AP European History - Important Dates

Important Dates to Remember

While the AP European History exam won't directly ask for specific dates, understanding the timeline is crucial for establishing cause and effect and earning evidence points.

1492 - Columbus arrives in the New World. This marks a significant moment in European exploration and the beginning of extensive interaction between Europe and the Americas.
1517 - The Protestant Reformation begins. Martin Luther's challenge to the Catholic Church triggers a religious and political upheaval in Europe.
1555 - The Peace of Augsburg is established. This agreement attempts to resolve religious conflicts in the Holy Roman Empire by allowing rulers to choose either Catholicism or Lutheranism as the religion of their states. Cuius regio, eius religio (Whose realm, his region).
1588 - The Spanish Armada is defeated. This marks a turning point in European power dynamics, signaling the decline of Spanish dominance and the rise of England as a major naval power.
1598 - The Edict of Nantes is issued. This grants religious toleration to Huguenots (French Protestants) in France, ending the French Wars of Religion.
1600 - The Dutch East India Company is founded. This represents the growth of European commercial empires and global trade networks.
1618 - The Defenestration of Prague occurs. This event sparks the Thirty Years' War, a major conflict involving most of Europe.
1643-1715 - Louis XIV reigns in France. This period is characterized by absolutism, centralized power, and the grandeur of the French court at Versailles.
1648 - The Treaty of Westphalia is signed. This ends the Thirty Years' War and reshapes the political map of Europe, establishing the principle of state sovereignty.
1651 - Hobbes' Leviathan is published. This work defends the idea of a social contract and absolute sovereignty as necessary for maintaining order.
1687 - Newton publishes Principia Mathematica. This presents his laws of motion and universal gravitation, revolutionizing science.
1688 - The Glorious Revolution takes place. This leads to the deposition of James II and the establishment of a constitutional monarchy in England.
1689 - The English Bill of Rights is established, guaranteeing certain rights and liberties to English citizens.
1689 - Locke publishes Two Treatises on Government. This argues for natural rights, limited government, and the right to revolution.
1763 - The Treaty of Paris ends the Seven Years' War. This results in significant territorial changes and shifts in colonial power, particularly between Britain and France.
1776 - The American Revolutionary War begins. This marks the start of the American colonies' fight for independence from British rule.
1776 - Adam Smith publishes Wealth of Nations. This advocates for free markets and capitalism, influencing economic policy.
1789-1799 - The French Revolution occurs. This leads to radical social and political change in France, impacting Europe.
1799 - Napoleon comes to power. This marks the beginning of the Napoleonic era, characterized by French expansion and military campaigns across Europe.
1815 - The Congress of Vienna / Age of Metternich begins. This aims to restore the balance of power in Europe after Napoleon's defeat and suppress revolutionary movements.
1830 - Revolutions occur in France, Belgium, & Greece. These reflect rising nationalism and liberalism.
1848 - Liberal Revolutions spread across Europe. These revolutions advocate for constitutionalism, democracy, and national unification, but ultimately fail in many areas.
1848 - Marx & Engels publish Communist Manifesto. This outlines the principles of communism and advocates for a classless society.
1861 - The Unification of Italy occurs. This results in the creation of a unified Italian state.
1861 - The Emancipation of Serfs in Russia takes place. This abolishes serfdom in Russia.
1871 - The Unification of Germany occurs. This leads to the creation of a unified German Empire.
1884 - The Berlin Conference (Scramble for Africa) is held. This regulates European colonization and trade in Africa.
1900 - Freud publishes Interpretation of Dreams. This groundbreaking work introduces psychoanalysis and explores the unconscious mind.
1905 - The Russian Revolution occurs. This leads to political and social unrest in Russia.
1914-1918 - World War I takes place. This global conflict involves major European powers.
1917 - The Russian Revolution occurs. This results in the overthrow of the Tsarist regime and the establishment of a communist state.
1918 - The Treaty of Versailles ends WWI. This imposes harsh terms on Germany.
1929 - The Stock market crashes, marking the beginning of the Great Depression.
1939-1945 - World War II in Europe occurs. This devastating conflict engulfs Europe.
1945 - The UN is established. This promotes international cooperation and prevent future wars.
1949 - NATO is formed. This military alliance is created to counter Soviet expansion.
1957 - Sputnik is launched. This marks the beginning of the Space Race between the Soviet Union and the United States.
1961 - The Berlin Wall is built. This symbolizes the division of Germany and Europe during the Cold War.
1962 - The Second Vatican Council is held. This leads to reforms in the Catholic Church.
1968 - The Prague Spring occurs. This is a period of liberalization in Czechoslovakia, which is suppressed by the Soviet Union.
1989 - The Collapse of the Berlin Wall takes place. This symbolizes the end of the Cold War.
1991 - The Breakup of the Soviet Union occurs. This leads to the end of the Cold War.
1992 - The Maastricht Treaty creates the European Union. This aims to promote economic and political integration among European countries.
1999 - The European currency (the Euro) is introduced.