War & Power
Empires rise and fall. Laws are written and broken. Every border, treaty, and revolution is a thread in the story of power.
Politics (403)War (184)Law (124)
486 events
All War & Power Events
Schöningen Spears: Earliest Wooden Hunting Weapons
c. 400,000-380,000 BCE · Prehistoric
Human EvolutionTechnologyWar
Dispilio Wooden Tablet: Enigmatic Neolithic Markings
c. 5260 BCE · Prehistoric
LanguagePolitics
Bronze Age Begins
3300 BC · Prehistoric
War
First Dynasty of Egypt
3150 BC · Prehistoric
CulturePolitics
Unification of Upper and Lower Egypt
3100 BC · Prehistoric
PoliticsEconomicsReligion
Indus Valley Civilization
2600 BC · Ancient World
CulturePoliticsEconomics
Sacred City of Caral: Earliest Urban Center in the Americas
c. 2600-2000 BCE · Ancient World
CultureTechnologyReligion
Kingdom of Kerma Established
c. 2400 BCE · Ancient World
PoliticsCultureEconomics
4.2 Kiloyear Drought Triggers Akkadian Empire Collapse
c. 2200 BCE · Ancient World
ClimatePolitics
Code of Ur-Nammu: The Oldest Known Law Code
c. 2100-2050 BCE · Ancient World
CultureLawPhilosophy
First Dynasty of Babylon
1894 BC · Ancient World
PoliticsCulture
Code of Lipit-Ishtar
c. 1870 BCE · Ancient World
LawPoliticsCulture
Hammurabi's Code
c. 1755-1750 BC · Ancient World
Law
Reconstruction of the Palace at Knossos
c. 1700 BCE · Ancient World
CulturePolitics
Death of King Tut
1323 BC · Ancient World
Politics
Oracle Bone Divination Script of Ancient China
c. 1400-1200 BCE · Ancient World
TechnologyCultureLanguage
Phoenician Maritime Expansion
1100 BC · Ancient World
CulturePolitics
Kingdom of Judah founded
1020 BCE - 586 BCE · Ancient World
CulturePolitics
Carthage Founded
849 BC · Ancient World
PoliticsEconomics
Ancient Greek Civilization
800BC · Ancient World
CulturePoliticsEconomics
Napata Emerges as Capital of Kush
c. 800 BCE · Ancient World
PoliticsReligionCulture
Ancient Rome Founded
April 21, 753 BC · Ancient World
Politics
Scythian Metallurgical and Warfare Innovations
c. 800-700 BCE · Ancient World
TechnologyArtWar
First Coins Developed in Lydia
7th century BC · Ancient World
PoliticsEconomics
Draco's Code: First Written Laws of Athens
621 BCE · Ancient World
LawPolitics
Kingdom of Kush Relocates Capital to Meroe
c. 590 BCE · Ancient World
PoliticsEngineeringEconomics
Nebuchadnezzar Destroys Jerusalem and the First Temple
586 BCE · Ancient World
ReligionPoliticsWar
Foundation of the Achaemenid Empire
550 BC · Ancient World
WarPolitics
Bimbisara Establishes Magadha as a Major Power
c. 544 BCE · Ancient World
PoliticsEconomics
Cyrus Charter
539 BC · Ancient World
PoliticsLaw
Cleisthenes leads Athens
507 BC · Ancient World
Law
Confucius Teaches Ethics, Governance, and Social Order
c. 551–479 BCE · Classical Antiquity
PhilosophyCulturePolitics
Ionian Revolt begins
499 BC · Classical Antiquity
WarPolitics
Carthaginian Republic Established
480 BC · Classical Antiquity
Politics
Law of the Twelve Tables
449 BC · Classical Antiquity
LawPhilosophy
Battle of Cunaxa
401 BCE · Classical Antiquity
WarPolitics
Tissaphernes Murders the Greek Generals at Parley
401 BCE · Classical Antiquity
WarPolitics
Trial of Socrates
399 BC · Classical Antiquity
PhilosophyLaw
Tissaphernes Executed at Colossae
395 BCE · Classical Antiquity
PoliticsWar
Plato's Republic Completed
375 BC · Classical Antiquity
ArtPoliticsPhilosophy
Alexander the Great becomes King
336 BC · Classical Antiquity
PoliticsPhilosophy
Battle of Issus
November 5, 333 BCE · Classical Antiquity
WarPolitics
Battle of Gaugamela
October 1, 331 BCE · Classical Antiquity
WarPolitics
Lex Hortensia Enacted
287 BCE · Classical Antiquity
PoliticsLaw
First Punic War Began
264 BC · Classical Antiquity
WarPolitics
The Battle of Agrigentum
261 BC · Classical Antiquity
WarPolitics
Edicts of Ashoka
250 BC · Classical Antiquity
CultureReligionLaw
The Battle of the Aegates Islands
241 BC · Classical Antiquity
WarPolitics
Qin Shi Huang Unifying China
221 BC · Classical Antiquity
Politics
Qin Shi Huang Mount Tai Ceremony
219 BC · Classical Antiquity
CulturePoliticsReligion
Battle of the Trebia
218 BC · Classical Antiquity
WarPolitics
The Battle of Cannae
216 BC · Classical Antiquity
WarPolitics
The Battle of Utica
203 BC · Classical Antiquity
WarPolitics
The Battle of Zama
202 BC · Classical Antiquity
WarPolitics
Liu Bang Founds the Han Dynasty
202 BCE · Classical Antiquity
PoliticsWar
The Siege of Carthage Begins
149 BC · Classical Antiquity
WarPolitics
Destruction of Carthage
146 BC · Classical Antiquity
WarPolitics
Yarlung Dynasty - Tibetan Empire
618 CE · Classical Antiquity
CulturePolitics
Parthian Army Destroys Roman Legions at the Battle of Carrhae
June 53 BCE · Classical Antiquity
WarPolitics
Cleopatra takes the throne
51 BC · Classical Antiquity
Politics
Julian Calendar Reform
January 1, 45 BCE · Classical Antiquity
MathematicsAstronomyPolitics
Julius Caesar Assassinated
44 BC · Classical Antiquity
Politics
Edict of Augustus on Jewish Rights
1 CE · Classical Antiquity
CultureReligionLaw
Wang Mang's Usurpation and Xin Dynasty
9 CE · Classical Antiquity
PoliticsEconomicsCulture
Battle of the Teutoburg Forest
September 9-11, 9 CE · Classical Antiquity
WarPolitics
Germanicus Leads Punitive Campaigns Across the Rhine
14-16 CE · Classical Antiquity
WarPolitics
Caligula's Assassination
January 24, 41 AD · Classical Antiquity
Politics
Claudius Orders the Roman Invasion of Britain
43 CE · Classical Antiquity
WarPolitics
Kujula Kadphises Unifies Yuezhi into the Kushan Empire
c. 30-80 CE · Classical Antiquity
PoliticsReligionEconomics
Great Fire of Rome
July 64 CE · Classical Antiquity
Politics
Destruction of the Second Temple in Jerusalem
August 70 CE · Classical Antiquity
ArtCultureReligion
Construction of the Colosseum
72-80 CE · Classical Antiquity
EngineeringCulturePolitics
Ban Chao's Silk Road Missions
73-102 CE · Classical Antiquity
ExplorationWarPolitics
Bar Kokhba Revolt Crushed; Judaea Renamed Syria Palaestina
135 CE · Classical Antiquity
PoliticsWarReligion
Marcus Aurelius Becomes Emperor
161 · Classical Antiquity
Politics
Antonine Plague Spreads Across the Roman Empire
165-180 CE · Classical Antiquity
MedicinePolitics
Yellow Turban Rebellion
184-205 CE · Classical Antiquity
PoliticsReligionWar
Three Kingdoms period begins
220 · Classical Antiquity
CulturePolitics
Zhuge Liang's Northern Expeditions
228-234 CE · Classical Antiquity
WarPolitics
Mayans - Classic Period
250 AD · Classical Antiquity
PoliticsEconomicsReligion
Aksumite Kingdom Introduces Indigenous Coinage
c. 270 CE · Classical Antiquity
EconomicsPoliticsCulture
Diocletian's Reforms
284-305 CE · Classical Antiquity
PoliticsEconomicsWar
Nydam Boat Constructed
310-320 AD · Classical Antiquity
Politics
Edict of Milan
February 313 CE · Classical Antiquity
ReligionPoliticsCulture
First Council of Nicaea
325 CE · Classical Antiquity
ReligionPoliticsCulture
Founding of Constantinople
May 11, 330 CE · Classical Antiquity
PoliticsCultureReligion
Ezana's Conversion and Christianization of Aksum
c. 325-350 CE · Classical Antiquity
ReligionPoliticsCulture
Hun Invasion and Gothic Refugee Crisis
376 CE · Classical Antiquity
WarPoliticsCulture
The Fall of the Roman Empire
January 17, 395 AD · Classical Antiquity
Politics
Theodosian Code Published
438 CE · Classical Antiquity
LawPolitics
Council of Chalcedon
October 8 - November 1, 451 CE · Classical Antiquity
ReligionPolitics
Death of Attila the Hun
453 AD · Classical Antiquity
Politics
Fall of the Western Roman Empire
476 AD · Classical Antiquity
Politics
Salic Law (Lex Salica)
c. 500 CE · Late Antiquity
LawPoliticsCulture
Code of Justinian
529-534 CE · Late Antiquity
Law
Hagia Sophia Completed
532-537 AD · Late Antiquity
PoliticsReligion
Justinian Plague: First Major Recorded Pandemic
541-549 CE · Late Antiquity
MedicinePolitics
Christianization of the Nubian Kingdoms
543-580 CE · Late Antiquity
ReligionCulturePolitics
Fall of Funan and Rise of Chenla
c. 550-600 CE · Late Antiquity
PoliticsCultureEconomics
Introduction of Buddhism to Japan
552 CE · Late Antiquity
ReligionCulturePolitics
Caracol Defeats Tikal in 'Star War'
April 29, 562 CE · Late Antiquity
WarPolitics
Wari Empire Emerges in the Andes
c. 550-600 CE · Late Antiquity
PoliticsCultureEngineering
Sui Dynasty Reunifies China
Spring 589 CE · Late Antiquity
PoliticsWarCulture
Harsha's Unification of Northern India
April 606 CE · Late Antiquity
PoliticsWarCulture
Reign of K'inich Janaab' Pakal in Palenque
615-683 CE · Late Antiquity
ArtCulturePolitics
Tang Dynasty Established
June 18, 618 CE · Late Antiquity
PoliticsCulture
Constitution of Medina
622 AD · Late Antiquity
CultureLawPolitics
Muhammad's Hijra: Migration from Mecca to Medina
622 CE · Late Antiquity
ReligionPolitics
Muhammad's Conquest of Mecca and Cleansing of the Kaaba
January 630 CE · Late Antiquity
ReligionPoliticsWar
Death of Muhammad and the Rashidun Succession Crisis
June 8, 632 CE · Late Antiquity
ReligionPolitics
Songtsen Gampo Embraces Buddhism
641 CE · Late Antiquity
ReligionPoliticsCulture
Taika Reforms
645-646 CE · Late Antiquity
PoliticsCultureEconomics
Sassanid Empire Falls to Arab Conquest
642-651 CE · Late Antiquity
WarReligionPolitics
Battle of Karbala: Martyrdom of Husayn ibn Ali
October 10, 680 CE · Late Antiquity
ReligionWarPolitics
Wu Zetian Assumes the Imperial Throne
September 9, 690 CE · Late Antiquity
PoliticsCulture
Umayyad Conquest of Hispania
711 AD · Late Antiquity
PoliticsWar
Battle of Toulouse (Invasion of Gaul)
June 9, 721 AD · Late Antiquity
WarPolitics
Charlemagne Crowned as Emperor
800 AD · Late Antiquity
Politics
Formation of the Four Schools of Islamic Law
c. 750-850 CE · Late Antiquity
LawReligionPolitics
Jayavarman II Establishes the Khmer Empire
802 CE · Late Antiquity
PoliticsCulture
Al-Shafi'i's Risala: Foundation of Islamic Legal Theory
c. 810-814 CE · Late Antiquity
LawReligionPhilosophy
First Viking Settlement in Iceland
874 AD · Late Antiquity
CulturePolitics
Danelaw Established
886 AD · Late Antiquity
Politics
Military Use of Gunpowder Begins
904 AD · Late Antiquity
TechnologyWar
Establishment of the Duchy of Normandy
911 AD · Late Antiquity
Politics
Althing Founded
930 AD · Late Antiquity
Politics
Coronation of Louis IV as King of West Francia
936 · Late Antiquity
Politics
Maya Postclassic Period Begins
950 AD · Late Antiquity
PoliticsCulture
Battle of Lechfeld
August 10, 955 · Late Antiquity
WarPolitics
Zhao Kuangyin Founds the Song Dynasty
960 CE · Late Antiquity
Politics
Leif Erikson Explores North America
c. 1000 AD · Late Antiquity
CulturePolitics
First Viking Settlement in Greenland by Erik the Red
985 AD · Late Antiquity
CulturePolitics
Hugh Capet Elected King of France, Founding the Capetian Dynasty
987 CE · Late Antiquity
Politics
Norse Settlement at L'Anse aux Meadows
1000 CE · Medieval
CulturePolitics
Collapse and Abandonment of the Wari Empire
c. 1000-1100 CE · Medieval
PoliticsCulture
Allied Scandinavian Kings Defeat Olaf Tryggvason at Svolder
September 1000 · Medieval
WarPolitics
The Battle of Clontarf
April 23, 1014 · Medieval
WarPolitics
Rajendra Chola Launches Naval Expedition Against Srivijaya
1025 CE · Medieval
WarExploration
Westminster Abbey Founded
December 28, 1065 · Medieval
PoliticsReligion
The Battle of Hastings
1066 AD · Medieval
WarPolitics
Battle of Stamford Bridge
September 25, 1066 · Medieval
WarPolitics
Al-Bakri Documents the Ghana Empire in the Book of Routes and Realms
1068 CE · Medieval
EconomicsCulturePolitics
Battle of Manzikert
August 26, 1071 · Medieval
WarPolitics
Bayeux Tapestry Commissioned
c. 1070 · Medieval
ArtWar
First Crusade
1096 · Medieval
ReligionWar
Jayavarman VII Restores and Expands the Khmer Empire
c. 1181 CE · Medieval
PoliticsCulture
Kilwa Sultanate Seizes Sofala, Controlling the Zimbabwe Gold Trade
c. 1185 CE · Medieval
EconomicsPoliticsWar
Saladin Recaptures Jerusalem from the Crusaders
October 2, 1187 CE · Medieval
ReligionWarPolitics
Battle of Arsuf
September 7, 1191 · Medieval
WarPolitics
Magna Carta Drafted
June 15, 1215 · Medieval
LawPoliticsPhilosophy
Sachsenspiegel (Saxon Mirror)
c. 1225 CE · Medieval
LawCultureLanguage
Death of Genghis Khan
1227 AD · Medieval
PoliticsWar
Constitutions of Melfi
September 1, 1231 · Medieval
LawPolitics
Sundiata Keita Defeats Sosso at Kirina, Founding the Mali Empire
c. 1235 CE · Medieval
WarPoliticsCulture
Siege of Baghdad
1258 AD · Medieval
WarPolitics
Tran Hung Dao Defeats Mongol Fleet at the Battle of Bach Dang
April 9, 1288 · Medieval
War
Edict of Expulsion
1290 · Medieval
Law
Fall of Acre
1291 AD · Medieval
ReligionWar
Florence Bans Arabic Numerals and Zero from Official Documents
1299 CE · Medieval
MathematicsPoliticsEconomics
Mansa Musa's Pilgrimage to Mecca
1324–1325 CE · Medieval
PoliticsReligionEconomics
The Founding of Mewar
1326 · Medieval
Politics
Start of the Hundred Years' War
1337 - 1453 · Medieval
War
Ming Dynasty Founded
1368 · Medieval
CulturePolitics
Timur Captures Samarkand and Establishes the Timurid Empire
1370 CE · Medieval
WarPoliticsCulture
Zheng He Launches the Ming Treasure Fleet Voyages
July 11, 1405 – 1433 CE · Medieval
ExplorationPolitics
Battle of Agincourt
1415 · Medieval
War
Founding of the Aztec Empire
1428 AD · Medieval
PoliticsCulture
Council of Basel-Ferrara-Florence
1431 · Medieval
ReligionPolitics
Ming China Ends the Treasure Voyages and Destroys the Records
1433–1435 CE · Medieval
ExplorationPolitics
The Inca Empire Established
1438 - 1533 · Medieval
Politics
Kingdom of Benin: Art, Power, and the Bronzes
c. 1440–1897 · Medieval
ArtCulturePolitics
Battle of Varna
November 10, 1444 · Medieval
WarPolitics
Construction of Machu Picchu begins
c. 1450 CE · Early Modern
Politics
The Iroquois League
1450 AD · Early Modern
PoliticsCulture
Battle of Formigny
April 15, 1450 · Early Modern
War
Fall of Constantinople
May 29, 1453 · Early Modern
PoliticsReligionWar
First Battle of St Albans
1455 - 1487 · Early Modern
War
Songhai Empire: West Africa's Largest State
c. 1464–1591 · Early Modern
PoliticsCultureReligion
Spanish Inquisition Established
1478 · Early Modern
PoliticsReligion
Kingdom of Kongo Receives Portuguese Embassy and Converts to Christianity
1491 CE · Early Modern
PoliticsReligionCulture
Alhambra Decree
March 31, 1492 · Early Modern
PoliticsReligionLaw
Founding of La Navidad Settlement
December 25, 1492 · Early Modern
PoliticsEconomics
Treaty of Tordesillas Divides the New World
June 7, 1494 · Early Modern
PoliticsExplorationReligion
Christopher Columbus Imprisoned
August, 1500 · Early Modern
Law
Portuguese Forces Sack Kilwa, Breaking Swahili Coast Independence
July 24, 1505 · Early Modern
WarPoliticsEconomics
Henry VIII's Reign begins
April 22, 1509 · Early Modern
Politics
Vasco Núñez de Balboa's Pacific Expedition
September 25, 1513 · Early Modern
PoliticsExploration
The Reformation begins
1517 AD · Early Modern
CulturePoliticsReligion
Spanish Conquest of the Aztec Empire
1519 · Early Modern
PoliticsWar
Suleiman the Magnificent Ascends to the Ottoman Throne
September 30, 1520 CE · Early Modern
PoliticsReligionWar
The Transatlantic Slave Trade Begins
c. 1526–1867 · Early Modern
EconomicsPoliticsCulture
Babur Defeats the Delhi Sultanate at the Battle of Panipat
April 21, 1526 · Early Modern
WarPolitics
Battle of Mohács
August 29, 1526 · Early Modern
PoliticsWar
Inca Civil War Begins
1527-1532 · Early Modern
War
Death of Huayna Capac During Epidemic
c. 1527 · Early Modern
PoliticsMedicine
Battle of Cajamarca
1532 · Early Modern
PoliticsWar
Dissolution of the Monasteries by Henry VIII
1536-1541 · Early Modern
ReligionPoliticsEconomics
Council of Trent Convened
1545 - 1563 · Early Modern
ReligionPolitics
Death of Henry the VIII
1547 AD · Early Modern
Politics
Holy League Fleet Defeats Ottoman Navy at Lepanto
October 7, 1571 · Early Modern
WarPoliticsReligion
Spanish Armada Defeated
1588 · Early Modern
War
The Merchant of Venice Published
1596 AD · Early Modern
ArtCultureEconomics
Shah Abbas I Establishes Isfahan as the Safavid Capital
1598 CE · Early Modern
PoliticsArtEconomics
Tokugawa Ieyasu Establishes the Edo Shogunate; Sakoku Isolation Edicts Follow
1603 CE · Early Modern
CulturePoliticsWar
Death of Elizabeth I
March 24, 1603 · Early Modern
Politics
Antony and Cleopatra Published
1607 AD · Early Modern
ArtCultureLanguage
Jamestown is Founded
May 14, 1607 · Early Modern
PoliticsEconomics
Mughal Conquest of Mewar
1615 · Early Modern
PoliticsWar
Roman Inquisition Declares Copernican Theory Heretical
February 24, 1616 · Early Modern
ReligionAstronomyPolitics
First Africans Arrive in Virginia
1619 · Early Modern
War
Swedish Instrument of Government
July 29, 1634 · Early Modern
PoliticsLaw
Pequot War
1636-1638 · Early Modern
WarPolitics
Peace of Westphalia
1648 CE · Early Modern
PoliticsLawReligion
Ottoman Siege of Vienna Repelled by Allied Relief Force
July-September 1683 · Early Modern
WarPolitics
English Bill of Rights Passed
1689 · Early Modern
CultureLawPolitics
English Bill of Rights
1689 · Early Modern
CultureLawPolitics
Osei Tutu Unifies the Akan States and Founds the Asante Empire
c. 1701 CE · Early Modern
PoliticsEconomicsCulture
Acts of Union 1707
1707 · Early Modern
Politics
Death of Peter the Great
1725 AD · Early Modern
Politics
Stono Rebellion
1739 · Early Modern
PoliticsWar
Nader Shah of Persia Sacks Delhi and Seizes the Peacock Throne
March 1739 · Early Modern
WarPoliticsEconomics
Negro Act of 1740
May 10, 1740 · Early Modern
PoliticsLaw
Battle of Prestonpans
September 21, 1745 · Early Modern
PoliticsWar
Battle of Fontenoy
May 11, 1745 · Early Modern
War
Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle
1748 · Early Modern
Politics
Jumonville Glen Incident
May 28, 1754 · Early Modern
War
Seven Years' War Begins
1756 · Early Modern
WarPolitics
Battle of Kunersdorf
August 12, 1759 · Early Modern
WarPolitics
Burmese Forces Sack and Destroy Ayutthaya
April 7, 1767 · Early Modern
WarCulture
Boston Massacre
March 5, 1770 · Early Modern
PoliticsWar
American Revolution Begins
April 19, 1775 · Early Modern
Politics
Declaration of Independence Adopted
July 4, 1776 · Early Modern
LawPolitics
Battle of Saratoga
September-October 1777 · Early Modern
War
Treaty of Paris
September 3, 1783 · Early Modern
Politics
Northwest Ordinance Establishes Northwest Territory
1787 · Early Modern
PoliticsExploration
U.S. Constitution Ratified
June 21, 1788 · Early Modern
CultureLawPolitics
Storming of the Bastille
1789 AD · Early Modern
PoliticsPhilosophy
Declaration of the Rights of Man
1789 · Early Modern
CultureLawPolitics
Haitian Revolution
August 22, 1791 · Early Modern
PoliticsWar
French Constitution of 1791
September 3, 1791 · Early Modern
PoliticsLaw
U.S. Bill of Rights Ratified
December 15, 1791 · Early Modern
CultureLawPolitics
Irish Rebellion
May 23, 1798 · Early Modern
PoliticsWar
Death of George Washington
1799 AD · Early Modern
Politics
Coup of 18 Brumaire
November 9, 1799 · Early Modern
Politics
Louisiana Purchase
1803 · 19th Century
PoliticsExploration
Marbury v. Madison Supreme Court Case
February 24, 1803 · 19th Century
LawPolitics
Haiti Declares Independence
1804 · 19th Century
Politics
Napoleonic Code
1804 · 19th Century
Law
Lewis and Clark Expedition Begins
May 14, 1804 · 19th Century
PoliticsEconomicsExploration
Napoleon Bonaparte Crowned Emperor of France
December 2, 1804 · 19th Century
Politics
Battle of Trafalgar
October 21, 1805 · 19th Century
Politics
Congress bans import of slaves
1808 · 19th Century
PoliticsEconomics
Venezuelan War of Independence
April 19, 1810 · 19th Century
PoliticsWar
Mexican War of Independence
Sep 16, 1810 · 19th Century
PoliticsWar
War of 1812 Begins
June 18, 1812 · 19th Century
War
Treaty of Ghent is Signed
December 24, 1814 · 19th Century
Politics
Congress of Vienna
1815 · 19th Century
PoliticsLaw
Battle of Waterloo
1815 · 19th Century
War
Shaka Founds the Zulu Kingdom; The Mfecane Reshapes Southern Africa
c. 1816–1828 · 19th Century
WarPoliticsCulture
Rush-Bagot Treaty
April 16, 1818 · 19th Century
Politics
Congress of Angostura Establishes Gran Colombia with Bolívar as President
1819 · 19th Century
Politics
Greek War of Independence
1821 · 19th Century
PoliticsWar
Johnson v. M'Intosh
February 24, 1823 · 19th Century
EconomicsLaw
The Last of the Mohicans Published
1826 · 19th Century
ArtCultureWar
Dissolution of Gran Colombia
1830 · 19th Century
Politics
The Indian Removal Act is Passed
May 28, 1830 · 19th Century
Law
Indian Removal Act
May 28, 1830 · 19th Century
Law
Trail of tears begins
1831 · 19th Century
Law
Democracy in America
1835 · 19th Century
ArtCulturePolitics
First Opium War Begins; Start of China's Century of Humiliation
1839–1842 · 19th Century
WarPoliticsEconomics
Women Delegates Barred at World Anti-Slavery Convention
June 12, 1840 · 19th Century
CultureLawPolitics
The Three Musketeers Published
1844 · 19th Century
ArtCulturePolitics
California Republic (Bear Flag Revolt)
1846 · 19th Century
Politics
Mexican-American War
1846-1848 · 19th Century
War
Frederick Douglass' North Star
1847 · 19th Century
PoliticsCulture
Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo
Feb 2, 1848 · 19th Century
Politics
Springtime of the Peoples
1848 · 19th Century
Politics
Publication of The Communist Manifesto
February 21, 1848 · 19th Century
PoliticsPhilosophy
Seneca Falls Convention
July 19-20, 1848 · 19th Century
Law
California Gold Rush
1849 AD · 19th Century
Politics
Harriet Tubman escapes slavery
1849 · 19th Century
PoliticsCulture
Fugitive Slave Act
1850 · 19th Century
Politics
Dred Scott v. Sanford
1857 · 19th Century
Law
Butterfield Overland Mail Route Founded
1858 · 19th Century
Politics
HMS Warrior Launched: First British Ironclad Warship
1859 · 19th Century
War
Pony Express starts
1860 AD · 19th Century
TechnologyPolitics
Lincoln Elected
1860 · 19th Century
Politics
American Civil War Begins
April 12, 1861 · 19th Century
War
Homestead Act is Passed
May 20, 1862 · 19th Century
PoliticsEngineeringLaw
Emancipation Proclamation
January 1, 1863 · 19th Century
PoliticsLawCulture
CSS H.L. Hunley Sinks USS Housatonic
February 17, 1864 · 19th Century
WarTechnologyEngineering
President Lincoln Assassinated
April 14, 1865 · 19th Century
Politics
Thirteenth Amendment Ratified
December 6, 1865 · 19th Century
PoliticsLaw
Fenian Raids
1866 · 19th Century
Politics
Alaska Purchase
1867 · 19th Century
Politics
Tokugawa Shogunate Overthrown; Meiji Emperor Restored to Power
3 January 1868 · 19th Century
PoliticsWarTechnology
Fourteenth Amendment Ratified
July 9, 1868 · 19th Century
PoliticsLaw
Fifteenth Amendment Ratified
February 3, 1870 · 19th Century
PoliticsLaw
Yellowstone National Park
1872 · 19th Century
Politics
Battle of the Little Bighorn
1876 AD · 19th Century
War
Cyrus Cylinder Discovered at Babylon
March 1879 · 19th Century
LawCultureReligion
Assassination of Alexander II
March 1, 1881 · 19th Century
Politics
Chinese Exclusion Act Signed into Law
May 6, 1882 · 19th Century
PoliticsLaw
Civil Rights Cases of 1883
October 15, 1883 · 19th Century
LawPolitics
Berlin Conference: Europe Partitions Africa
November 1884 – February 1885 · 19th Century
EconomicsPoliticsLaw
Santa Clara County v. Southern Pacific Railroad
May 10, 1886 · 19th Century
LawEconomicsPolitics
The Dawes Act
1887 · 19th Century
Law
Meiji Constitution Promulgated
February 11, 1889 · 19th Century
PoliticsLaw
Oklahoma Land Rush
April 22, 1889 · 19th Century
EngineeringPolitics
Menelik II Crowned Emperor of Ethiopia
November 3, 1889 · 19th Century
Politics
The Dreyfus Affair
1894 · 19th Century
Politics
Battle of Adwa: Ethiopia Defeats Italy
March 1, 1896 · 19th Century
WarPoliticsCulture
Plessy v Ferguson Supreme Court Decision
May 18, 1896 · 19th Century
LawPoliticsCulture
First Zionist Congress Convened in Basel
August 29–31, 1897 · 19th Century
PoliticsCultureReligion
Spanish-American War
1898 · 19th Century
WarPolitics
NAACP Founded
February 12, 1909 · 20th Century
PoliticsLawCulture
The Great Migration Begins
c. 1910–1970 · 20th Century
CulturePoliticsEconomics
Mexican Revolution
November 20, 1910 · 20th Century
PoliticsWar
1911 Revolution (China)
1911 · 20th Century
Politics
Arizona Statehood
1912 AD · 20th Century
Politics
Abdication of the Qing Dynasty
1912 · 20th Century
CulturePolitics
Republic of China established
January 1, 1912 · 20th Century
Politics
Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand
June 28, 1914 · 20th Century
PoliticsWar
Germany Issues Blank Check to Austria-Hungary
July 5th, 1914 · 20th Century
War
France declares support for Russia
July 20th, 1914 · 20th Century
Politics
Austria-Hungary declares war on Serbia
July 28, 1914 · 20th Century
War
Start of World War I
July 28, 1914 · 20th Century
PoliticsWar
Germany declares war on Russia
August 1, 1914 · 20th Century
WarPolitics
Austria-Hungary presents ultimatum to Serbia
July 23rd, 1914 · 20th Century
War
Yelagin Palace Ministerial Council
July 24th, 1914 · 20th Century
PoliticsWar
First shots of World War 1
July 29, 1914 · 20th Century
War
Tsar Nicholas II's General Mobilization Order
July 30, 1914 · 20th Century
Politics
Britain declares war on Germany
August 4, 1914 · 20th Century
WarPolitics
Fritz Haber Deploys Chlorine Gas at Ypres
April 22, 1915 · 20th Century
ChemistryWar
February Revolution
Mar 8, 1917 · 20th Century
CulturePoliticsEconomics
The Bolshevik Revolution
October 25 (November 7), 1917 · 20th Century
Politics
Balfour Declaration Pledges Jewish National Home in Palestine
November 2, 1917 · 20th Century
PoliticsCultureWar
Korean Independence Declaration Read Publicly; Mass Protests Spread Across Peninsula
1 March 1919 · 20th Century
PoliticsCulture
Intl. Labour Organization Founded
March 4, 1919 · 20th Century
PoliticsLaw
Treaty of Versailles
June 28, 1919 · 20th Century
PoliticsWarEconomics
Nineteenth Amendment Ratified
1920 AD · 20th Century
CultureLawPolitics
British Mandate for Palestine Established
1920 · 20th Century
PoliticsCultureLaw
Chinese Communist Party founded
July, 1921 · 20th Century
Politics
Immigration Act of 1924 Signed into Law
May 26, 1924 · 20th Century
PoliticsLaw
Gandhi Leads the Salt March to Dandi
March 12, 1930 · 20th Century
PoliticsCulture
Empire State Building Completed
1931 AD · 20th Century
TechnologyArtEngineering
Japan invades Manchuria
September 18, 1931 · 20th Century
War
Adolf Hitler Becomes Chancellor of Germany
January 30, 1933 · 20th Century
Politics
First Nazi Concentration Camp
March 22, 1933 · 20th Century
PoliticsWar
Indian Reorganization Act
1934 · 20th Century
CulturePoliticsEconomics
The Long March: CCP Escapes Nationalist Encirclement
October 1934 – October 1935 · 20th Century
WarPoliticsCulture
The Nuremberg Race Laws are Passed
1935 · 20th Century
Law
Italy invades and conquers Ethiopia
October 2, 1935 · 20th Century
War
Anti-Comintern Pact Signed
November 25, 1936 · 20th Century
PoliticsWar
Formation of the Rome-Berlin Axis
November 1, 1936 · 20th Century
PoliticsWar
Marco Polo Bridge Incident
July 7, 1937 · 20th Century
War
Second Sino-Japanese War Begins; Nanjing Massacre
July 7 – December 13, 1937 · 20th Century
WarPoliticsCulture
Kristallnacht
November 9, 1938 · 20th Century
War
Germany Invades Poland
September 1, 1939 · 20th Century
War
Operation Barbarossa Begins
June 22, 1941 · 20th Century
War
Pearl Harbor Attack
December 7, 1941 AD · 20th Century
War
The Wannsee Conference
January 20, 1942 · 20th Century
War
Executive Order 9066 — Japanese American Internment
February 19, 1942 · 20th Century
PoliticsLawWar
Shostakovich's Leningrad Symphony Premiered in Besieged City
August 9, 1942 · 20th Century
ArtEntertainment & MediaWar
First Successful V-2 Rocket Launch
October 3, 1942 · 20th Century
TechnologyWar
Bretton Woods Conference
July 1944 · 20th Century
EconomicsPolitics
First V-2 Rocket Attack on London
September 8, 1944 · 20th Century
TechnologyWar
Division of Korea
1945 · 20th Century
PoliticsWar
Nuremberg Trials
1945 · 20th Century
EconomicsLaw
Atomic Bombing of Hiroshima
Aug 6, 1945 · 20th Century
ChemistryTechnologyWar
Japan Signs Surrender Instrument Aboard USS Missouri; Allied Occupation Begins
2 September 1945 · 20th Century
PoliticsEconomicsWar
Sukarno and Hatta Proclaim Indonesian Independence from Dutch Colonial Rule
17 August 1945 · 20th Century
PoliticsWar
United Nations Founded
October 24, 1945 · 20th Century
PoliticsLaw
Partition of India
August 15, 1947 · 20th Century
PoliticsWar
UN General Assembly Votes to Partition Palestine
November 29, 1947 · 20th Century
PoliticsLawCulture
Israeli Independence Declared; Arab-Israeli War and Palestinian Nakba
May 14, 1948 · 20th Century
PoliticsWarCulture
Syngman Rhee Becomes President of South Korea
July 20, 1948 - August 15, 1948 · 20th Century
Politics
Berlin Blockade
June 24, 1948 - May 12, 1949 · 20th Century
PoliticsWar
Executive Order 9981 — Military Desegregation
July 26, 1948 · 20th Century
PoliticsLawWar
Universal Declaration of Human Rights
December 10, 1948 · 20th Century
CultureLawPolitics
Geneva Conventions
August 12, 1949 · 20th Century
LawPoliticsWar
Proclamation of the People's Republic of China
October 1, 1949 · 20th Century
Politics
Chiang Kai-shek and KMT Government Withdraw to Taiwan After Losing Chinese Civil War
10 December 1949 · 20th Century
PoliticsWar
Korean War
June 25, 1950 · 20th Century
War
Battle of Pusan Perimeter
August 4 - September 18, 1950 · 20th Century
War
Development of the R-7 Semyorka ICBM
1953 · 20th Century
War
Korean War Armistice Signed at Panmunjom; Demilitarized Zone Established
27 July 1953 · 20th Century
WarPolitics
Coronation of Elizabeth II
June 2, 1953 · 20th Century
Politics
CIA and MI6 Overthrow Iranian Prime Minister Mossadegh
August 19, 1953 · 20th Century
PoliticsWar
Brown v Board of Education
May 17, 1954 · 20th Century
CultureLaw
Murder of Emmett Till
August 28, 1955 · 20th Century
PoliticsCulture
Montgomery Bus Boycott
December 1, 1955 · 20th Century
Law
Federal-Aid Highway Act Signed
June 29, 1956 · 20th Century
PoliticsLaw
Year of Africa: 17 Nations Gain Independence in 1960
1957–1960 · 20th Century
PoliticsCultureLaw
Formation of IAEA
July 29, 1957 · 20th Century
Politics
Little Rock Nine Integrate Central High School
September 4–25, 1957 · 20th Century
PoliticsLaw
Sputnik 1 Launched
October 4, 1957 · 20th Century
TechnologyPolitics
Formation of NASA
July 29, 1958 · 20th Century
EngineeringPoliticsTechnology
Antarctic Treaty Signed
December 1, 1959 · 20th Century
PoliticsLaw
Greensboro Sit-Ins Begin
February 1, 1960 · 20th Century
PoliticsCulture
Freedom Riders Challenge Interstate Segregation
May 4 – November 1, 1961 · 20th Century
PoliticsLawCulture
Kennedy's Moon Landing Speech to Congress
May 25, 1961 · 20th Century
PoliticsEngineering
Princess Diana Born
July 1, 1961 · 20th Century
CulturePolitics
Cuban Missile Crisis
October 16-28, 1962 · 20th Century
PoliticsWar
March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom
August 28, 1963 · 20th Century
CulturePoliticsLaw
Civil Rights Act of 1964
July 2, 1964 · 20th Century
PoliticsLawCulture
Gulf of Tonkin Incident
August 2-4, 1964 · 20th Century
War
Selma to Montgomery Voting Rights Marches
March 7–25, 1965 · 20th Century
PoliticsLawCulture
Voting Rights Act of 1965
August 6, 1965 · 20th Century
PoliticsLaw
Suharto Seizes Power After Coup Attempt; Mass Killings of PKI Members and Suspected Sympathizers Follow
October 1965 – March 1966 · 20th Century
WarPolitics
Cultural Revolution Begins in China
May 16, 1966 · 20th Century
Politics
Intl. Covenant on Civil and Political Rights is Adopted
December 16, 1966 · 20th Century
CultureLawReligion
Outer Space Treaty Signed
January 27, 1967 · 20th Century
PoliticsLaw
Six-Day War; Israel Occupies West Bank, Gaza, Sinai, Golan Heights
June 5–10, 1967 · 20th Century
WarPoliticsLaw
1967 Detroit Uprising
July 23–28, 1967 · 20th Century
PoliticsCulture
Kerner Commission Report Released
February 29, 1968 · 20th Century
PoliticsLaw
Assassination of Martin Luther King Jr.
April 4, 1968 · 20th Century
PoliticsCulture
Fair Housing Act Signed into Law
April 11, 1968 · 20th Century
PoliticsLaw
Apollo 13 Mission Launched
April 11, 1970 · 20th Century
TechnologyPolitics
Nixon Visit to China
February 21, 1972 · 20th Century
Politics
ABM Treaty Signed by US and USSR
May 26, 1972 · 20th Century
PoliticsLaw
Roe v. Wade Supreme Court Decision
January 22, 1973 · 20th Century
LawPolitics
Viking Program - Mars Landers
1975-1976 · 20th Century
Politics
Deng Xiaoping Launches Reform and Opening Up
December 18, 1978 · 20th Century
PoliticsEconomicsCulture
Iranian Revolution Overthrows the Shah
February 11, 1979 · 20th Century
PoliticsWar
Convention on Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women
1979 · 20th Century
PoliticsLaw
Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back Released
1980 · 20th Century
Entertainment & MediaArt
Iraq Invades Iran — Iran-Iraq War Begins
September 22, 1980 · 20th Century
WarPolitics
President Reagan elected
November 4, 1980 · 20th Century
Politics
INF Treaty Signed by US and USSR
December 8, 1987 · 20th Century
PoliticsLaw
USS Vincennes Shoots Down Iran Air Flight 655
July 3, 1988 · 20th Century
WarLaw
Schabowski's Mistaken Press Conference Announcement
November 9, 1989 · 20th Century
Politics
Berlin Wall Falls
November 9, 1989 AD · 20th Century
EngineeringPolitics
Tiananmen Square Protests Crackdown
June 4, 1989 · 20th Century
Politics
Convention on the Rights of the Child is Adopted
November 20, 1989 · 20th Century
CultureLawEconomics
Rodney King Beating by LAPD Officers
March 3, 1991 · 20th Century
PoliticsLaw
Dissolution of the Soviet Union
December 25, 1991 AD · 20th Century
Politics
1992 Los Angeles Riots and Uprising
April 29 – May 4, 1992 · 20th Century
PoliticsLawCulture
United States Presidential Election of 1992
November 3, 1992 · 20th Century
Politics
Oslo Accords: Israel and PLO Sign Peace Framework
September 13, 1993 · 20th Century
PoliticsLawCulture
Rwandan Genocide: 800,000 Killed in 100 Days
April 7 – July 4, 1994 · 20th Century
WarPoliticsLaw
Nelson Mandela Elected President; End of Apartheid
April 27, 1994 · 20th Century
PoliticsLawCulture
US Telecommunications Reform Act
February 8, 1996 · 20th Century
TechnologyPoliticsEconomics
Taiwan Holds Direct Presidential Election Under PRC Missile Intimidation
23 March 1996 · 20th Century
PoliticsWar
9/11 Attacks
September 11, 2001 · 21st Century
PoliticsWarCulture
United States Withdraws from ABM Treaty
June 13, 2002 · 21st Century
PoliticsLaw
Breaking Bad TV Series Premiere
2008 AD · 21st Century
Entertainment & MediaArt
Barack Obama Elected
November 4, 2008 · 21st Century
Politics
Shooting of Trayvon Martin
February 26, 2012 · 21st Century
PoliticsLaw
Military Coup in Mali Amid Tuareg Rebellion
March 22, 2012 · 21st Century
PoliticsWar
Black Lives Matter Founded
July 13, 2013 · 21st Century
PoliticsCulture
Russia Annexes Crimea
February 27 – March 18, 2014 · 21st Century
WarPoliticsLaw
Modern Uyghur Genocide
2014 · 21st Century
CulturePoliticsLaw
Killing of Eric Garner
July 17, 2014 · 21st Century
PoliticsLaw
Shooting of Michael Brown
August 9, 2014 · 21st Century
PoliticsLaw
JCPOA Iran Nuclear Deal Finalized
July 14, 2015 · 21st Century
PoliticsLaw
Donald Trump Elected President
November 8, 2016 · 21st Century
Politics
JNIM Founded — al-Qaeda Unifies Sahel Affiliates
March 2017 · 21st Century
WarPolitics
United States Withdraws from JCPOA
May 8, 2018 · 21st Century
PoliticsLaw
INF Treaty Collapses — Both Parties Withdraw
August 2, 2019 · 21st Century
PoliticsLaw
Assassination of Qasem Soleimani
January 3, 2020 · 21st Century
WarPolitics
Killing of Breonna Taylor
March 13, 2020 · 21st Century
PoliticsLaw
Murder of George Floyd
May 25, 2020 · 21st Century
PoliticsLawCulture
Israel–UAE Peace Agreement
August 13, 2020 · 21st Century
Politics
President Biden inaugurated
January 20, 2021 · 21st Century
Politics
Military Coup in Burkina Faso Ousts Elected President
January 24, 2022 · 21st Century
PoliticsWar
Russia Launches Full-Scale Invasion of Ukraine
February 24, 2022 · 21st Century
WarPolitics
Bucha Massacre Revealed
April 1–4, 2022 · 21st Century
WarLaw
Sinking of the Moskva
April 13–14, 2022 · 21st Century
WarTechnology
Dobbs v. Jackson Supreme Court Decision
June 24, 2022 · 21st Century
LawPolitics
Russia Illegally Annexes Four Ukrainian Oblasts
September 30, 2022 · 21st Century
WarPoliticsLaw
Second Military Coup in Burkina Faso — Russia-Aligned Junta Takes Power
September 30, 2022 · 21st Century
PoliticsWar
Fall of Bakhmut
May 20, 2023 · 21st Century
WarPolitics
Military Coup in Niger — West's Last Sahel Partner Falls
July 26, 2023 · 21st Century
PoliticsWar
EU AI Act Passed into Law
March 13, 2024 · 21st Century
LawPoliticsTechnology
Supreme Court Strips Agencies' Power to Interpret Laws
June 28, 2024 · 21st Century
LawPolitics
Ukraine Launches Kursk Incursion into Russia
August 6, 2024 · 21st Century
WarPolitics
North Korea Deploys Troops to Fight in Russia
October–November 2024 · 21st Century
WarPolitics
Operation Midnight Hammer — US Strikes Iranian Nuclear Sites
June 22, 2025 · 21st Century
WarPolitics
JNIM Blockades Bamako — Jihadists Besiege a Capital City
September 3, 2025 · 21st Century
WarPolitics
Burkina Faso Dissolves All Political Parties
January 29, 2026 · 21st Century
PoliticsLaw
New START Treaty Expires — No Replacement in Force
February 5, 2026 · 21st Century
PoliticsLaw
Pentagon Designates Anthropic a Supply Chain Risk
February 27, 2026 · 21st Century
PoliticsLawTechnology
Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei Killed in US-Israeli Strike
February 28, 2026 · 21st Century
WarPolitics
Macron Orders French Nuclear Warhead Increase and Announces Forward Deterrence Doctrine
March 2, 2026 · 21st Century
PoliticsWar
You
The Present · 21st Century
TechnologyCulturePolitics