. 250 : **Japan** — Rise of the **Yamato Empire**
* 301 : **Republic of San Marino established** within the Roman Italy as an independent micro-state. It is the **oldest surviving Republic in the world**, as it continues until our days.
* 330 : **Rome** — After a civil War, Constantine "the Great" decides to divide the Empire in two halfs. The city of Byzantium is transformed into Constantinople (modern Istanbul), also known as Nova Roma, and becomes the capital of the Eastern Roman Empire, which would last another 1000 years (although it would continue to be more Greek than Roman).
* 380 : **Christianity** becomes the official religion of the Roman Empire (and thus all of Europe)

* 476 : **Fall of Rome**. Corruption and germanic invasions bring the end of the Western Roman Empire. Since then, the city of Rome remains under control of the Popes. The following years mark a decline in Western civilization known as the Dark Ages. Meanwhile, in the East, the rest of the Roman Empire continues to prosper (since it was no longer in Rome, it’s more popularly known as the “Byzantine” Empire)
* c. 509 : **France** — Clovis I unites all Frankish tribes, creating the first **French state**. The city of Paris becomes the capital of the new kingdom.
* 525 : The “**Anno Domini**” is established. The birth of Jesus Christ becomes the starting point of the Roman Calendar.
* 539 : **Japan** — **Emperor Kinmei** conquers all of Western Japan. He becomes the first Japanese Emperor supported by historiography. His bloodline, the **Yamato House**, continues until our days, making it the longest surviving dynasty in all history (at least 1500 years).
* 581 : **China** is unified by the Sui Dynasty.
* 602 : **Last Roman-Persian War begins**. Lasted until 626, with no clear winner, but both empires ended up devasted.
* 622 : **Arabia** — **Islam** is founded by **Mohammed**. Ten years later, after Mohammed's death, the **First Islamic Caliphate** is formed. This system continued to exist until 1924, when it was abolished by the newly formed Turkish Republic.
* 636 – 656: **Great Islamic Expansion. Jerusalem** (636), **Persia** (654) and **Roman Egypt** (656) are conquered and converted to Islam.
* 697: **The Republic of** **Venice** becomes independent from the Eastern Roman Empire. It lasted exactly 1100 years until the Napoleonic Invasion in 1797.
* 711 – 726: **Islamic Conquest of modern Spain**. However, a small Christian Kingdom manages to resist the invasion in northern Spain. Over several centuries, Christians would fight the Muslims for control of the peninsula.
* 762: The city of **Baghdad**, the “Center of Learning”, founded by the Caliphate. It would become the center of great scientific achievements during the Islamic Golden Age.

* 774 : **Charlemagne**, **King of the Franks,** saves the Pope of a Lombard attack by conquering almost all of Italy. Charlemagne then creates the **Papal States**, which would continue to exist until 1870.
* 800 AD: **Charlemagne is crown "Roman Emperor" by the Pope**. At that time, the Eastern Roman Empire was de-facto ruled by a women, something the papacy couldn’t tolerate. In addition, disputes between the East and West Christianity cause the deterioration of relationships with the Roman Church. Charlemagne manages to reconquer most of the Western Roman Empire.
* 808: **China** — Gunpowder is discovered
* 843: **Charlmagne's Empire is vidided'***.'* Western and Eastern Francia would become future **France** and **Germany** respectively.
* 859 : **University of Qarawiyyin** founded by the Islamic Caliphate in **Morocco**. It is the oldest university in the entire world.
* 879 : **Russia** — **The Kievan Rus** is established. It consist of a loose confederation of Slavic tribes ruled by the **Rurik Dynasty**, which would continue to exist until 1612, when the last one died without an heir, thus entering a new Dynasty (the Romanovs).
* 927 : **Britain** — **Kingdom of England** established by Æthelstan
* 962 : **Germany** — **Holy Roman Empire established.** After reconquering the divided territories of West and Middle Francia, Oton I "the Great" assumes control of Italy and is crowned Emperor of the Romans. This Empire will be later referred as the "**First Reich**" by future germans, and will continue to exist for almost 1000 years until its destruction in 1806 at the hands of **Napoleon Bonaparte**.

## Second Millenium

* 1037: The **Seljuq Empire** is established by nomadic Turks converted into Islam. Soon they conquer the weakened Caliphate and in 1048 they began attacking the Eastern Roman Empire.
* 1054: **Great Schism** between Western (Catholic) and Eastern (Orthodox) Christianity. This divide continues in present day, present time.
* 1066: **William the Conqueror conquers all of England**. However, William was from Normandy, vassal of France. This event marks the beginning of the Anglo-French rivalry (and wars) that will endure until the sign of the Entente Cordiale in 1904.
* 1071: **Turkish invasion of Anatolia**. After the **Battle of Manzikert,** the Roman Empire loses all of **Anatolia** to the Turks after a massive military disaster. This marks the beginning of the **turkification of Anatolia** and its conversion to Islam. The Roman Empire begins negotiations with the Pope to reconquer its lost territories, seting the stage for the **Crusades**.
* c. 1096: The **Oxford University** begins functioning
* 1096: **The Crusades begin.** The **Roman Empire** and the **Papacy** start a massive campaign to fight the Muslims in the East and retake the Holy Land of **Jerusalem** (although this was mostly an excuse to encourage new soldiers to aid the Roman Empire). These religious wars lasted until 1272, but they never managed to accomplish anything (except, ironically, the decline of the Eastern Roman Empire).
* 1192: **Japan** — The **Shogunate** is established. The Emperor continues to exist, but its power are taken away by the Shoguns.
* 1204: During the Fourth Crusade, **Venice** betrays the Eastern Roman Empire and aids an army of crusaders to siege and sack **Constantinople**. The Empire is divided among the crusaders and Venice becomes a trade empire.
* 1206: **Genghis Khan** unites the north-asiatic nomadic mongol tribes, becoming the first ruler of the **Mongol Empire**. He commands the invasion and conquest of China, which at the time was divided in 3 states, the first falling in 1227 and the last one in 1272.
* 1237 – 1240: **Mongol Conquest of the Kievan Rus** and **European raids**. The following invasion of Europe brings destruction to Poland and Hungary.
* 1241: **Ogedei Khan** dies, stopping Mongol advance into Central Europe.

* 1258: **Siege of Bagdad.** The Mongol Empire siege and destroys the city, marking the end of the Islamic Golden Age. One year later, the death of the Great Khan causes a civil war that marks begins the decline of the Empire.
* 1261: **The Eastern Roman Empire is reunified by the Palaiologos Dynasty**. However, it never manages to recovers from the Fourth Crusade. By this time, the **Mongols have started to fade out outside Asia.**
* 1271: **China** — The **Yuan Dynasty** is established by Kublai Khan
* 1282: **Europe** — Rise of the **Habsburg** in Austria
* 1299: **Ottoman Empire** established by Osman I (origin of the name) in a new Mongol-free Anatolia.
* 1337: The **Hundred Years War** between England and France begins.
* 1347 — 1353: The **Black Death** spreads all across Eurasia, killing millions of people. Its effects were minimal in Asia, while in Europe it killed half of its entire population and brought the beginning of the end for the Feudal system.
* 1368: **China** — **Ming Dynasty** established after a century of mongol domination. Mongol remnants continue to exist in the form of various Khanates in West Asia.
* 1403: **The Eastern Roman Empire** is reduced to merely three smalls states (and then just two in 1430) as the **Ottoman Empire** expands rapidly.
* 1452 : **Italy** — **Birth of Leonardo Da Vinci**. The **Renaissance** begins as philosophers and artists rediscover the knowledges of the Ancient Greco-Roman World.

* **1453 AD**: *End of the European Middle Ages*
	+ **Fall of Constantinople**
		- **Definitive end of the Roman Empire**
		- **Consolidation of the Ottoman Empire**
		- **End of the European trade system with Asi**a.
	+ **End of the Hundred Years War**
		- **France** becomes the **european superpower**.
	+ **Modernization** of warfare
	+ **Decline of the Feudal System**
* Alongside this events, the **printing press** is developed around this time.

## Modern Age

* 1480: **Russia** — **End of the Mongol rule**. **Grand Duchy of Muscow** established as a sovereign state.
* 1492: Spain is unified after conquering the last Muslim remnant. Just a few months later, Cristobal Columbus, supported by Spain, arrives at America. This massive event has to wait many decades before it actually changes the world. Some historians consider this the ending point of the Middle Ages.

* 1511: **The Spanish Conquest of America** begin
* 1515: **Europe** — The **Protestant Reformation** begins against the corruption of the Papacy. This set the stage for the **European Religious Wars**
* 1525: **Germany** — **The Duchy of Prussia is established** within the Holy Roman Empire. It will eventually become the crearor of the modern German state.
* 1543: **Germany** — **Nicolaus Copernicus** creates the **heliocentric theory**, proposing that the Earth an the other planets actually revolve around the Sun.
* 1547: **The Tsardom of Russia is established**. The Conquest of the Siberian Desert begins 33 years later.
* 1582: The **Gregorian Calendar** (our current one) is created after adjusting the Julian Calendar.
* 1605 : **Spain** — "***Don Quixote"*** is published. A founding work of Western literature, it is often labeled "the first modern novel" and many authors consider it to be the best literary work ever written.
* 1607 : **English colonization of America begins**
* 1613 : **Russia** — **Rise of the** **Romanov Dynasty**
* 1633 : **Japan** – The **Shogunate** begins its total **isolation** from the outside world.
* 1636 : **China** – The **Qing Dynasty**, last imperial dynasty, is established by the Manchurians.

* 1643 : **Birth of Isaac Newton**. The **Enlightenment**, a period of scientific and philosophic innovations in Europe, starts after his radical discoveries.
* 1688 : **British Glorious Revolution**; England becomes the first **constitutional monarchy**, adopting a liberal system that prevails until our days.

* 1701 : **Germany** — The **Kingdom of Prussia** is established, significantly expanding its territory and influence.
* 1707 : **Union of England and Scotland**
* 1721 : **Russian Empire established** by Peter the Great.
* 1752 : **Benjamin Franklin** begins experimentation with **electricity** ​​​​​​(USA)
* 1763 – 1774 : **Steam Power developed in Britain**. James Watt and Thomas Newcomen create and patent the first **Steam Machines**. Around this time, the **Great Divergence** occurs, as Western Countries manage to surpass every other country in the world using technological wonders and thinking new philosophical ideas. China starts its decadence.
* 1776 – 1783 : **The United States of America** becomes the first country in gain independence for an European power.
* 1789 : **The French Revolution begins** as the French revolt against the absolute monarchy.

## Contemporary Age

### Napoleonic Age (1792 — 1821)

* 1792 – 1799 : France, now a **Republic**, falls into chaos and terror. **Louis XVI** is executed and soon the country is surrounded by enemies. ​​​​​​At the end, **Napoleon Bonaparte** takes full control of the Republic and start a counter-offensive against the invaders.
* 1796 : Britain — **First vaccine tested** by Edward Jenner
* 1801 : **The United Kingdom of Britain, Ireland and Scotland is formally formed**.
* 1802 : **UK** — Sir Humphry Davy discovers incandescence in a platinum wire. He also is the discoverer of the first electric lamp type: the **carbon arc lamp**.
* 1803 : Napoleon sells the territory of **Louisiana** to the USA, significantly expanding its borders. The **Manifest Destiny** becomes popular and American ambitions for expansion begins.
* 1803 — 1815 : **Napoleonic Wars**; **Napoleon transforms the Republic into a French Empire** and achieves victory after victory until it manages to conquer almost all of Europe.
	+ 1804 : **Napoleon declares the Austrian Empire**.
	+ 1806 : **Fall of the Holy Roman Empire of the German Nation**. The territory is reorganized into a new **Confederation**.
	+ 1808 : **Fall of the Kingdom of Spain**. A military resistance is quickly formed and the Liberation War begins. The crisis within Spain affects his american colonies, sparking the **Latin American Independence Wars** three years later.
	+ 1812 : **Napoleon defeat** in his Russian Campaign marks the beginning of his downfall.

* 1815 : **Napoleon is defeated**
	+ The monarchy is restored
	+ Europe borders are completely redraw to create a "Balance of Powers"
	+ United Kingdom rises as the global superpower
	+ Napoleon's Empire disappear, but many of the borders he created don't.

### Industrialization, Revolutions, Innovations and Unifications Period (1821—1871)

* 1821 – 1824 : **Spain loses all of his American Colonies**, which become independent republics
* 1821 – 1829 : **Greek War of Independence**. The Ottoman Empire (known then as the "sick man of Europe") continues to deteriorate as many of its provinces claim independence.
* 1824 : **"The Great Game" begins** as Russia begins its expansion into Asia with the occupation of modern **Kazakhstan**. During the next decades, **United Kingdom** and **Russia** fight each other for control of Central Asia.
* 1826 : **Invention of Photography** by **Joseph Nicéphore** (France)
* 1829 : **Invention of the Telegraph** by **Joseph Henry** (USA)
* 1830 : **Second French Revolution**; France becomes a **constitutional monarchy**.
* 1831 : **The Egyptian Independence Wars begin**
* 1844 : **First Telegraph Message** (USA). **Samuel F.B. Morse** send the following message from Washington to Baltimore: "*What hath God wrought?*" (Bible, Numbers 23:23)
* 1846 – 1848 : **American-Mexican War**; The USA conquers all of the West and reaches the Pacific Ocean.
* 1848 : **Germany** — **The Communist Manifesto is published** by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels
* 1848 – 1852 : The **Second French Republic** is established with Louis Bonaparte, cousin of Napoleon, as president. However, he establishes a **Second French Empire** after losing re-elections.
* 1853 : **Japan** — The USA forces Japan to open itself. The Shogunate deteriorates.
* 1858 : **British conquers all of the Indian subcontinent.**
* 1864 – 1870 : **Paraguayan War**; the most destructive war in South American history.
* 1868 : **The Empire of Japan is established**; the Emperor regains absolute power in the Meiji Restoration.
* 1870 – 1871 : **Franco-Prussian War**
	+ **Fall of the French Empire** and declaration of the **Third French Republic**
	+ **Unification of Germany under Prussian rule**. This begins the "*Second Reich*".
	+ **Unification of Italy**, end of the **Papal States**
	+ The **Habsburgs** are isolated into Austria and Hungary (which later unite)
	+ **Road to WW1** begins.

### Road to World War (1871—1914)

* 1872 : **British annexation of Southern Arabia**. The new **Era of Colonialism** begins.
* 1879 : UK — **First incandescent light bulb** patented by Thomas Edison
* 1882 : **Central Powers formed** with the **Triple Alliance** (**Germany**, **Austro-Hungary** & **Italy**). **Egypt is conquered by the British**. By this point, the european powers have gained powerful interests in Africa. In Germany, Nikola Tesla builds the first **Alternating Current motor.**
* 1884 : **Scramble of Africa**. **Ethiopia** is the only country to maintain independence. **Machine Gun** invented by Hiram Maxim (USA).
* 1886 : **The first modern car** is patented by german Carl Benz
* 1891 : **First inter-urban transmission with Alternating Current** (Germany). This are the basis for our modern electronic urban systems.
* 1894 : **Franco-Russian Alliance** in response of Germany's plans to isolate France. In Asia, the **Japanese Empire** starts its expansion with the annexation of Korea and invasion of China.
* 1895 : **Cinema is invented** by the **Lumière Brothers** in France.
* 1896 : **Greek Olympic Games;** 1476 years after its prohibition in AD 393
* 1898 : **Japan defeats** **China**, which hasn't able to adapt to the modern world. In the Americas, **Spain loses cuba to the USA** (Spain knows this as the "*Disaster of 98*"). The USA starts becoming a global power.
* 1902 : **Anglo-Japanese Alliance**
* 1904 – 1905 : **Russo-Japanese War**. For the first time, a foreign power manages to defeat a European State. The sparks of the Russian Revolution begin. The Tsar creates the Duma Council to calm the masses. In Europe, Russia stops being a threat to Britain. The **Great Game** ends.
* 1905 : **Albert Einstein** creates the basis for **atomic energy** (E=mc²)
* 1907 : **Anglo-Russian** **Alliance**. The **Triple Entente** between France, Russia and the UK is formed.
* 1912 : **Collapse of Imperial China**; establishment of the Chinese Republic. However, it quickly falls into anarchy. The Warlord Period begins four years later.
* 1912 – 1913 : **Balkan Wars**. The Ottoman Empire lost all its European territories to the west of the River Maritsa as a result of the two Balkan Wars, which thus delineated present-day Turkey's western border. The war set the stage for the **Balkan crisis of 1914** which directly lead to the first **World War**. In other places of the world, **Henry Ford** starts the mass production of **cars**.

## Global Wars (1914 — 1945)

* 1914 — 1918 : **FIRST WORLD WAR**. Assassination of Franz Ferdinand, heir to the **Austro-Hungarian** throne, by nationalists terrorists of **Serbia** causes Austro-Hungary to declare war. The complex alliance system ends up involving all the European powers and, later on, foreign powers such as the **USA** and **Japan**. It was the greatest and most destructive war in human history at the time.
	+ 1915 : **Italy** betrays the Central Powers and switches sides. First use of **tanks** in warfare.
	+ 1916 : **Sykes Picot Agreement**. France and Britain agree to divide the Ottoman Empire to themselves.
	+ 1917 : **Russian Revolution**. The German intelligence aids the exiled revolutionary Lenin to return to his homeland Russia just in time for the Revolution against the Tsar. The Romanovs are overthrown, but a civil war begins. Russia loses many territories in the west.
	+ 1918 : The Arab Rebels are convinced by the UK to fight the Ottoman Empire. They are promised an united Arab, something that obviously didn't’ happened. This set in motion the arabic conflict that continues until modern days.

* 1919 : **Treaty of Versailles**.
	+ Central Powers divided, occupied and transformed into Republics. They must pay war reparations.
	+ **Japan** annexes all German colonies in the Pacific
	+ **German Africa** is shared among the Entente
	+ The **USA** rises as a new global superpower

* 1920 – 1939 : **Inter Wars Period** ​**​​​​​; Rise of** fascism
	+ 1920 : The **League of Nations** (predecessor to the Unated Nations) is created by american president Woodrow Wilson.
	+ 1922 :
		- **Egypt achieves independence**. One year later, the Turkish Republic is established following its War of Independence. Global Decolonization slowly begins.
		- **Benito Mussolini** rises in **Italy**, which becomes a **fascist** regime
		- **The Soviet Union** (USSR) is established following the end of the Russian Civil War. It becomes the first communist state in the world.
	+ 1927 : The UK becomes the **United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland**. World population reaches 2 billion. The first TV is tested (USA).
	+ 1929 : **The Great Depression begins**, affecting the economy of all the world. Because of turbulent times, Nazism rise in Germany
	+ 1933 : **Adolf Hitler** becomes Chancellor of the German Republic. He assumes emergency powers and then announces the beginning of the Third Reich. The Nazi German Empire slowly expands over the next years, usually with non-violent means.
	+ 1937 : **Japan invades China**. The civil war briefly stops ton fight the Japanese threat. At the same time, in Spain, the newly formed Republic falls into civil war between the army and liberals.
* 1939 – 1945 : **SECOND WORLD WAR**. The German invasion of Poland is the trigger for yet another global conflict. German allies with Italy and Japan, but they are all defeated.
	+ 1945 :
		- **First Atomic bombs tested in warfare**. The Pacific Front ends with the USA destroying Nagasaki and Hiroshima, forcing the Japanese Empire to surrender.
		- **Potsdam Conference**. Europe is divided in Western (USA) and Eastern (USSR) blocs.
		- **Italy** and many other countries become a Republic

## Cold War (1947 — 1991)

* 1947
	+ The Truman Doctrine is created by the USA to fight communism and end Soviet expansion. This begins the **Cold War** between **communist** and **capitalist** countries.
	+ The **Sound Barrier** is manually broken for the first time.
* 1948
	+ Due to the destruction caused by World War Two, the **Marshall Plan** is enacted by the United States to give **aid** and **money** to **Western Europe**.
	+ Following the Marshall Plan, the Soviets **cut off US access to Berlin**, leading to the **Berlin Blockade**. US allies began sending resources to Berlin by plane until the Soviets allowed goods to be given to Berlin in 1949.
* 1949
	+ The **People's Republic of China** is formed after the communist victory in the Chinese Civil War.
	+ Allied occupation of Germany ends. The Soviet occupation zone forms **East Germany**, while the US-allied occupation zones form **West Germany**.
	+ The USSR develops its first **atomic bomb**.
* 1950
	+ The **Korean War** erupts between communist North Korea and capitalist South Korea. The war would end in 1953 and be one of the first major wars of the Cold War.
* 1955 : **Space Race begins**. The **Warsaw Pact** is created to oppose NATO
* 1956 :
	+ **Suez Crisis**. UK and France, with the help of Israel, invade Egypt for control over the Suez Canal. Political pressure from the USA and USSR led to a withdrawal. The episode humiliated the United Kingdom and France, which were now clearly subordinates to the new superpowers.
	+ **Ideal-X Ship**, the first commercially successful **container ship** sale across the Atlantic (USA). Expansion of **global trade**.
* 1959-1962: Beginning of the **Great Leap Forward**, an attempt to increase and modernize Chinese economy.
* 1962 : **Cuban Missile Crisis**. The world is on the verge of nuclear war for a few days before the USA and USSR decide to withdraw their nuclear armament.
* 1963:
	+ In lieu of the end of the Great Leap Forward, China begins the **Socialist Education Movement** on the education system.
	+ **Assassination of John F Kennedy.**
	+ Martin Luther King Jr makes his famous **"I Have a Dream"** speech during the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, advocating for rights for people of colour.
* Mid 1960s: Cultural **British Invasion** on American music and culture led by **the Beatles,** causing major change in the culture of the US.
* 1966: Beginning of the Chinese **Cultural Revolution.**
* 1968 – 1989 : **Condor Plan**. The USA establishes numerous dictatorships all across South America to prevent any communist presence.
* 1969 :
	+ **Landing of the Moon**. The USA wins the Space Race
	+ **The Stonewall Riots** promoting LGBTQIA rights occurs, leading to the beginning of western acceptance of the LGBTQIA community.
* 1970: **Bhola Cyclone** kills 500 thousand people in the Ganges Region.
* 1971:
	+ The **Pentagon Papers are leaked** and make the front cover of the New York Times, detailing the US' involvement in Vietnam. Government pressures caused by the leak lead to the US' withdrawal from the Vietnam War.
	+ Pakistani genocide of Bangladesh begins, leading to the **Bangladesh Liberation War**.
* 1972: Beginning of the **Watergate Scandal,** a political crisis in the US that led to President Nixon's leave from office.
* 1973: **Energy Crisis of 1973** starts due to a rise in oil prices by 300%.
* 1974 : World population reaches 4 billion
* 1979 – 1989: **Soviet–Afghan War** and **Operation Cyclone**. The USA helps various insurgents groups in Afghanistan to fight off the Soviets. This results in the creation of **Al-Qaeda**.
* 1978: The **Camp David Accords** create Israeli-Egyptian peace.
* 1979: The Pahlavi dynasty is overthrown by an Islamic Theocracy in the **Iranian Revolution.**
* 1980: **Mount St. Helens eruption.**
* 1980-1983: **Early 1980s Recession.**
* 1986 :
	+ Gorbachev begins introducing **glasnost and perestroika** to the Soviet Union.
	+ **Chernobyl Disaster.**
* 1987 : USA and the USSR agree to eliminate all land-based intermediate-range missiles. World population reaches 5 billion.
* 1989 :
	+ **Fall of the Berlin Wall**; Germany is reunified one year later. Collapse of the Soviet Union begins.
	+ **Tiananmen Square Protests** occur in China.
* 1990 :
	+ **Birth of the Internet**. World Wide Web created by Tim Berners-Lee (Britain).
	+ Beginning of the **Gulf War,** an Iraqi invasion of Kuwait

## Post-Cold War Era (1991 — present)

* 1991 : **Disintegration of the Soviet Union**.
	+ Gorbachev resigns
	+ Warsaw Pact dissolved
	+ **Russian Federation** established.
	+ **Yugoslav Wars** begins; lasted until 2001
	+ **Somali Civil War** begins; it continues until our days.
* 1993 : **European Union founded**
* 1994 : The **First Chechen War** begins, between Russia and Chechnya. The Chechen Wars lasted until 2009.
* 1995 : **World Trade Organization founded**
* 1996 : **The Congo Wars begin**. They are also also called as the African World War, as they involved almost all african countries. Lasted until 2003.
* 1997 : Successful genetic cloning of **Dolly the Sheep.**
* 1998 : **Eritrean-Ethiopian War** begins.
* 1999 : Euro Coin created.
* 2000 : Israeli troops withdraw from southern Lebanon after 22 years of occupation.
* 2016
	+ The United Kingdom votes to leave the European Union, beginning **Brexit**.
* 2019
	+ **First image of a black hole.**
	+ **CRISPR**, an early gene editing technology, is medically used for the first time to treat people with sickle cell disease.
* 2020
	+ The worldwide **COVID-19 pandemic** begins, leading to economic collapse, supply shortages, quarantines, societal changes, medical misinformation, and nearly 800 million confirmed cases.
	+ The death of George Floyd leads to **Black Lives Matter protests** across the United States, and soon after across the world, against police brutality and systemic racism.
* 2021
	+ The James Webb Space Telescope is launched, replacing the Hubble Space Telescope and allowing for **better exploration of the cosmos.**
	+ United States forces leave Afghanistan, **ending the War on Terror.**
* 2022
	+ **Russia invades Ukraine** and occupies southern regions of Ukraine in one of the worst humanitarian crises of the 21st century.
	+ The human population reaches **8 billion.**