World imp. dates

600-1250

Rise and fall of the Post-Classical Empires (Song China, Sultanate of Malacca, Delhi Sultanate, Abbasid Islam, Swahili East Africa, Mali West Africa, Al Andalus Spain).

1250-1350

Mongolian Empire, with four khanates - (1) Golden Horde in Russia, (2) Khanate of Chagatai in Central Asia, (3) Il-Khanate of Persia, and (4) Yuan dynasty in China.

1324

Mali king Mansa Musa makes pilgrimage to Mecca.

1400

Approximate start of Aztec and Inca Empires in the Americas.

1405-1433

Voyages of Zheng He on the Indian Ocean.

1492

The Columbian Exchange begins: Meeting of 3 Worlds (Europe, Africa, Americas).

1517

Martin Luther published 95 Theses in protest of abuses by German Catholic priests.

1519

Arrival of conquistadors: Cortez conquers Aztecs & Pizarro conquers Inca (1521).

1526

Start of the Mughal Empire as Babur defeated the Delhi Sultan at the Battle of Panipat.

1600

British East India Company (EIC) trading in India with Mughal Empire.

1644

Fall of Ming, Rise of Qing dynasty in China.

1765

James Watt perfects the steam engine in Britain (start of Industrialization).

1776

American Revolution; Adam Smith publishes The Wealth of Nations.

1833

Slavery abolished in Britain (1848 - France, 1865 - U.S., …).

1843

Treaty of Nanjing ends the Opium Wars between China and Britain.

1848

Communist Manifesto written by Karl Marx, and the Seneca Falls Convention launches women’s suffrage movement in upstate New York.

1857

Start of direct British rule in India after the Sepoy Rebellion.

1868

Meiji Restoration in Japan.

1884-1885

Berlin Conference to decide rules for dividing Africa.

1911

Nationalists (Guomindang) overthrow Qing Dynasty in China & create a Republic.

1914-1918

World War I.

1917

The Russian Revolution.

1931

Japanese Invasion of Manchuria.

1939-1945

World War II in Europe.

1947

Indian Independence and the Partition of India and Pakistan.

1949

Communist Revolution in China.

1950

Start of the Korean War.

1954

France quits their Vietnam War and the U.S. begins the struggle against 'communism'.

1955

Bandung Conference of Non-Aligned Nations in Bandung, Indonesia.

1957

Soviet Union launches Sputnik, the first artificial Earth satellite.

1958

Great Leap Forward in China to try and catch up with the West (industrialization).

1960

'The Year of Africa' when many African nations gain independence (decolonization).

1990

Fall of communism in Russia and East Europe; End of Apartheid in South Africa.