AP World History: Modern - Important Dates to Remember

A set of important historical dates and events for AP World History: Modern.

Post-Classical Empires (600-1250)

The rise and fall of empires including Song China, Sultanate of Malacca, Delhi Sultanate, Abbasid Islam, Swahili East Africa, Mali West Africa, and Al Andalus Spain.

Mongolian Empire (1250-1350)

An empire divided into four khanates: Golden Horde in Russia, Khanate of Chagatai in Central Asia, Il-Khanate of Persia, and the Yuan dynasty in China.

Mansa Musa (1324)

Mali king renowned for his pilgrimage to Mecca.

Aztec and Inca Empires (1400)

Approximate start of these major civilizations in the Americas.

Voyages of Zheng He (1405-1433)

Exploratory voyages of a Chinese admiral on the Indian Ocean.

The Columbian Exchange (1492)

The meeting of three worlds: Europe, Africa, and the Americas.

95 Theses (1517)

Document published by Martin Luther protesting the abuses by German Catholic priests.

Conquistadors Arrival (1519)

Cortez conquers the Aztecs and Pizarro conquers the Inca.

Start of the Mughal Empire (1526)

Babur's defeat of the Delhi Sultan at the Battle of Panipat.

British East India Company (1600)

Trading company established in India during the Mughal Empire.

Fall of Ming Dynasty (1644)

Transition to the Qing dynasty in China.

James Watt (1765)

Perfected the steam engine, marking the start of industrialization.

American Revolution (1776)

A colonial revolt against British rule and the publication of Adam Smith's Wealth of Nations.

Abolition of Slavery in Britain (1833)

Legislative action that ended slavery in Britain.

Treaty of Nanjing (1843)

Treaty that ended the Opium Wars between China and Britain.

Communist Manifesto (1848)

Written by Karl Marx and key event of the Seneca Falls Convention launching the women's suffrage movement.

Direct British Rule in India (1857)

Established after the Sepoy Rebellion.

Meiji Restoration (1868)

Period of modernization and industrialization in Japan.

Berlin Conference (1884-1885)

Meeting to decide the rules for dividing Africa among European powers.

Overthrow of Qing Dynasty (1911)

Nationalists (Guomindang) established a Republic in China.

World War I (1914-1918)

Global conflict that involved many world powers.

The Russian Revolution (1917)

Revolutions that led to the rise of the Soviet Union.

Japanese Invasion of Manchuria (1931)

Military invasion marking the expansion of Japanese imperialism.

World War II in Europe (1939-1945)

Second major global conflict involving many of the world's nations.

Indian Independence (1947)

The end of British colonial rule in India and the partition into India and Pakistan.

Communist Revolution in China (1949)

Establishment of the People's Republic of China after a civil war.

Start of the Korean War (1950)

Military conflict that began between North and South Korea.

Vietnam War Involvement (1954)

France's withdrawal and the U.S. escalating involvement against communism.

Bandung Conference (1955)

Meeting of Non-Aligned Nations held in Indonesia.

Soviet Union Launches Sputnik (1957)

The first artificial Earth satellite, marking the start of the space race.

Great Leap Forward (1958)

China's campaign to industrialize and increase agricultural production.

The Year of Africa (1960)

Significant year of African nations gaining independence.

Fall of Communism (1990)

Collapse in Russia and Eastern Europe, along with the end of Apartheid in South Africa.