AP WORLD IMPORTANT DATES REVIEW

1227: Genghis Khan Dies

  • Marks the end of the reign of Genghis Khan, the founder and Great Khan of the Mongol Empire.

1271: Marco Polo's Travels Begin

  • The start of Marco Polo's journey to Asia, which would later be documented and provide Europeans with insights into the East.

1271: Yuan Dynasty Replaces Song

  • Kublai Khan establishes the Yuan Dynasty in China, displacing the Song Dynasty, marking a period of Mongol rule in China.

1298: Longbow

  • Development and use of the longbow, a significant military advancement that played a crucial role in battles like those during the Hundred Years' War.

1299: Ottoman Empire Begins

  • Foundation of the Ottoman Empire, which would become a major power, controlling vast territories in the Middle East, North Africa, and the Balkans.

1324: Mansa Musa to Mecca

  • Mansa Musa, the ruler of the Mali Empire, makes his pilgrimage to Mecca, showcasing the wealth and influence of the Mali Empire and Islam in West Africa.

1325: Ibn Battuta's Travels Begin

  • Start of Ibn Battuta's extensive travels across Africa, Asia, and Europe, providing valuable accounts of different cultures and societies.

1325: Aztec Capital of Tenochtitlan

  • Establishment of Tenochtitlan, the capital of the Aztec Empire, which became one of the largest and most sophisticated cities in the Americas.

1327: First English War Cannons

  • Introduction of the first war cannons in England, marking an advancement in military technology and warfare.

1337: Hundred Years' War Begins

  • Outbreak of the Hundred Years' War between England and France, a long-lasting conflict that had significant political and social consequences for both countries.

1347: Black Death in Europe

  • The Black Death, a devastating pandemic, sweeps through Europe, causing massive population decline and social disruption.

1450: Pachacuti Inca Emperor

  • Pachacuti becomes the Inca Emperor, initiating a period of expansion and consolidation of the Inca Empire.

1453: Ottomans Take Constantinople

  • The Ottoman Empire captures Constantinople, marking the end of the Byzantine Empire and a significant turning point in world history.

1454: Gutenberg Printing Press

  • The invention of the Gutenberg printing press, revolutionizing the spread of information and knowledge in Europe.

1492: Reconquista of Spain

  • The completion of the Reconquista in Spain, with the Christian kingdoms capturing Granada, the last Muslim stronghold, leading to the expulsion of Jews and Muslims and the unification of Spain under Christian rule.

1497: Vasco da Gama Sails to India

  • Vasco da Gama's voyage to India, opening a sea route from Europe to India and revolutionizing global trade.

1503: Leonardo da Vinci's Mona Lisa

  • Leonardo da Vinci paints the Mona Lisa, one of the most famous and iconic works of art in the world.

1509: Henry VIII Crowned King

  • Henry VIII becomes the King of England, initiating a reign marked by significant religious and political changes, including the English Reformation.

1517: Martin Luther's 95 Theses

  • Martin Luther posts his 95 Theses, initiating the Protestant Reformation and challenging the authority of the Catholic Church.

1519: Magellan's Circumnavigation

  • Ferdinand Magellan begins his circumnavigation of the globe, demonstrating the Earth's size and shape and expanding European knowledge of the world.

1526: Mughal Empire Established

  • Establishment of the Mughal Empire in India, which would become a major power in the Indian subcontinent, known for its art, architecture, and cultural achievements.

1568: Cortez Conquers Aztecs

  • Hernán Cortés completes the conquest of the Aztec Empire, leading to the Spanish colonization of Mexico.

1569: Mercator Map

  • Gerard Mercator creates his map projection, revolutionizing cartography and navigation.

1572: Spanish Conquer Inca Empire

  • The Spanish complete their conquest of the Inca Empire, leading to the colonization of Peru.

1588: Spanish Armada is Defeated

  • The defeat of the Spanish Armada by the English navy, marking a decline in Spanish power and the rise of England as a major naval power.

1591: Songhai Empire Defeated

  • The Songhai Empire is defeated by Moroccan forces, marking the end of the empire and a shift in power in West Africa.

1602: Dutch East India Co. Formed

  • Establishment of the Dutch East India Company (VOC), a major trading company that played a significant role in global trade and colonization.

1607: Jamestown Founded

  • Founding of Jamestown, the first permanent English settlement in North America.

1619: 1st Slave Ships in Americas

  • The arrival of the first slave ships in the Americas, marking the beginning of the large-scale transatlantic slave trade.

1644: Qing Replaces Ming Dynasty

  • The Qing Dynasty replaces the Ming Dynasty in China, marking the beginning of the last imperial dynasty in Chinese history.

1648: Treaty of Westphalia

  • The Treaty of Westphalia is signed, ending the Thirty Years' War and establishing the modern state system.

1682: Peter the Great Becomes Czar

  • Peter the Great becomes the Czar of Russia, initiating a period of modernization and westernization.

1762: Catherine the Great

  • Catherine the Great becomes Empress of Russia, continuing the modernization efforts and expanding the Russian Empire.

1789: Storming of Bastille

  • The storming of the Bastille, a pivotal event in the French Revolution.

1793: Reign of Terror Begins

  • The beginning of the Reign of Terror during the French Revolution, a period of intense political repression and violence.

1804: Haitian Independence

  • Haiti declares its independence, becoming the first free black republic in the world.

1810: Venezuelan War Independence

  • The beginning of the Venezuelan War of Independence, part of the larger Spanish American wars of independence.

1839: First Opium War

  • The outbreak of the First Opium War between Britain and China.

1857: End of Mughal Empire

  • The end of the Mughal Empire in India, with the British East India Company consolidating its control over the region.

1857: Indian Rebellion

  • The Indian Rebellion (Sepoy Mutiny) against British rule.

1861: End of Russian Serfdom

  • The abolition of serfdom in Russia, a major social and economic reform.

1868: End of Edo Period

  • The end of the Edo period in Japan, with the Meiji Restoration marking a period of modernization and westernization.

1871: Otto von Bismarck Chancellor

  • Otto von Bismarck becomes the Chancellor of Germany, playing a key role in the unification of Germany.

1884: Berlin Conference

  • The Berlin Conference, where European powers divided Africa among themselves.

1899: Boer War Begins

  • The beginning of the Second Boer War in South Africa.

1904: Russo-Japanese War

  • The Russo-Japanese War, resulting in a Japanese victory and marking a shift in the balance of power in Asia.

1910: Mexican Revolution Begins

  • The start of the Mexican Revolution.

1914: World War I Begins

  • The outbreak of World War I.

1915: Armenian Genocide

  • The Armenian Genocide in the Ottoman Empire.

1922: Soviet Union is Formed

  • The formation of the Soviet Union.

1930: Salt March

  • The Salt March led by Mahatma Gandhi in India.

1938: Kristallnacht

  • Kristallnacht (Night of Broken Glass) in Nazi Germany.

1939: World War II Begins

  • The start of World War II.

1945: World War II Ends

  • The end of World War II.

1945: Vietnamese Independence

  • Vietnam declares its independence from France.

1947: Partition of India

  • The partition of India and Pakistan.

1949: Mao Zedong's PRC

  • Mao Zedong establishes the People's Republic of China.

1962: Cuban Missile Crisis

  • The Cuban Missile Crisis, a major confrontation between the United States and the Soviet Union.

1967: Six-Day War

  • The Six-Day War between Israel and its Arab neighbors.

1975: Angolan Civil War Begins

  • The beginning of the Angolan Civil War.

1989: Fall of Berlin Wall

  • The fall of the Berlin Wall, a significant event in the end of the Cold War.

1991: End of Soviet Union

  • The dissolution of the Soviet Union.

1994: Rwanda Genocide

  • The Rwanda Genocide.

1994: Mandela President of S. Africa

  • Nelson Mandela becomes the President of South Africa.

1995: Bosnian War Ends

  • The end of the Bosnian War.

2003: Invasion of Iraq

  • The invasion of Iraq by a U.S.-led coalition.