Early Modern Timeline

Key

Asia

Western Europe*

Eastern Europe

The Americas

Southeast Asia

Africa

*Colonization will be marked based on the location of the colony

Ming Dynasty in China

The Ming Dynasty began in 1368, and lasted until 1644 due to foreign invasion. The dynasty was founded under the reign of a man named Hongwu, an unwealthy man. Under the reign of this dynasty, the status of peasants rose (due to the status of Hongwu), Civil Service Examinations rose in importance, the arts developed, and the population spiked.

Reign of Mehmed the Conquerer

The reign of Mehmed the Conquerer lasted through two periods. The first was from 1444 to 1446, before he officially began his rule. The second was from 1451 to 1481, his actual rule. Mehmed II (Mehmed the Conquerer) sacked Constantinople in 1453, creating the Ottoman Empire, by destroying the Byzantines.

Founding of the Ottoman Empire

The Ottoman Empire was founded in 1453 under the Mehmed II (Mehmed the Conquerer). Mehmed sacked the city of Constantinople, capital of the Byzantine Empire, which would later be re-named Istanbul. The sacking of this city made the Ottomans officially an empire, since they sacked another empire.

Songhay Empire

The Songhay Empire (also spelled Songhai) began in 1464, and dissolved in 1591. They established their empire in West Africa around the Niger River, establishing their captial at Gao. People of this region began to covert to Islam, however many stuck with their traditional West African religions. The Songhai empire ruled over large parts of Africa, built river boats from scratch, and developed a large presence in the gold and salt industry.

Russians Win Independence from the Mongols

The Russian state was under rule of the Mongol Empire until 1472, when Ivan III (Ivan the Great) drove the Mongols out of the Russian territory. Ivan the Great then ruled until 1505, in which his death ended his rule.

First Europeans Land in the "New World"

The first Europeans landed in the "New World" in 1492. This was accomplished with the maritime and exploration expertise of Christopher Columbus, who worked for Spain.However, this land had been discovered by vikings almost 5oo years before, under the leadership of Leif Erikssson.

Treaty of Tordesillas

The Treaty of Tordesillas was put into effect in 1494. This treaty between Spain and Portugal brought about the splitting up of the World. Spain with the "New World," and Portugal with the "Old World." This would lead to the exploration of Christopher Columbus, sailing around the back of the world to find the Indies for Spain.

Vasco da Gama's Voyage to India

Vasco da Gama's Voyages began in 1497, and ended in 1499. Da Gama worked for Portugal, trying to find India by using a maritime route. He ended up finding India by sailing around the Southern Tip of Africa, after the establishment of the Cape of Good Hope. India had a hold of the spice trade in the Indian Ocean, and Portugal wanted to seize it in hopes of gaining more profiit for the country.

Martin Luther's 95 Theses

Martin Luther was a German Monk who wanted a truer version of the Catholic faith. He thought that the Catholic church was incorrect in their collection of indulgences, the celibacy of the Pope, and the use of monasteries in the Catholic faith. In response to these issues he nailed his "95 theses" to a the door of a church in Wittenburg, Gremany in 1517

Spanish Conquest of Mexico

Spanish Conquest of Mexico began in 1519. At this time, the Spanish began to conquer the Aztec Empire, under the leadership of Hernan Cortez. Under the leadership of the Spanish, the trade of precious metals from Mesoamerica to the rest of the world increased and Spanish colonization began to increase. Soon the cultivation of metals would need more slaves, as provided by the Atlantic Slave Trade.

Magellan Circumnavigates the Globe

Magellan cirumnavigated the globe in 1519. Magellan began his voyage in 1519 for the Spanish to the East Indies, ending in 1522. However he never completed his circumnavigation of the globe, and eventually the action was completed by Juan Sebastian Elcano.

Reign of Suleiman the Magnifiicent

The Reign of Suleiman II (Suleiman the Magnificent) lasted from 1520, to his death in 1566. During his reign , he greatly expanded the Ottoman Empire, reformed the Ottoman legal system, and built the most powerful militia (army and navy) in the history of Ottoman ruling. He was the 10th sultan of the Ottoman Empire and ruled the longest of any of the other sultans, however the reign was only about 36 years long.

Mughal Dynasty

The Mughal Dynasty began its reign in 1526, ending in 1857, after the reign of Aurengzeb. The Mughals had a mostly Hindu population, and being Muslim, tried to unify the expansive empire with one religigion. This created the mesh of Muslim and Hindu beliefs called Din-i-Ihani. The Mughals, also built the Taj Mahal, now One of Seven famous wonders of the world.

Beginning of the Atlantic Slave Trade

The Atlantic Slave Trade began in 1526 when the first transatlantic voyage to Brazil was completed by the Portugese. These slaves were sent to the Americas to provide assistance in production of crops such as sugar and tobacco for European trade. The slave trade had already been occuring in individual nations in Africa, however this was the first Trans-Atlantic slaving voyage.

Start of the Church of England & Evolution of the Anglican Curch

The Anglican Church, or Church of England began to develop in 1534. The Anglican Church was established by Henry VIII, who broke off from the Pope after the Protestan Reformation. Henry VIII was mostly concerned about the Catholic Church's views on divorce, dissagreeing with them. This was because he had many wives, and eventually left most of them.

Council of Trent

The Council of Trent was held in 1545, and in two other sessions, until the final session in 1563. This Council was held by the Catholic Church as a invitation for the Protestant church to understand the Catholic documents in question to the rising religion. With these clarifications many followers came back to Catholicism, but the schism still left Europe torn in many places.

Christianity Banned in Japan

Christianity was banned in Japan in 1565 under the reign of the Tokowaga Shogunate. Emperor Ogimachi banned the religion after the infiltaration of Portuguese missionaries and Jesuits into the island of Japan, consequently banishing them from the island. Christianity then became an underground religion in Japan.

1650

Tokugawa Shogunate

The Tokugawa Shogunate began in 1603 under the reign of Tokugawa Ieyasu, till 1868 when it declined because of foreign invasion. During the reign of this shogunate, Japan became very isolationist, banning christianity and closing off acess to the country for everyone except for the Dutch, who could enter at only one port to trade. This isolation policy was made to keep all of the Western influence out, and all of Japan to itself.

First British Colony Settled in North America

The First British Colony in the Americas was established in 1607 under the name of "Jamestown." Britan used this colony to produce tobacco; becoming a major export for the British trading companies. This started the British colonization of the rest of the nation, leading to rise of the 13 American colonies ruled under Britian.

30 Years War

The Thirty Years War lasted from 1618 to 1648, resulting in the Treaty of Westphalia. It involved fighting between the Catholics and Protestants all over Western Europe, however the fighting was mainly centered in Germany. The war caused famine and disease in all of the affected countries after the war was finished. After the war, the Treaty of Westphalia solidified the succession of the Holy Roman Empire.

Reign of Louis XIV

The reign of Louis XIV, or Louis the Great began in 1643, and ended upon his death in 1715. During his reign, he was deemed the "Sun King", built the palace of Versailles in France, and took away the right to worship from French Protestants under the Edict of Nantes. He arose to the throne at the age of four after the death of his father, Louis XIII. Louis XIII also married his cousin, continuing the royal bloodline.

Peace of Westphalia

The Peace of Westphalia began in 1648 after the signing of two treaties after the Thirty Years War. These two treaties were the treaty of Munster and Usnabruck. Although the name is deciving, the peace had some opposing forces to itself, such as Germany, France, and Sweden. These powers had a longing for territorial power, which was openly opposed by the other powers participating on the peace.

Peter the Great

Peter the Great was born in 1672 in Moscow, Russia, and died in 1725 in St. Petersburg. During his reign he created the city of St. Petersburg, westernized the Russian state, and did away with the Importance of Hereditary Nobility. He also made major reforms to the army and navy. He was also 6'8'', a giant for his day.

7 Years War

The Seven Years war lasted from 1756 to 1763, hence the name "Seven Years War." This conflict spanned 5 continents: Europe, the Americas, Africa, and Asia. The war began under the motive of the inheritence of the Ohio River Valley between the British and French. The war resulted the French ownership of this territory and many other treaties such as: The Treaty of Paris, Treaty of Saint Petersburg, and The Treaty of Hamburg

Great Britan Abolishes Slavery in the West Indies

Great Britain Abolished Slavery in the West Indies in 1834 with the legislation passed the previous year. This legislation was called the Slavery Abolition Act of 1833 under the reign of the British Parliment. However, the Slave Trade from Africa was abolished in 1807.