Key Events and Developments in Each Region during the 19th Century. Links with Strayer’s “Ways Of the World: Second Edition” Textbook :D

European Developments & Events

1. The Industrial Revolution in Britain Begins!

2. 1803-1815 - The Napoleonic Wars

3. Greece Won its Independence!

4. 1870 - Germany and Italy Unified under Nationalism

Asian Developments & Events

1. 1839-1842 - The Opium Wars

2. Hong Kong Succumbed to the British

3. 1850-1864 - Taiping Rebellion

   • An anti-foreign, peasantry rebellion conducted by peasants and conservative Chinese. This resulted in increased foreign involvement and the beginning of the weakening of the Qing Dynasty.

4. 1899-1901 - Boxer Rebellion

   • An anti-foreign, anti-imperialist, peasantry rebellion conducted by younger people and conservative Chinese. Resulted in increased foreign involvement and the weakening of the Qing Dynasty as a whole.

African Developments & Events

1. Muhammad Ali’s Rule

   • Muhammad Ali became ruler of Egypt, helping develop the Suez Canal.

2. Southern Africa is Colonized

3. 1899-1956 - Mahdist Rebellion Begins in Sudan

4. Imperialism’s Rise in Africa

   • During the 19th century, at the Berlin Conference, imperialistic ideals began to be placed on Africa’s land, as several world powers wanted some of their resources, people, and politics.

American Developments & Events

1. 1812 - War of 1812

2. 1861-1865 - American Civil War

3. 1861-1900 - Reconstruction

   • The era after the Civil War, filled with rights movements, reform, and new benefits introduced

4. 1848-1855 - Gold Rush

   • Several Americans expanded Westward for promises of gold and riches.

5. American Industrialization

6. 1870-1900 - Gilded Age

7. 1898 - Spanish-American war

8. Latin American independence.

   • Mexico and Hati gain their independence (1821, 1804)

Middle Eastern Developments & Events

1. Tanzimat Reform

   • A desperate attempt by the Ottomans to reform and modernize. Fails dramatically.

2. Persian Control by the Qajars

3. The Sepoy Mutiny

   • A devastating blow to the Mughals and the rest of India, as the British invaded, directly killing several seamen. Caused direct rule over India shortly after.

Russian Developments & Events

1. W over Napoleon

   • Inevitably leads to more revolutionary violence.

2. L over Britain, France, and the Ottomans

   • The result of the Crimean War, a dispute between the rights of Orthodox Christians in Russia.

3. Siberian Expansion into Central Asia

4. Russification Begins!

Japanese Developments & Events

1. The Case of Matthew Perry

   • A foreign political member disguised as a tourist waltzes into Japan with a naval fleet, demanding it unisolated. They unfortunately agree and begin a long line of foreign humiliation and conflicts.

2. Restorations and Reform

   • The Meiji Restoration contributed a lot to Japan’s military, political, and social reform, presenting new, modern solutions for previously old methods.