date list

1450

The height of the Italian Renaissance occurred around this year, marked by a revival of art, architecture, and learning inspired by the classical antiquity.

1450

The invention of the printing press occurred around this year, revolutionizing the spread of information and literacy in Europe.

1517

Martin Luther's 95 Theses were posted in this year, challenging the practices of the Catholic Church and sparking the Protestant Reformation.

1555

The Peace of Augsburg allowed the princes of the Holy Roman Empire to choose between Catholicism and Lutheranism in this year.

1588

The Spanish Armada was sent by King Philip II of Spain in this year to invade England but was ultimately defeated.

1603

The death of Elizabeth I marked the transition from the Tudor dynasty to the Stuart monarchy in this year.

1648

The Peace of Westphalia, which concluded in this year, ended the Thirty Years War and established the concept of state sovereignty.

1687

Isaac Newton wrote 'Principia Mathematica' in this year, laying the foundations for classical mechanics.

1688

The Glorious Revolution occurred in this year, marking a bloodless transition of power in England.

1715

Louis XIV, known as the Sun King, died in this year after a 72-year reign.

1759

Voltaire wrote 'Candide' in this year, a significant work of the Enlightenment.

1789

The French Revolution began in this year, leading to the overthrow of the monarchy.

1815

The Congress of Vienna took place in this year to address territorial and political changes in Europe.

1848

The Revolutions of 1848 were a series of political upheavals in Europe, during which Karl Marx published 'The Communist Manifesto'.

1870s

Italian unification and German unification occurred in this time period, consolidating various states into unified nations.

1884-85

The Berlin Conference took place during this period to regulate European colonization and trade in Africa.

1914-1918

WW1

1939-1945

WW2

1968

Prague Spring and student uprising in Paris

1991

Collapse of the Soviet union

1989

Fall of the Berlin Wall

2001

Adoption of the euro/global war on terror 9/11