|
Year
|
Description
|
Answer
|
|
404 BC
|
This city-state defeats Athens in the Peloponnesian War
|
Sparta
|
|
c. 430 BC
|
This Greek historian writes "Histories"
|
Herodotus
|
|
432 BC
|
This temple is completed on the Acropolis of Athens
|
The Parthenon
|
|
c. 470 BC
|
Departing from this Mediterranean city-state, Hanno the Navigator explores the African coast as far south as Cameroon
|
Carthage
|
|
481 BC
|
This period of Chinese history comes to an end
|
|
|
490 BC
|
Phidippides runs 25 miles to announce the Greek victory over Persia at this battle
|
|
|
c. 500 BC
|
The Persian empire reaches its peak under this ruler. About 40% of the world's population is under his reign.
|
Darius the Great
|
|
5th century BC
|
This Mesoamerican civilization, known for its "colossal head" sculptures, comes to an end
|
Olmecs
|
|
5th century BC
|
The general Sun Tzu supposedly writes this famous text
|
The Art of War
|
|
509 BC
|
This city overthrows its last king, becoming a republic
|
Rome
|
|
528 BC
|
This man, also known as Siddhartha Gautama, attains Enlightenment while sitting under the Bodhi tree
|
Buddha
|
|
527 BC
|
Mahavira, the 24th supreme preacher of this Indian religion, attains nirvana
|
Jainism
|
|
543 BC
|
Prince Vijaya founds the first Sinhalese kingdom on this island
|
Sri Lanka
|
|
550 BC
|
This conqueror founds the First Persian Empire
|
Cyrus the Great
|
|
c. 551 BC
|
This great Chinese philosopher is born
|
Confucius
|
|
c. 586 BC
|
This city is conquered by the Babylonians, ending the kingdom of Judah and forcing its people into exile
|
Jerusalem
|
|
6th century BC
|
This civilization in modern-day Tuscany reaches its apex
|
Etruscan
|
|
202 BC
|
This dynasty comes to power in China
|
Han
|
|
210 BC
|
Qin Shi Huang, the first emperor of China, dies and is buried with this collection of at least 8000 statues |
|
|
218 BC
|
Hannibal brings his army and elephants over this mountain range to attack the Roman Republic
|
The Alps
|
|
221 BC–
|
Qin Shi Huang constructs this giant fortification by joining several existing fortifications |
The Great Wall
|
|
226 BC
|
This wonder of the Ancient World collapses after an earthquake
|
|
|
240 BC
|
The passage of this comet is recorded for the first time
|
Halley’s Comet
|
|
264–241 BC
|
Rome defeats this city in the First Punic War, taking Sicily and Corsica as prizes |
Carthage
|
|
247 BC
|
The Parthian Empire is founded in this modern-day country
|
Iran
|
|
c. 257 BC
|
This Asian city on the Red River is established as capital of the Âu Lạc Kingdom |
Hanoi
|
|
c. 268 BC
|
This "great" ruler of the Maurya Empire comes to power in modern-day India |
|
|
3rd century BC
|
Aristarchus of Samos proposes this model of the solar system, where the Earth revolves around the sun |
Heliocentric
|
|
3rd century BC
|
Earliest evidence of writing from this Mesoamerican people
|
The Mayans
|
|
c. 300 BC
|
Euclid compiles “Elements”, the foundational text of this branch of mathematics |
Geometry
|
|
312 BC
|
The first _____ is built to bring water into the city of Rome
|
Aqueduct
|
|
323 BC
|
Having conquered Persia, this "great" general dies at age 33 |
|
|
359–336 BC
|
Under Philip II, this kingdom becomes the leading Greek power
|
Macedonia
|
|
c. 387 BC
|
This philosopher founds the Academy in Athens
|
Plato
|
|
399 BC
|
Socrates is forced to commit suicide by drinking this type of poison
|
Hemlock
|
|
4 BC
|
Possible date for the birth of this important religious figure
|
Jesus Christ
|
|
4 BC
|
Death of this king of Judea, known for the biblical (but not historical) Massacre of the Innocents |
Herod the Great
|
|
18 BC
|
First mention of this capital city on the Han River
|
Seoul
|
|
30 BC
|
This last Egyptian pharaoh commits suicide. Later legends would say an asp was involved. |
Cleopatra
|
|
44 BC
|
Julius Caesar is assassinated on this day of the year
|
The Ides of March
|
|
50–58 BC
|
Julius Caesar conquers this region. Ancient sources say a million Celts were killed, and another million enslaved. |
Gaul
|
|
c. 52 BC
|
The Romans found this city on the river Seine
|
Lutetia (Paris)
|
|
53 BC
|
This wealthiest of Roman citizens loses his army and his life trying to conquer the Parthian Empire |
Marcus Crassus
|
|
73–71 BC
|
This gladiator leads a rebellion of an estimated 120,000 slaves
|
Spartacus
|
|
1st century BC
|
This “ism” becomes the official ideology of the Chinese state
|
Confucianism
|
|
1st century BC
|
King Mithridates of Pontus ingests sub-lethal doses of this poison to build up a tolerance |
Arsenic
|
|
146 BC
|
The Third Punic War ends with the complete destruction of this city
|
Carthage
|
|
c. 150 BC
|
Alexandros of Antioch creates this famous, now armless, statue
|
Venus de Milo
|
|
before 150 BC
|
The Romans invent this building material
|
Concrete
|
|
c. 160 BC
|
First celebration of this Jewish holiday marking the repurification of the Temple and candles which miraculously burned for 8 days |
Hanukkah
|
|
2nd century BC
|
This trade route network connecting Europe with China begins to be used
|
Silk Road
|
|
2nd century BC
|
Liu An invents this pressed bean curd product
|
Tofu
|
|
200 BC–1 BC
|
Pakistan is ruled by people speaking this language, left over from Alexander’s conquests |
Greek
|
|
180
|
This stoic philosopher and emperor dies, marking the start of the long decline
of the Roman Empire
|
Marcus Aurelius
|
|
165–180
|
The Roman Empire is struck by a plague, thought to be this disease
|
Smallpox
|
|
c. 140
|
Ptolemy completes his "Almagest", an astrological treatise which places
this at the center of the universe
|
Earth
|
|
122–128
|
This defensive fortification in northern England is constructed
|
Hadrian's Wall
|
|
126
|
This temple to all gods is dedicated in Rome
|
Pantheon
|
|
117
|
Under this emperor, the Roman Empire reaches its maximal extent
|
Trajan
|
|
c. 100
|
In China, Cai Lun invents a new technique for making this substance,
forever changing how information is transmitted
|
Paper
|
|
c. 100
|
The Pyramid of the Sun is completed in the city of Teotihuacán,
located in this modern-day country
|
Mexico
|
|
c.100
|
"Codexes", or modern books, replace these as the preferred method
of preserving written information in the Roman Empire
|
Scrolls
|
|
c. 95
|
This last book of the New Testament is written by John of Patmos
|
Revelation
|
|
80
|
This Roman amphitheatre is completed
|
Colosseum
|
|
79
|
This volcano erupts, destroying Pompeii and Herculaneum
|
Mt. Vesuvius
|
|
70
|
The Temple in this city is destroyed by Roman troops
|
Jerusalem
|
|
64
|
Much of the city of Rome is destroyed by fire. This emperor would later
be accused of "fiddling" while it burned.
|
Nero
|
|
61
|
This Celtic queen dies in a revolt against the Romans
|
Boudica
|
|
58–75
|
This religion spreads into China during the reign of Emperor Ming
|
Buddhism
|
|
47
|
Romans found this city on the River Thames
|
Londinium
|
|
c. 30
|
Jesus is crucified after a trial presided over by this Roman governor
|
Pontius Pilate
|
|
14
|
This first Roman Emperor dies after a reign of 40 years
|
Augustus
|
|
2
|
The population of China is recorded as 59,594,978 - most of whom
live near this river
|
Yellow River
|
|
397–400
|
This philosopher and theologian writes his "Confessions"
|
Saint Augustine
|
|
394
|
The last known occurrence of this style of Egyptian writing
|
Hieroglyphics
|
|
393
|
These athletic contests are abolished. They would be restored again in 1896.
|
Olympic Games
|
|
391
|
Theodosius I makes this the state religion of the Roman Empire
|
Christianity
|
|
391
|
One of several times that the library in this city was destroyed or vandalized
|
Alexandria
|
|
c. 370
|
These Asiatic steppe warriors arrive in Europe
|
Huns
|
|
367
|
Roman garrisons on this wall rebel, allowing Picts to invade and
overrun northern England
|
Hadrian's Wall
|
|
330
|
This city becomes the new capital of the Roman Empire
|
Constantinople
|
|
325
|
This statement of Christian belief is adopted at the First Council of Nicaea
|
Nicene Creed
|
|
c. 320
|
The beginning of the Gupta dynasty in this modern-day country
|
India
|
|
301
|
Supposed date for the founding of this country on Mount Titano, making it
the world's oldest republic in continuous existence
|
San Marino
|
|
286
|
This city, then known as Mediolanum, is made the capital of the
Western Roman Empire
|
Milan
|
|
284–305
|
This emperor stabilizes the Roman Empire but also makes it much
more bureaucratic and autocratic
|
Diocletian
|
|
283
|
The Romans briefly capture the Persian capital of Ctesiphon,
located on this river
|
Tigris
|
|
274 or 277
|
This prophet dies in Iran. He created a religion in which the world is
a battle between good and evil.
|
Mani
|
|
262
|
Goths damage or destroy this Ancient Wonder of the World (hint: a goddess)
|
Temple of Artemis
|
|
c. 250
|
The beginning of this Mesoamerican society's Classical Period
|
Mayan
|
|
235–284
|
The Roman Empire experiences this chaotic era
|
The Crisis of the
Third Century
|
|
220–280
|
This period of Chinese history occurs
|
Three Kingdoms
|
|
220
|
This dynasty comes to an end in China
|
Han
|
|
578
|
The Kongō Gumi company is founded in this country. It would remain
as an independent business until 2006.
|
Japan
|
|
c. 570
|
Muhammad is born in this city
|
Mecca
|
|
565
|
This "great" Byzantine emperor dies after a long and eventful reign
|
Justinian
|
|
541–542
|
This disease, spread by Yersinia pestis bacteria, makes its first
appearance, devastating the Byzantine empire
|
Plague
|
|
537
|
This famous church (now a mosque) is completed in Constantinople
|
Hagia Sophia
|
|
531–579
|
Khosrow I rules the Sasanian Empire, based in this modern-day country
|
Iran
|
|
522
|
Byzantine monks steal the secret of making this fabric from the Chinese
|
Silk
|
|
508
|
Clovis makes this city the capital of the Frankish Empire
|
Paris
|
|
500s
|
This board game spreads from India to Persia
|
Chess
|
|
482
|
This city is founded on the Dnieper river, at least according to tradition
|
Kyiv
|
|
477
|
This Chinese monastery, famous for its martial arts, is founded
|
Shaolin
|
|
476
|
This empire comes to an end, marking the beginning of the Middle Ages
|
Western Roman
Empire
|
|
453
|
This infamous ruler of the Huns dies
|
Attila
|
|
c. 450
|
The city of Teotihuacan, located in this modern-day country, reaches its zenith with a population of about 150,000
|
Mexico
|
|
446
|
This religion is legally abolished in China, the first of four
separate times this would happen
|
Buddhism
|
|
c. 432
|
This saint arrives in Ireland
|
Saint Patrick
|
|
427
|
This city becomes the capital of the Korean kingdom "Goguryeo"
|
Pyongyang
|
|
420
|
This city is founded on a lagoon in the Adriatic
|
Venice
|
|
415
|
The pagan philosopher Hypatia is murdered in this African city
|
Alexandria
|
|
400s
|
Angles, Saxons, and Jutes begin to raid and settle this island
|
Great Britain
|
|
400s–500s
|
Han Chinese people begin to settle the area south of this river
|
Yangtze
|
|
800
|
This Frankish ruler is crowned Emperor by Pope Leo III on Christmas Day
|
Charlemagne
|
|
793
|
These northern sea people raid the British Isles for the first time
|
Vikings
|
|
c. 770
|
This disease leaves Europe. It will reappear with a vengeance around 1350.
|
Black Death
|
|
762
|
The Abbasid Caliphate founds this capital on the Tigris River
|
Baghdad
|
|
732
|
Charles Martel's victory at this battle ends Arab encroachment into France
|
Battle of Tours
|
|
722
|
The Reconquista begins in this country. It would end 727 years later with
the fall of the Emirate of Granada.
|
Spain
|
|
717–718
|
The Umayyad Caliphate besieges this largest and most important
of Christian cities - but fails to capture it
|
Constantinople
|
|
708
|
This small island, today one of France's biggest tourist attractions, is fortified
|
Mont-Saint-Michel
|
|
c. 700
|
This Chinese city, then known as Chang'an, is the largest city in the world
with a population of about 1 million (HINT: starts with X)
|
Xi'an
|
|
697
|
The first doge is elected in this Adriatic republic
|
Venice
|
|
691
|
This Islamic shrine is completed on Jerusalem's Temple Mount
|
Dome of the Rock
|
|
691
|
Wu Zetian becomes the first and only Empress of this country
|
China
|
|
663
|
According to legend, this Japanese volcano's summit is reached for the first time
|
Mount Fuji
|
|
639
|
Arabs conquer this country, the "bread basket" of the Byzantine Empire
|
Egypt
|
|
632
|
Muhammad dies in this city
|
Medina
|
|
629
|
This Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca is held for the first time
|
Hajj
|
|
609
|
This Roman building, originally a temple to all gods, is transformed into a church
|
Pantheon
|
|
601
|
St. Augustine becomes the first archbishop of this English city
|
Canterbury
|
|
600s
|
This footrest for horse riders spreads to Europe, making mounted knights
more effective, and potentially bringing about feudalism
|
Stirrups
|
|
996
|
This present-day country is named for the first time - as "Ostarrîchi"
|
Austria
|
|
982
|
Erik the Red settles on this island
|
Greenland
|
|
978
|
Construction begins on St. Mark's Basilica in this city
|
Venice
|
|
969
|
This African city is founded by the Fatimid general Jawhar
|
Cairo
|
|
961
|
The Byzantines reconquer this Mediterranean island
|
Crete
|
|
958
|
This Danish king gains power... 1,039 years later, a wireless technology
would be named after him
|
Harald Bluetooth
|
|
944
|
This city becomes capital of the Khmer Empire
|
Angkor
|
|
960
|
This "musical" Chinese dynasty is established
|
Song
|
|
829
|
This national animal of Wales appears for the first time
|
Welsh Dragon
|
|
814
|
This great Frankish ruler dies
|
Charlemagne
|
|
878
|
This great Anglo-Saxon king defeats the heathen army at the Battle of Edington
|
Alfred the Great
|
|
874
|
Ingólfr Arnarson becomes the first person to settle on this island
(according to the sagas)
|
Iceland
|
|
850
|
The Abbasid Caliphate reaches its greatest extent with this city as its capital
|
Baghdad
|
|
845
|
This city on the Seine is sacked by the Vikings
|
Paris
|
|
843
|
Kenneth MacAlpin I becomes the first king of this country
|
Scotland
|
|
820
|
This branch of equation-solving mathematics is invented by
Muḥammad ibn Mūsā al-Khwārizmī
|
Algebra
|
|
800s
|
This system, where vassals pay homage to lords, becomes
common in Western Europe
|
Feudalism
|
|
800s
|
This Mesoamerican society collapses. We're still trying to figure out why.
|
Classic Maya
|
|
800s
|
While looking for an elixir of immortality, Chinese alchemists invent this
mortality-causing substance
|
Gunpowder
|
|
800s
|
This number is "invented" in India
|
Zero
|
|
1192
|
Shoguns replace emperors as the de-facto leaders of this country
|
Japan
|
|
1189–1192
|
This Muslim leader resists the Third Crusade, earning the crusaders' respect
|
Saladin
|
|
1189
|
This "lionheart" king is crowned in England
|
Richard I
|
|
1187
|
This Chinese navigational device is first used in Europe
|
Compass
|
|
1185
|
This device for grinding grain is first used in Europe
|
Windmill
|
|
1170
|
Thomas Becket, archbishop of this city, is murdered on orders from Henry II
|
Canterbury
|
|
1163
|
Construction begins on this famous Paris cathedral
|
Notre Dame
|
|
1156
|
The Kremlin is constructed in this city. At first, it is merely a wooden wall.
|
Moscow
|
|
1104
|
This European naval power starts using an assembly line process
to mass produce ships
|
Venice
|
|
1099
|
The First Crusade comes to an end with the capture of this city
|
Jerusalem
|
|
early 1100s
|
This famous temple complex is built in Cambodia
|
Angkor Wat
|
|
1096
|
First evidence of teaching at this university, England's oldest
|
Oxford
|
|
1086
|
This book lists all the taxable property in England
|
Domesday Book
|
|
1066
|
This Norman ruler conquers England
|
|
|
1054
|
The "Great Schism" permanently separates the church of Rome from the church of this city |
Constantinople
|
|
1054
|
Astronomers in many parts of the world observe this type of occurrence, whose remnants today form the Crab Nebula |
Supernova
|
|
1040
|
This technology is invented in China, 400 years before Gutenberg
|
Movable type
|
|
1016
|
Cnut the Great, prince of this country, conquers England
|
Denmark
|
|
1010
|
This oldest surviving copy of this epic Old English poem is written
|
Beowulf
|
|
1001
|
Leif Ericson establishes settlements in this modern-day country,
which he called "Vinland"
|
Canada
|
|
1299
|
This empire is founded by Osman I in modern-day Turkey
|
Ottoman Empire
|
|
1297
|
This Scottish commander defeats English forces at the Battle of Stirling Bridge
|
William Wallace
|
|
1291
|
Three cantons form a confederation that would eventually grow
into this modern nation
|
Switzerland
|
|
1287
|
An enormous flood creates the Zuider Zee, giving this city access to the sea
|
Amsterdam
|
|
1282
|
This British country is conquered by Edward Longshanks
|
Wales
|
|
1274–1281
|
The Mongols attempt a naval conquest of this nation, but are twice scattered by typhoons |
Japan
|
|
1276
|
This royal house comes to power in Austria, a position they
would retain for over 600 years
|
Habsburg
|
|
1271
|
This Mongolian Khan conquers China, forming the Yuan dynasty
|
Kublai Khan
|
|
1271
|
This Venetian explorer embarks on an epic journey to China
|
Marco Polo
|
|
1258
|
Mongols sack this Middle Eastern capital, ending the Islamic Golden Age
|
Baghdad
|
|
1245
|
Construction begins on this London Abbey, burial site of monarchs
|
Westminster
|
|
1206–1227
|
This Mongolian Khan conquers much of Central Asia
|
Genghis Khan
|
|
1225
|
This Catholic philosopher is born. He would late become known as
"Doctor of the Church".
|
Thomas Aquinas
|
|
1215
|
King John of England is forced to sign this "Great Charter"
|
Magna Carta
|
|
1215
|
This style of Buddhism is brought from China to Japan
|
Zen
|
|
1209
|
This impoverished saint founds the order of Friars Minor
|
St. Francis
|
|
1209
|
This university, England's second oldest, is founded
|
Cambridge
|
|
1204
|
This city, the largest in Christendom, is conquered by Latin knights during the Fourth Crusade
|
Constantinople
|
|
1397
|
First evidence of this predecessor to the piano
|
Harpsichord
|
|
late 1300s
|
This author writes "The Canterbury Tales"
|
Geoffrey Chaucer
|
|
1382
|
John Wycliffe is the first person to translate this document into English
|
The Bible
|
|
1377
|
Richard II is the last English king to take his royal oath in this language
|
French
|
|
1309–1377
|
Popes shun Rome to live in this French city
|
Avignon
|
|
1370
|
After 100 years of rule, this group of foreign conquerors is expelled from China |
Mongols
|
|
1360–
|
This "lame" ruler conquers most of Central Asia,
killing 5% of the world's population
|
Timur
|
|
1368
|
This dynasty comes to power in China
|
Ming
|
|
1356
|
This league of cities is formed for the purpose of trade
on the North and Baltic Seas
|
Hanseatic League
|
|
1337
|
The beginning of this long-lasting war between England and France
|
Hundred Years' War
|
|
1347–1351
|
This pandemic kills perhaps 40% of Europe's population
|
Black Death
|
|
1328
|
This King, called "The Bruce", leads Scotland to independence from England
|
Robert the Bruce
|
|
1325
|
The Aztec city of Tenochtitlan is founded on the site of this modern-day city
|
Mexico City
|
|
1324
|
This empire in northwest Africa annexes the city of Timbuktu
|
Mali
|
|
1308
|
This Italian poet begins work on his "Divine Comedy"
|
Dante
|
|
1307
|
This knightly order is surpressed in France, with many burned at the stake
|
Knights Templar
|
|
1300s
|
This Germanic order conquers much of Poland, Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia
|
Teutonic Knights
|
|
1300s
|
This period of global cooling begins. It would last 500 years.
|
Little Ice Age
|
|
1300s
|
This cultural "rebirth" begins in Florence, Italy
|
The Renaissance
|
|
1455–1502
|
This Spanish family produces two Popes, notorious for vice and corruption
|
Borgia
|
|
1497
|
This Portuguese explorer sails from Europe to India
|
Vasco da Gama
|
|
1494
|
First evidence of this "water of life" in Scotland
|
Scotch whisky
|
|
1492
|
This explorer "discovers" the New World
|
Christopher Columbus
|
|
1490
|
This artist draws "The Vitruvian Man"
|
Leonardo da Vinci
|
|
1487
|
The Duke of Bavaria makes laws concerning the purity of this substance
|
Beer
|
|
1485
|
This hunchbacked King of England meets his end at the Battle of Bosworth Field |
Richard III
|
|
1455–1487
|
The houses of Lancaster and York fight this series of war for the English crown |
Wars of the Roses
|
|
1469
|
This country is united after Ferdinand of Aragon marries Isabella of Castille
|
Spain
|
|
1448–1476
|
This Wallachian ruler becomes infamous for impaling enemies
|
Vlad the Impaler
|
|
1453
|
This city is captured by the Turks, ending the Byzantine empire
|
Constantinople
|
|
1450
|
Johannes Gutenberg invents this device (although it already existed in China)
|
Printing press
|
|
1431
|
This female French warrior is burned at the stake by the English
|
Joan of Arc
|
|
1405–1433
|
This country launches a "treasure fleet" of over 300 ships
dispensing gifts throughout the Indian Ocean
|
China
|
|
1430
|
Norse settlements on this island collapse with no survivors
|
Greenland
|
|
1415
|
Against great odds, Henry V defeats the French at this famous battle
|
Battle of Agincourt
|
|
1406–1420
|
The Forbidden City palace is built in this capital
|
Beijing
|
|
1400s
|
This sport is invented in Scotland
|
Golf
|
|
1400s
|
This giant bird is driven to extinction by Maori hunters in New Zealand
|
Moa
|
|
1400s
|
The Medici family become de-facto rulers of this city
|
Florence
|
|
late 1500s
|
Sir Walter Raleigh popularizes this New World product
|
Tobacco
|
|
1562–98
|
Catholics and Huguenots fight several religious wars in this country
|
France
|
|
1588
|
This country launches a doomed armada against England
|
Spain
|
|
1582
|
This modern calendar replaces the Julian calendar
|
Gregorian Calendar
|
|
1580
|
This English sea captain circumnavigates the globe
|
Francis Drake
|
|
1564
|
This dramatist is born in Stratford-upon-Avon
|
William Shakespeare
|
|
1558
|
This "Virgin Queen" is crowned in England
|
Elizabeth I
|
|
1557
|
Portugal establishes this trading colony in China
|
Macau
|
|
1547
|
This "terrible" leader becomes Tsar of all the Russias
|
Ivan the Terrible
|
|
1543
|
This scientist publishes his theory that the Earth revolves around the sun
|
Nicolaus Copernicus
|
|
1520
|
Hernán Cortés conquers this Native American empire
|
Aztec Empire
|
|
1519
|
Charles V becomes leader of this Germanic empire
|
Holy Roman Empire
|
|
1519
|
This explorer launches the first expedition to circumnavigate the globe
(although he would die on the way)
|
Ferdinand Magellan
|
|
1517
|
This monk nails "Ninety-Five Theses" to a church door in
Wittenberg, Germany
|
Martin Luther
|
|
1517
|
Ottoman sultan Selim I claims this title, asserting leadership over the entirety of the Muslim world
|
Caliph
|
|
1513
|
This Florentine diplomat writes his political treatise, "The Prince"
|
Niccolò Machiavelli
|
|
1508–1512
|
This artist paints the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel
|
Michelangelo
|
|
1506
|
Construction begins on this massive Roman basilica
|
St. Peter's
|
|
1501–
|
Ismail I reunites this country and makes Shia the official state religion
|
Iran
|
|
1500
|
Pedro Álvares Cabral claims this country for Portugal
|
Brazil
|
|
1688
|
The Glorious Revolution brings this Dutch king to England
|
William of Orange
|
|
1687
|
This English scientist explains gravity
|
Isaac Newton
|
|
1683
|
This Middle East empire reaches its maximum territorial extent
|
Ottoman Empire
|
|
1670
|
This fur trading company, Canada's oldest, is established
|
Hudson's Bay Company
|
|
1666
|
A fire in Pudding Lane spreads and destroys much of this city
|
London
|
|
1662
|
This flightless bird of Mauritius goes extinct
|
Dodo
|
|
1653
|
This white marble mausoleum is completed in Mughal India
|
Taj Mahal
|
|
1653
|
This military leader becomes Lord Protector of England
|
Oliver Cromwell
|
|
1618–1648
|
This war devastates most of Germany
|
Thirty Years' War
|
|
1644
|
This dynasty comes to power in China
|
Qing
|
|
1643
|
This "Sun King" is crowned
|
Louis XIV
|
|
1637
|
Dutch speculators go wild for this type of flower
|
Tulip
|
|
1637
|
This philosopher writes "Cogito ergo sum" - I think, therefore I am
|
René Descartes
|
|
1633
|
This scientist is punished by the Roman Inquisition
for espousing heliocentrism
|
Galileo Galilei
|
|
1620
|
This ship of Pilgrims lands in Massachusetts
|
Mayflower
|
|
1611
|
This very popular English bible is completed
|
King James Version
|
|
1605
|
Miguel de Cervantes publishes this novel
|
Don Quixote
|
|
1605
|
Guy Fawkes and other radicals launch this plot to blow up Parliament
|
Gunpowder Plot
|
|
1603
|
The Edo period begins in this country
|
Japan
|
|
1602–
|
This country dominates the spice trade
|
Netherlands
|
|
1799
|
French troops uncover this relic, the key to deciphering Egyptian hieroglyphs
|
Rosetta Stone
|
|
1796
|
Edward Jenner invents a vaccine for this disease
|
Smallpox
|
|
1795
|
The British Navy discovers that this disease can be prevented by drinking lemon juice |
Scurvy
|
|
1793
|
This queen is beheaded by guillotine
|
Marie Antoinette
|
|
1791
|
This Austrian composer dies of fever at age 35
|
Wolfgang Amadeus
Mozart
|
|
1789
|
Rioters attack this notorious Parisian prison
|
Bastille
|
|
1788
|
This Scottish poet composes "Auld Lang Syne"
|
Robert Burns
|
|
1783
|
Man takes flight as the Montgolfier brothers demonstrate this invention
|
Hot Air Balloon
|
|
1778
|
This sea captain "discovers" Hawaii
|
James Cook
|
|
1776
|
This country declares independence from Great Britain
|
United States
|
|
1776
|
Adam Smith writes the first book about this "dismal science"
|
Economics
|
|
c. 1760s
|
This "Revolution" begins in Great Britain before spreading to the
rest of the world
|
Industrial Revolution
|
|
1756–1763
|
Great Britain, France, Austria, and other powers fight this world war
|
Seven Years' War
|
|
1759
|
This enlightened French philosopher publishes "Candide"
|
Voltaire
|
|
1732
|
This Philadelphia printer publishes "Poor Richard's Almanack" for the first time |
Benjamin Franklin
|
|
1719
|
Daniel Defoe writes this book, sometimes considered
the first English-language novel
|
Robinson Crusoe
|
|
1718
|
This pirate, born Edward Teach, is killed by the Royal Navy
|
Blackbeard
|
|
1717
|
The first Grand Lodge of this secret society is formed in London
|
Freemasonry
|
|
1703
|
Peter the Great founds this capital on the Gulf of Finland
|
St. Petersburg
|
|
1701
|
This militant German kingdom is formed under Frederick I
|
Prussia
|
|
1837–1901
|
This queen rules the British Empire for most of the century |
Queen Victoria
|
|
1889
|
This tower becomes the world's tallest man-made structure
|
Eiffel Tower
|
|
1877
|
This inventor patents the phonograph
|
Thomas Edison
|
|
1873
|
Levi Strauss invents this type of clothing
|
Blue Jeans
|
|
1869
|
This canal is completed in Egypt
|
Suez Canal
|
|
1865
|
This political leader is assassinated at Ford's Theater
|
Abraham Lincoln
|
|
1865
|
Edward Whymper leads the first party to climb this Swiss peak
|
Matterhorn
|
|
1844
|
"What hath God wrought" is the first message sent using this new technology
|
Telegraphy
|
|
1839–1860
|
China fights two wars with western powers over this drug
|
Opium
|
|
1836
|
This short-lived republic declares independence from Mexico
|
Texas
|
|
1831
|
This naturalist begins his famous journey on the HMS Beagle
|
Charles Darwin
|
|
1825
|
This canal connects the Great Lakes to the Atlantic Ocean
|
Erie Canal
|
|
1816–1828
|
This warrior-king unites many Zulu tribes
|
Shaka Zulu
|
|
1824
|
This composer completes his ninth and final symphony
|
Ludwig van
Beethoven
|
|
1824
|
This Romantic poet dies while fighting for Greek independence
|
Lord Byron
|
|
1819
|
This "liberator" becomes the first President of Gran Colombia
|
Simón Bolívar
|
|
1818
|
Mary Shelley publishes this horror novel
|
Frankenstein
|
|
1815
|
Napoleon meets his final defeat at this battle
|
Battle of Waterloo
|
|
1804
|
This country becomes independent following a slave revolt
|
Haiti
|
|
1803
|
The United States buys this territory from France
|
Louisiana
|
|
1999
|
Atmospheric levels of this greenhouse gas reach 365ppm,
an increase of over 25% since 1900
|
Carbon Dioxide
|
|
1945–1991
|
The U.S. and Soviet Union fight this "war"
|
Cold War
|
|
1979
|
Protestors seize power in this country and establish a theocracy
|
Iran
|
|
1969
|
This man becomes the first to walk on the moon
|
Neil Armstrong
|
|
1962
|
The U.S. and Soviet Union have a tense stand-off over missiles in this country
|
Cuba
|
|
1958–1961
|
This ruler's "Great Leap Forward" causes 30 million people to starve to death
|
Mao Zedong
|
|
1955
|
Jonas Salk announces a vaccine for this disease
|
Polio
|
|
1946
|
The ENIAC is hailed as the world's first example of this common modern device
|
Computer
|
|
1941
|
Japanese forces launch a surprise attack on this naval base
|
Pearl Harbor
|
|
1936
|
This British king abdicates
|
Edward VIII
|
|
1933
|
This political figure says "the only thing we have to fear is fear itself"
|
Franklin D. Roosevelt
|
|
1930
|
This leader marches to the sea to get salt and defy British rule
|
Mohandas Gandhi
|
|
1927
|
This pilot becomes the first to make a non-stop solo flight from New York to Paris
|
Charles Lindbergh
|
|
1908–1927
|
This car model, nicknamed the "Tin Lizzie", sells over 16.5 million units
|
Model T
|
|
1922
|
This "ism" rises to prominence as Benito Mussolini becomes leader of Italy
|
Fascism
|
|
1918–1920
|
This pandemic kills over 3% of the world's population
|
Spanish Flu
|
|
1916
|
Margaret Sanger opens the first U.S. clinic to provide information
about this practice
|
Birth Control
|
|
1915
|
This empire systematically kills an estimated 1.5 million Armenians
|
Ottoman Empire
|
|
1914
|
This archduke is assassinated, sparking WWI
|
Franz Ferdinand
|
|
1912
|
This famous ocean liner hits an iceberg and sinks
|
RMS Titanic
|
|
2022
|
Russia invades this country
|
Ukraine
|
|
2019
|
The Covid-19 pandemic starts in this city
|
Wuhan
|
|
2015
|
195 nations meet in this city and agree to lower carbon emissions, but generally fail to meet their commitments |
Paris
|
|
2015
|
A record 1.3 million people request asylum in the EU, with the largest number coming from this wartorn nation
|
Syria
|
|
2014–15
|
An outbreak of this disease kills more than 10,000 people in West Africa
|
Ebola
|
|
2012
|
This leader ascends to power in China, marking an era of increased
state surveillance and abuse of ethnic minorities
|
Xi Jinping
|
|
2011
|
This African nation becomes the 193rd member of the UN
|
South Sudan
|
|
2011
|
This international protest movement leads to the overthrow of the governments
of Tunisia, Algeria, Egypt, Yemen, and Libya
|
The Arab Spring
|
|
2009
|
This sprinter sets a new record for the 100m dash: 9.58 seconds
|
Usain Bolt
|
|
2008
|
This person is elected as the first African-American President of the U.S.
|
Barack Obama
|
|
2008
|
This swimmer wins 8 gold medals at the Summer Olympics
|
Michael Phelps
|
|
2008
|
The world enters a sharp economic downturn which is commonly known as this
|
The Great
Recession
|
|
2005
|
This dwarf planet, 27% larger than Pluto, is dicovered and named for
the Greek goddess of discord
|
Eris
|
|
2005
|
This person is elected as the first female chancellor of Germany
|
Angela Merkel
|
|
2004
|
This website is started in a Harvard dorm room
|
Facebook
|
|
2004
|
This type of natural disaster kills over 200,000 people in 14 countries
|
Tsunami
|
|
2003
|
The U.S. invades this country, looking for weapons of mass destruction, but doesn't find any
|
Iraq
|
|
2003
|
Scientists announce the completion of a project to sequence this
|
The Human
Genome
|
|
2001
|
This terrorist organization launches the 9/11 attacks against the United States
|
Al-Qaeda
|
|
2001
|
This country becomes the first in the world to legalize same-sex marriage
|
Netherlands
|
