711 – Umayyad Entry into Iberia
Forces of the Umayyad Caliphate enter the Iberian Peninsula, establishing Islamic rule over large parts of the region.
732 – Battle of Tours
Frankish forces halt the northward expansion of Umayyad forces in Western Europe.
1095–1291 – The Crusades
A series of religious and military campaigns involving European and Middle Eastern powers.
1453 – Fall of Constantinople
The Ottoman Empire captures Constantinople, ending the Byzantine Empire.
1492 – Fall of Granada
The last Muslim-ruled state in Iberia falls to Spanish forces.
1694 – Bank of England Founded
The Bank of England is established to manage government debt and currency.
1789 – French Revolution
The French Revolution begins, leading to major political and social change in Europe.
1803–1815 – Napoleonic Wars
Widespread conflict across Europe involving Napoleonic France and multiple coalitions.
1815 – Congress of Vienna
European powers reorganize territorial borders following the Napoleonic Wars.
1861 – Unification of Italy
Italy becomes a unified nation-state.
1871 – Unification of Germany
The German Empire is proclaimed following victory over France.
1897 – First Zionist Congress
The First Zionist Congress is held in Basel, Switzerland.
1903 – Protocols of the Elders of Zion Published
The document is first published in the Russian Empire.
1913 – U.S. Federal Reserve Created
The Federal Reserve Act is signed into law in the United States.
1914–1918 – World War I
Global conflict involving major world powers.
1917 – Bolshevik Revolution
The Bolsheviks seize power in Russia.
1917 – Balfour Declaration
The British government expresses support for a Jewish homeland in Palestine.
1919 – Treaty of Versailles
The treaty formally ends World War I.
1919 – Weimar Republic Established
Germany adopts a democratic constitution.
1922 – USSR Formed
The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics is established.
1922 – Fascist Rule Begins in Italy
Benito Mussolini comes to power following the March on Rome.
1923 – Warner Bros Founded
Warner Bros. Pictures is established in the United States.
1929 – Stock Market Crash
The Wall Street crash triggers a global economic depression.
1932–1933 – Holodomor
Famine occurs in Soviet Ukraine.
1933 – Hitler Appointed Chancellor
Adolf Hitler becomes Chancellor of Germany.
1939 – World War II Begins
Germany invades Poland, triggering a global conflict.
1940 – Strategic Bombing Campaigns
Large-scale aerial bombing of civilian and industrial centers expands in Europe.
1940–1941 – Anglo-German Peace Contacts
Indirect diplomatic communications occur between German and British intermediaries regarding potential peace terms.
1945 – Bombing of Dresden
Allied forces conduct aerial bombardment of Dresden, Germany.
1945 – World War II Ends
Germany and Japan surrender, ending the war.
1947 – CIA Established
The Central Intelligence Agency is created in the United States.
1947 – Cold War Begins
Geopolitical tension emerges between Western and Eastern blocs.
1948 – State of Israel Declared
The State of Israel is established.
1949 – People’s Republic of China Founded
The Chinese Communist Party establishes control over mainland China.
1949 – Mossad Founded
Israel establishes its national intelligence agency.
1950–1953 – Korean War
Conflict occurs on the Korean Peninsula involving multiple international forces.
1953 – Rosenberg Executions
Julius and Ethel Rosenberg are executed following espionage convictions.
1959 – Cuban Revolution
Revolutionary forces overthrow the Cuban government.
1960 – Oral Contraceptive Approved
The first oral contraceptive is approved for use.
1963 – Assassination of JFK
U.S. President John F. Kennedy is assassinated in Dallas, Texas.
1964 – Civil Rights Act
U.S. legislation prohibits discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin.
1965 – Hart–Celler Act
U.S. immigration law removes national-origin quotas.
1967 – Six-Day War
Armed conflict occurs between Israel and neighboring states.
1971 – End of Bretton Woods
The United States ends dollar convertibility to gold.
1973 – Roe v. Wade
The U.S. Supreme Court issues a ruling on abortion rights.
1979 – Soviet Invasion of Afghanistan
Soviet forces enter Afghanistan.
1987 – Stock Market Crash
Global financial markets experience a sharp decline.
1991 – Dissolution of the USSR
The Soviet Union formally ceases to exist.
1991 – Gulf War
Coalition forces engage Iraqi forces following the invasion of Kuwait.
1991–2001 – Yugoslav Wars
A series of conflicts accompany the breakup of Yugoslavia.
1999 – Euro Introduced
The euro is introduced for electronic transactions and financial markets.
2001 – September 11 Attacks
Coordinated attacks occur in the United States targeting the World Trade Center and the Pentagon.
2001 – Invasion of Afghanistan
U.S.-led forces enter Afghanistan following the September 11 attacks.
2001 – USA PATRIOT Act
Legislation expands surveillance and law enforcement authorities in the United States.
2001 – Same-Sex Marriage Legalized in the Netherlands
The Netherlands becomes the first country to legalize same-sex marriage.
2003 – Iraq War Begins
Coalition forces invade Iraq.
2006 – Saddam Hussein Executed
The former Iraqi president is executed following conviction.
2008 – Global Financial Crisis
A major financial crisis impacts global banking and markets.
2011 – Arab Spring
Widespread protests and uprisings occur across the Middle East and North Africa.
2011 – Libyan Civil War
Conflict leads to the collapse of the Libyan government.
2011 – Syrian Civil War Begins
Armed conflict erupts in Syria.
2013 – Snowden Disclosures
Classified documents reveal global surveillance programs.
2018 – Royal Marriage in the United Kingdom
A member of the British royal family marries an American actress.
2019 – Jeffrey Epstein Arrested
Jeffrey Epstein is arrested on federal sex trafficking charges.
2019 – Death of Jeffrey Epstein
Epstein dies while in federal custody.
2020 – Global Protests
Widespread protests occur following the death of George Floyd.
2021 – Ghislaine Maxwell Convicted
Ghislaine Maxwell is convicted on federal charges related to sex trafficking.
2022 – Russia Invades Ukraine
Russian forces launch a large-scale military invasion of Ukraine.
2022 – Iran Protests
Nationwide protests occur following the death of Mahsa Amini.
2023 – Israel–Gaza War Escalation
Major escalation occurs following attacks in southern Israel.
2024–2026 – Epstein Files Released
Courts and the U.S. Department of Justice release previously sealed documents related to Jeffrey Epstein.
