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Guerber’s Histories Timelines from Creation to 1901 Christine Miller Nothing New Press Sarasota, Florida Guerber’s Histories Timelines by Christine Miller Published by Nothing New Press Post Office Box 18335 Sarasota, Florida 34276 www.nothingnewpress.com © 2013 by Christine Miller All timelines taken from the Guerber History series published by Nothing New Press. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED: No part of Guerber’s Histories Timelines eBook may be reproduced or transmitted in any form whatsoever, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any informational storage or retrieval system, without expressed, written and signed permission from Christine Miller (with the exception of brief quotations used in reviews or discussion groups, with attribution to the author and source). You do not have the right to reprint, resell, auction, or redistribute Guerber’s Histories Timelines eBook. 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Electronic books, also known as eBooks, are protected worldwide under international copyright and intellectual property law, the same law that protects printed books, recorded material and other literary works. Under copyright law, “literary work” includes “computer,” “computer program,” “software,” and all related materials sold online, including electronic books (eBooks), and Adobe Acrobat PDF files. Copyright infringement, trademark infringement and theft of intellectual property are serious crimes. Copyright infringement is a felony and civil fines for conviction of such infringement now begin at $150,000 per infringement. Criminal fines for infringement begin at $250,000 and may also result in up to five years in prison. But even if someone who obtains an eBook by fraud evades prosecution by man, the spiritual consequences are unavoidable (Scripture quotations from the New American Standard Version): “There is one who scatters, and yet increases all the more, and there is one who withholds what is justly due, and yet it results only in want.” Proverbs 11:24 “Wealth obtained by fraud dwindles, but the one who gathers by labor increases it.” Proverbs 13:11 “He who profits illicitly troubles his own house, but he who hates bribes will live.” Proverbs 15:27 “The acquisition of treasures by a lying tongue is a fleeting vapor, the pursuit of death.” Proverbs 21:6 Cover art: “That which has been is that which will be, And that which has been done is that which will be done. So, there is nothing new under the sun.” Ecclesiastes 1:9 Guerber’s Histories Timelines Table of Contents Timeline of the Ancient World (4004 to 330 BC) Timeline of Ancient Greece (2242 to 145 BC) Timeline of Ancient Rome (2242 BC to 476 AD) Timeline of the Middle Ages (2242 BC to 1485) Timeline of the Renaissance and Reformation (452 to 1660) Timeline of New World Colonization (2242 BC to 1783) and the American Revolution Timeline of the Great Republic (1785 to 1901) T i m e l i n e of the A n c i e n t W o r l d. All dates are BC. 4004 Creation of the world in six days; creation of first man and woman, Adam and Eve 3874 Birth of Seth, son of Adam and Eve, 2nd from Adam; when Adam was 130 years of age 3769 Birth of Enos, son of Seth, 3rd from Adam, when Seth was 105 years of age 3679 Birth of Cainan, son of Enos, 4th from Adam, when Enos was 90 years of age 3609 Birth of Mahalaleel, son of Cainan, 5th from Adam, when Cainan was 70 years of age 3544 Birth of Jared, son of Mahalaleel, 6th from Adam, when Mahalaleel was 65 years of age 3382 Birth of Enoch, son of Jared, 7th from Adam, when Jared was 162 years of age 3317 Birth of Methuselah, son of Enoch the prophet, 8th from Adam, when Enoch was 65 years of age 3130 Birth of Lamech, son of Methuselah, 9th from Adam, when Methuselah was 187 years of age 3074 Death of Adam at 930 years of age 3017 Enoch taken to heaven without seeing death at 365 years of age 2962 Death of Seth, son of Adam, at 912 years of age 2948 Birth of Noah, son of Lamech, 10th from Adam, when Lamech was 182 years of age 2864 Death of Enos, son of Seth, at 905 years of age 2769 Death of Cainan, son of Enos, at 910 years of age 2714 Death of Mahalaleel, son of Cainan, at 892 years of age 2582 Death of Jared, son of Mahalaleel, at 962 years of age 2469 Noah called to build a great ark, and preach repentance to mankind, 120 years before the Flood 2448 Birth of Japheth, son of Noah, when Noah was 500 years of age 2446 Birth of Shem, son of Noah, 1st from Noah; when Noah was 502 years of age 2353 Death of Lamech, son of Methuselah, at 777 years of age 2349 Death of Methuselah, son of Enoch, at 969 years of age The Flood destroyed all of mankind but Noah and his family when Noah was 600 years of age 2348 Noah and his family leave the ark and begin again in the Mountains of Ararat 2346 Birth of Arphaxad, the son of Shem, 2nd from Noah, when Shem was 100 years of age 2311 Birth of Salah, the son of Arphaxad, 3rd from Noah, when Arphaxad was 35 years of age 2281 Birth of Eber, the son of Salah, 4th from Noah, when Salah was 30 years of age 2247 Birth of Peleg, the son of Eber, 5th from Noah, when Eber was 34 years of age God commands the people to spread out, and Noah divides the land among his descendants 2242 Tower of Babel rebellion five years after the birth of Peleg; languages confused 2234 Nimrod built Babylon; Babylonian astronomers began recording their years from this date 2217 Birth of Reu, son of Peleg, 6th from Noah, when Peleg was 30 years of age 2188 Mizraim the son of Ham settles Egypt 2185 Birth of Serug, son of Reu, 7th from Noah, when Reu was 32 years of age 2155 Birth of Nahor, son of Serug, 8th from Noah, when Serug was 30 years of age 2126 Birth of Terah, 9th from Noah, in the city of Ur of the Sumerians (Chaldeans) 2084 Cushite “Shepherd Kings” invade Egypt; establish religion and monarchy of Pharaohs 1998 Death of Noah at 950 years of age return to the table of contents 5 Timeline of the Ancient World 1996 Birth of Abram, son of Terah, 10th from Noah, in the city of Ur of the Sumerians 1925 Elam and the sons of Shem subdue the Cushites to the Mediterranean Sea, and Egypt 1922 Abraham and his family leave Ur and settle in Haran; death of Terah at 205 years of age 1921 Abraham, Sarah, and Lot enter Canaan, the Promised Land 1913 Five Cushite kings of Canaan rebel against Chedorlaomer king of Elam 1912 Chedorlaomer defeats the Cushites; Lot taken; Abraham defeats Chedorlaomer and rescues Lot 1910 Birth of Ishmael the son of Abraham and Hagar the Egyptian 1897 Destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah 1896 Birth of Isaac the son of Abraham and Sarah his wife, when Abraham was 100 years of age 1891 Abraham sends Hagar and her son Ishmael away 1871 God supplies a ram instead of Abraham’s son Isaac for the sacrifice on Mount Moriah 1859 Death of Sarah at 127 years of age 1856 Marriage of Isaac and Rebekah when Isaac was 40 years of age 1846 Death of Shem, the son of Noah, at 600 years of age 1836 Birth of Esau and Jacob, the sons of Isaac and Rebekah, when Isaac was 60 years of age 1824 Amosis prince of Thebes drives the Cushites from Egypt 1821 Death of Abraham at 175 years of age 1804 Esau sells his birthright for a bowl of pottage at 34 years of age 1760 Isaac tricked into giving his blessing to Jacob instead of Esau, when he was 136 years of age 1759 Jacob sent to Haran for a wife at 77 years of age; marries Leah and Rachel, daughters of Laban 1745 Birth of Joseph, son of Jacob and Rachel, when Jacob was 91 years of age 1739 Jacob returns to Canaan with his wives, children, and possessions; reconciliation with Esau 1731 Jacob arrives at Isaac’s encampment in Beersheba and dwells there 1728 Jacob gives Joseph a beautiful coat; Joseph’s jealous brothers sell him as a slave at age 17 1727 Potiphar throws Joseph into prison after he is wrongfully accused at 18 years of age 1716 Death of Isaac at 180 years of age 1715 Joseph interprets Pharaoh’s dream and becomes the governor of Egypt at 30 years of age 1706 Jacob enters Egypt with all his household (70 persons) at 130 years of age 1691 End of the Elamite dynasty which ruled in Sumer 1689 Death of Jacob in Egypt at 147 years of age 1635 Death of Joseph in Egypt at 110 years of age; he governed Egypt for 80 years 1616 Tutankhamun (Manetho: Rathotis) king of Egypt; vizier Ay and general Horemheb act as regents 1595 Tut poisoned ? Ay (Manetho: Acencheres) marries his widow; becomes king of Egypt 1582 Horemheb (Manetho: Harmais) killed Ay ? succeeded him as king of Egypt, not of the royal family 1578 Ramesses I Egyptian general succeeded Horemheb as king of Egypt, not of the royal family 1577 Ramesses II his son succeeded Ramesses I king of Egypt; enslaved the Hebrews 1571 Birth of Moses in Egypt, great-grandson of Levi; adopted by Egyptian princess 1538 The Babylonians were defeated in a war; a Cushite dynasty reigned in Babylon for 216 years 1531 Moses flees Egypt when it is discovered that he killed an Egyptian 1511 Death of Ramesses the Great of Egypt 1491 God calls Moses through the burning bush; Egypt endures ten plagues; end of Egyptian Empire First Passover; Israelites depart Egypt; Ten Commandments and Law given on Mt. Sinai 1490 6 Tabernacle dedicated, and Mosaic worship of the Lord commences; Israel celebrates 2nd Passover return to the table of contents Timeline of the Ancient World 1490 12 spies sent into Canaan but 10 deliver evil report; Israel condemned to 40 years in wilderness 1452 Israel defeats the Amorites, Og king of Bashan; who refuse to let them pass through their land 1451 Death of Moses at 120 years of age; Joshua leads Israel into the Promised Land; Fall of Jericho 1445 Joshua ceases his wars; divides the land among the twelve tribes 1443 Death of Joshua 1413 Because of apostasy, Israel subjugated by Cushan king of Mesopotamia 1405 Othniel, nephew of Caleb, called by God to deliver and judge Israel 1343 Because of apostasy, Israel subjugated by Moab and Amalek 1325 Ehud called by God to deliver and judge Israel 1305 Because of apostasy, Israel subjugated by the Canaanites 1301 45 Assyrian kings reign in Babylon for 526 years to the reign of Pul 1285 Deborah called by God to deliver and judge Israel; Sisera killed 1252 Because of apostasy, Israel subjugated by Amalek and Midian 1245 Gideon called by God to deliver and judge Israel 1236 Death of Gideon; his son Abimelech kills his brothers but one and tries to make himself king 1233 Abimelech slain by a woman; end of civil war 1206 Because of apostasy, Israel subjugated by Ammon and Philistia 1205 Philistines under the king of Ashkelon besiege Sidon of the Phoenicians; they relocate to Tyre 1188 Jephthah called by God to deliver and judge Israel 1155 Birth of Samson, dedicated as a Nazarite 1137 Samson slays many Philistines in a dispute over his Philistine bride 1136 Samson slays 1000 Philistines with a donkey’s jawbone, and is made judge of Israel 1117 Delilah cuts Samson’s hair; he is captured by the Philistines; but destroys them in their temple Philistines capture the Ark of the Covenant; death of high priest Eli; Samuel judges Israel 1096 Israel defeats Philistines, helped by God, end of 40 years of Philistine oppression 1095 Samuel anoints Saul king of Israel 1085 Birth of David, son of Jesse, son of Obed, son of Ruth and Boaz 1063 Samuel anoints David king of Israel; David slays Goliath 1055 1048 Death of Saul and sons by the Philistines; Ishbosheth son of Saul king, but David king of Judah I shbosheth killed; elders of Israel anoint David king of Israel; David makes Jerusalem his capital 1046 David makes an alliance with Hiram the king of Tyre; Hiram helps him build his palace 1045 David brings the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem 1036 Nations from Egypt to the Euphrates tributary to David 1035 David has Uriah the Hittite killed and marries his widow Bathsheba 1034 David and Bathsheba’s first son dies in judgment; birth of second son Solomon 1032 David’s son Amnon sins against his half-sister Tamar 1030 David’s son Absalom murders Amnon in revenge for his sister Tamar’s humiliation 1023 Absalom’s rebellion; David’s flight; death of Absalom; David’s return and restoration 1018 Revolt of the Philistines under the four giants of Goliath’s family; slain by David and his men 1017 David numbers the Israelites and is judged with 3 days of pestilence in which 70,000 die 1015 Death of David; Solomon his son king of Israel 1014 Solomon’s first marriage to the daughter of Pharaoh king of Egypt 1013 The Lord grants Solomon wisdom, long life, wealth, and power7 return to the table of contents 7 Timeline of the Ancient World 1012 Solomon lays the foundation of the Temple in Jerusalem 1004 The Temple completed, and dedicated; the glory of the Lord fills the Temple 978 Because of Solomon’s apostasy; the prophet sent to Jeroboam to proclaim him king over ten tribes 975 Death of Solomon; rebellion of the ten tribes; Jeroboam king of Israel, Rehoboam king of Judah 971 Pharaoh Shishak invades Judah and makes Judah tributary 958 Death of Rehoboam; Abijah his son king of Judah 955 Death of Abijah; Asa his son king of Judah 954 Death of Jeroboam; Nadab his son king of Israel 953 Nadab killed by Baasha, who destroyed all of Jeroboam’s family and became king of Israel 941 Zerah the Ethiopian attacked Asa and Judah but Judah prevailed 930 Death of Baasha; Elah his son king of Israel 929 Elah killed by Zimri, who destroyed all of Baasha’s family and became king of Israel for 7 days Omri, the general of the army, besieged Zimri who killed himself; civil war in Israel ensues 925 Omri defeats his rival and becomes sole king of Israel 924 Omri builds Samaria to be Israel’s capital city 918 Death of Omri; Ahab his son king of Israel 914 Death of Asa; Jehoshaphat his son king of Judah 909 Elijah announces the great drought to Ahab and Jezebel 906 Elijah defeats the priests of Baal in the great contest on Mount Carmel; drought ends 899 Jezebel has Naboth killed for his vineyard 897 Death of Ahab; Ahaziah his son king of Israel 896 Death of Ahaziah; Jehoram son of Ahab king of Israel; Elijah translated; Elisha called 891 Hazael kills Benhadad and becomes king of Syria 889 Death of Jehoshaphat; Jehoram his son king of Judah 885 Death of Jehoram; Ahaziah his son king of Judah 884 Jehu kills Jehoram king of Israel and Ahaziah king of Judah; becomes king of Israel Athaliah kills the sons of Ahaziah and usurps the throne of Judah; Joash escapes 883 Asshurnazirpal becomes king of Assyria 878 Joash son of Ahaziah becomes king of Judah; Athaliah killed 858 Shalmaneser son of Asshurnazirpal becomes king of Assyria 856 Death of Jehu; Jehoahaz his son king of Israel 840 Zechariah the high priest is stoned to death after reproving Joash for idolatry 839 Death of Jehoahaz; Joash his son king of Israel; death of Elisha Joash king of Judah killed; Amaziah his son king of Judah 826 Amaziah king of Judah defeated in war by Joash king of Israel; Judah made tributary 825 Death of Joash of Israel; Jeroboam II his son king of Israel 823 Shamshiadad son of Shalmaneser becomes king of Assyria 810 Amaziah king of Judah killed; Uzziah his son king of Judah Adadnirari son of Shamshiadad becomes king of Assyria 808 Jubilee year: the prophets Joel, Jonah, Hosea, and Amos called 784 Death of Jeroboam II; infighting in his family over the succession causes anarchy in Israel 781 Shalmaneser son of Adadnirari becomes king of Assyria 775 Pul becomes king of Babylon 8 return to the table of contents Timeline of the Ancient World 773 Zechariah son of Jeroboam II becomes king of Israel 772 Zechariah killed by Shallum, who becomes king; Shallum killed by Menahem, who becomes king 771 Asshurdan son of Adadnirari becomes king of Assyria; Jonah prophesies to Nineveh (approx.) Pul king of Babylon makes Assyria tributary and becomes king of Assyria, Asshurdan under him Pul king of Assyria confirms Menahem on Israel’s throne as an Assyrian vassal 761 Death of Menahem; Pekahiah his son king of Israel 759 Pekahiah killed by Pekah, who becomes king of Israel; Isaiah called and sees the glory of the Lord 758 Death of Uzziah of Judah; Jotham his son king of Judah 753 Asshurnirari son of Adadnirari becomes king of Nineveh 750 The prophet Micah called 747 Death of Pul; Nabonassar (not his son) becomes king of Babylon and destroys the records of kings 745 Death of Asshurnirari; Tiglathpileser (not his son) becomes king of Assyria 742 Death of Jotham of Judah; Ahaz his son king of Judah 740 Ahaz makes Judah tributary to Tiglathpileser; Tiglathpileser ends Syrian kingdom Tiglathpileser takes the tribes beyond the Jordan captive to Assyria 739 Pekah of Israel killed by Hoshea; who becomes king of Israel 731 Tiglathpileser (Ptolemy: Chinziros and Poros) becomes king of Babylon 728 Shalmaneser son of Tiglathpileser becomes king of Assyria; Hoshea pays him tribute 727 Shalmaneser (Ptolemy: Julaeus) becomes king of Babylon; So (Sabacon) of Ethiopia king of Egypt 726 Death of Ahaz of Judah; Hezekiah his son becomes king of Judah 725 Hoshea of Israel conspires with So of Egypt to cease paying tribute to Assyria 724 Shalmaneser of Assyria lays siege to Samaria 722 Death of Shalmaneser; Sargon (not his son) becomes king of Assyria 721 Assyrians take Samaria; ends Israelite kingdom; Israel taken captive to Assyria Sargon settles Israelites in Media; removes Medians; Median resentment against Assyria grows Merodach Baladan, grandson of Nabonassar, becomes king of Babylon 717 Sargon makes his son Sennacherib co-regent; Sargon Eastern wars, Sennacherib Western wars Assyrians make Phoenicia tributary, and besiege Tyre, who would not submit 713 Hezekiah of Judah conspires with Seuechus (son of So) of Egypt to cease paying tribute to Assyria Sennacherib receives Hezekiah’s tribute on his way to war with Egypt Hezekiah becomes sick but the Lord heals him; miracle of the sun’s shadow 712 Merodach Baladan king of Babylon sends an embassy to Hezekiah 710 Sennacherib takes Egypt; comes against Jerusalem; destruction of the Assyrian host Sargon attacked Babylon and forced Merodach Baladan to surrender; Sargon king of Babylon 705 Death of Sargon; Sennacherib his son becomes sole ruler of Assyria Sennacherib makes his brother king of Babylon; he is killed; Merodach Baladan assumes throne 698 Death of Hezekiah; Manasseh his son king of Judah; has Isaiah killed (perhaps by 680) 689 Tired of Babylonian revolts, Sennacherib marches against Babylon and destroys it 681 Death of Sennacherib by his sons’ hands; Esarhaddon his son becomes king of Assyria 680 Esarhaddon rebuilds Babylon, including his palace; he reigned from Babylon 677 Esarhaddon takes Manasseh of Judah captive to Babylon; Manasseh repents and is restored 670 Esarhaddon invades Egypt; destroys Memphis and Thebes 668 Asshurbanipal (Sardanapalus) son of Esarhaddon king of Assyria; his brother king of Babylon return to the table of contents 9 Timeline of the Ancient World 668 Nahum called; foretells the destruction of Nineveh 648 Asshurbanipal’s brother conspired against Assyria and is killed; Asshurbanipal king of Babylon 643 Death of Manasseh; Amon his son king of Judah 641 Amon killed by his servants; Josiah his son king of Judah, cleansed Judah of idolatry 635 Cyaxares the Mede unites the tribes of the Medes into one kingdom 629 Jeremiah called; Zephaniah called the people to repentance 627 Death of Asshurbanipal; civil war among his sons for the throne of Assyria Nabopolassar, Babylonian general, makes an alliance with the Medes; they lay siege to Nineveh Alliance secured by the marriage of the Median princess to Nabopolassar’s son, Nebuchadnezzar 625 Fall of Nineveh; end of the Assyrian Empire; Nabopolassar king of Babylon 624 The high priest finds the book of the Law and reads it to King Josiah of Judah 616 Pharaoh Necho becomes king of Egypt 610 Egyptians war against Babylonians; Josiah interferes and is killed at Megiddo by Pharaoh Necho Jehoahaz son of Josiah king; Pharaoh deposed him and made Jehoiakim son of Josiah king 609 Habakkuk called; prophesied the destruction of Jerusalem by the Babylonians 607 Baruch wrote Jeremiah’s prophecies; Nebuchadnezzar defeats the Egyptians at Carchemish Nebuchadnezzar made Jehoiakim vassal; took Judean nobility captive to Babylon (Daniel) 606 Baruch read Jeremiah’s prophecies; Jehoiakim burned them; Baruch wrote them again 605 Nebuchadnezzar invades Egypt; Nabopolassar died; Nebuchadnezzar returns to Babylon 604 Nebuchadnezzar dreams of the great image; Daniel interprets, is made governor of Babylon 600 Because Jehoiakim rebelled at the death of Nabopolassar, Nebuchadnezzar ravaged Judah Birth of Darius the Mede to Astyages, son of Cyaxares, king of Media 599 Jehoiakim killed by the Babylonians; Jeconiah his son reigned 3 months, but rebelled Nebuchadnezzar took Jeconiah and his house captive to Babylon, along with many Judeans Among the Jewish captives were Mordecai of Benjamin, Esther’s uncle, and Ezekiel the priest Zedekiah the son of Josiah was made king of Judah as a vassal of Babylon Birth of Cyrus to Cambyses king of Persia, and his wife, Mandane, daughter of Astyages of Media 596 Death of Cyaxares; Astyages his son king of Media 595 Ezekiel the priest called to be a prophet to the exiles in Babylon 594 Zedekiah king of Judah rebelled against Babylon 590 Nebuchadnezzar besieges Jerusalem; Pharaoh Hophra comes to Zedekiah’s defense; siege raised 589 Nebuchadnezzar routs the Egyptians, returns to the siege of Jerusalem 588 Jerusalem taken; Zedekiah’s children slain and his eyes put out, taken captive to Babylon City and Temple burned to the ground, and all the walls of Jerusalem destroyed Jeremiah among the remnant left in Judah; they killed the Babylonian governor; fled to Egypt 587 Obadiah prophesied against Edom, who had rejoiced in the destruction of Jerusalem 585 Nebuchadnezzar besieges Tyre; subdues Moab, Ammon, and Edom 584 The Jews in Judah who did not flee to Egypt, 745 persons, were taken captive to Babylon 572 Nebuchadnezzar lifts the siege of Tyre and invades Egypt; many Jews who fled there were killed 570 Nebuchadnezzar returns to Babylon and has the dream of the large tree; he loses his mind 563 Nebuchadnezzar recovers his sanity and humbles himself before God 562 Death of Nebuchadnezzar; Evilmerodach his son king of Babylon, releases Jeconiah from prison 560 Neriglassoros kills Evilmerodach; becomes king of Babylon 10 return to the table of contents Timeline of the Ancient World 560 Death of Astyages, Darius the Mede his son becomes king of Media 559 Persian army under Cyrus sent to Darius; Cyrus made Medo-Persian general 556 Cyrus defeats Babylonians, kills Neriglassoros, then wars against Babylon’s allies in Asia Minor 555 Nabonidus, Nebuchdnezzar’s grandson, made king of Babylon; his son Belshazzar viceroy 540 Cyrus finishes defeating all his foes from Asia Minor to Babylon, lays siege to Babylon (539) 538 Belshazzar’s feast; Cyrus takes Babylon and kills Belshazzar; end of Babylonian Empire Darius the Mede king of Babylon; Darius installs Persian governors instead of native kings Daniel is made principal overseer of the governors; Daniel delivered from the lion’s den 537 Death of Cambyses; Cyrus his son king of Persia; decreed the return of the Jews, end of captivity 536 Death of Darius; Cyrus sole ruler of Medo-Persian Empire; Jews rebuild altar in Jerusalem 535 Jews lay the foundation of the new Temple amid opposition 529 Death of Cyrus; Cambyses and Smerdis his sons divide the Empire 526 Cambyses invades Egypt, who rebelled at the death of Cyrus, cruelly put down the rebellion 524 Cambyses went mad; he had his brother Smerdis put to death, and also murdered his wife 522 After Smerdis was killed a usurper took the Persian throne; Cambyses killed returning to Persia 521 Usurper discovered; killed; Darius Hystaspes king of Persia; married Vashti daughter of Cyrus 520 Haggai called the Jews to rebuild the Temple; work resumed; Zechariah exhorted the Jews 519 Darius confirmed the command of Cyrus to rebuild the Temple, and paid for it out of his tribute 518 Darius put away his queen Vashti; Esther chosen to go to the palace with the maidens 515 Temple completed; Darius chose Esther to be his queen 510 Haman the Amalekite set the king against the Jews; Esther exposed him and saved her people 497 The Greeks in Asia Minor rebel against Persia; Persia defeats the Greek city of Miletus 490 Darius’ Persian army defeated by the Greeks at Marathon 485 Death of Darius the Great in the war against Egypt; Xerxes his son king of Persia 481 Xerxes and the Persians march against Greece; battle of Thermopylae 480 Xerxes burned Athens, but was defeated in the naval battle of Salamis; returned to Persia 474 Death of Xerxes; Artaxerxes his son king of Persia; in his reign wars with Ionian Greeks 467 Ezra receives permission to return to Jerusalem; reformed the Jewish worship (date disputed) 460 Egyptians revolt from Persian rule with the help of the Athenians; Persia at war in Egypt 454 Nehemiah returns to Jerusalem and rebuilds the walls (date disputed); Persia defeats Egypt 442 In the year that Nehemiah is made governor of Judah, the wars against Artaxerxes cease 425 Death of Artaxerxes; Xerxes his son king of Persia 424 Death of Xerxes by his brother’s hand; Darius Ochus son of Artaxerxes king of Persia 416 Malachi the final prophet exhorted the Jews to hold to the Law and await the coming Messiah 404 Death of Darius Ochus; Artaxerxes his son king of Persia 360 Death of Artaxerxes; Ochus his son killed all his family to secure his position as king of Persia 356 Alexander born to the king of Macedonia 338 Death of Ochus by poison; Arses his son king of Persia, but as a puppet 336 Death of Arses by murder; Darius the nephew of Ochus becomes last king of Persia 334 Alexander crosses into Asia Minor with his disciplined army of Macedonians 330 Alexander kills Darius, Persian Empire ends return to the table of contents 11 1 12 return to the table of contents TIMELINE of ANCIENT G R E E C E. Many dates before 700 BC are approximate or in dispute. 2242 BC The Tower of Babel dispersion, the people scattered, and the nations founded The sons of Javan, the son of Japheth, father the Greek tribes Civilization begins to flourish on Crete 2000 BC 1st wonder of the ancient world: Great Pyramid built in Giza of Egypt 1871 BC Abraham called to sacrifice his son Isaac on Mount Moriah 1856 BC Inachus the Egyptian arrives in Greece, founds the city of Argos 1796 BC Deluge of Ogyges 1684 BC Pelasgus I reigns in Argos; from him the inhabitants are called Pelasgians 1556 BC Cecrops of Egypt arrives in Greece, founds the city of Athens 1503 BC Deluge of Deucalion in Thessaly 1498 BC Aeropagus instituted in Athens The Amphictyonic Council established at Thermopylae by Amphictyon 1495 BC Panathenian Games established 1493 BC Cadmus of Phoenicia founds the city of Thebes, introduces Phoenician alphabet 1492 BC Danaus the Egyptian arrives in Greece; reigns in Argos 1491 BC Moses leads the children of Israel out of Egypt; receives the Ten Commandments 1490 BC Lacedaemon marries Sparta, founds the city of Sparta 1400 BC Midas, whose wealth is legendary, reigns in Lydia of Asia Minor 1397 BC Sisyphus establishes the kingdom of Corinth; institutes Isthmian Games (1326 BC) 1374 BC The city of Troy (Ilium) founded by Troas of Lydia 1313 BC Perseus of Argos founds the city of Mycenae 1300 BC Oedipus marries his mother and reigns in Thebes 1263 BC Temple of Apollo at Delphi built; Jason and the Argonauts undertake their expedition 1257 BC Theseus of Athens voyages to King Minos of Crete; frees Athens from Minoan subjugation 1240 BC Heracles (Hercules), great-grandson of Perseus, reigns in Mycenae; founds Olympic Games 1194 BC Paris of Troy steals Helen of Sparta; Trojan War begins between Greece and Troy 1184 BC Fall of Troy to the Greeks; Troy burned, inhabitants put to the sword 1124 BC Barbarian and Dorian invasions of the Greek mainland Greek (Ionian) settlement of the Aegean islands and the western coast of Asia Minor 1115 BC Thebes becomes a republic and remains so until its overthrow by Alexander in 335 BC 1068 BC Codrus, the last king of Athens, sacrifices himself to save his city; Athens becomes a republic 1004 BC Solomon dedicates the Temple of the Lord in Jerusalem 1000 BC Athens and Sparta, the two great city-states of Greece, begin to grow in strength 923 BC Lycurgus of Sparta reigns as regent for Charilaus; Laws of Lycurgus established in Sparta 800 BC Homer’s Iliad and Odyssey composed (date is approximate and in dispute) 794 BC Caranus of the Heraclidae founds the kingdom of Macedonia 776 BC Record keeping begins by Olympiads Greek colonization of Sicily and the Mediterranean return to the table of contents 13 Timeline of Ancient GREECE 743 BC The First Messenian War between the Spartans and Messenians 685 BC The Second Messenian War between the Spartans and Messenians 605 BC 2nd wonder of the ancient world: Nebuchadnezzar begins the Hanging Gardens of Babylon 602 BC Draco’s laws enacted in Athens 601 BC Thales the Philosopher is the first to correctly predict an eclipse of the sun 600 BC Age of the Tyrants begins in Greece 593 BC Solon’s laws reform Athens 561 BC Aesop the Phrygian, the fable writer, unjustly sentenced to die at Delphi 560 BC Pisistratus the Tyrant rules in Athens 550 BC 3rd wonder of the ancient world: Temple of Diana at Ephesus completed after 120 years 547 BC Thales the Philosopher dies in the Greek city of Miletus in Asia Minor 546 BC Anaximander the Philosopher dies; invented sundial and astronomical instruments Pythagorus enters Egypt; learns astronomy, geometry, mysticism for 22 years 543 BC Cyrus the Persian subdues Ionia; all the Greek colony cities become tributary to Persia 527 BC Death of Pisistratus, the tyrant of Athens 521 BC Democedes the Greek physician returns to Greece and escapes his Persian escort 510 BC Hippias expelled from Athens, favorably received by Darius in Ecbatana 508 BC Last Athenian Tyrant overthrown; demokratia (rule of the people) begins 500 BC Clistenes begins his rule in Athens; introduces ostracism Rebellion of the Ionian cities (west coast of Asia Minor) from Persian rule; burn Sardis 494-79 BC The Persian War Darius and Xerxes, kings of Persia, try to annex Greece 494 BC Destruction of the first Persian host 490 BC The Battle of Marathon fought, won by Greeks 481 BC Xerxes’ first bridge over the Hellespont destroyed by the sea 480 BC The Battle of Thermopylae fought, won by Persians; Leonidas dies with 300 brave Spartans Themistocles and Aristides rule in Athens; Leonidas rules in Sparta Xerxes and the Persians arrive in a deserted Athens; burn it down The Battle of Salamis fought, won by Greeks 479 BC The Battles of Plataea and Mycale fought, won by Greeks 478 BC Delian League organized 478-04 BC Athenian pre-eminence in Greece 475 BC Pausanius, king of Sparta, enclosed within the temple; perishes from starvation 473 BC Themistocles ostracized from Athens; received by Artaxerxes the Persian king 471 BC Cimon, son of Miltiades, made general of the Athenian army 469 BC Cimon frees Ionia in Asia Minor from Persian rule 469-28 BC Pericles rules in Athens; the Golden Age of Athens Pindar, Sophocles, Euripides, Herodotus, the Sophists, Phidias live and work 466 BC Themistocles commits suicide in Asia rather than lead a Persian army against Greece The Third Messenian War between the Spartans and the Messenians 449 BC Death of Cimon of Athens 446 BC Thirty-Years’ Peace enacted between Athens and Sparta 438 BC Parthenon dedicated on the Athenian Acropolis 433 BC 4th wonder of the ancient world: gold and ivory statue of Jupiter at Olympia, by Phidias 14 return to the table of contents Timeline of Ancient GREECE 431-04 BC The Peloponnesian War between Athens and Sparta 430 BC Hippocrates cures the plague in Athens 428 BC Death of Pericles and Anaxagorus 411 BC Alcibiades made commander of the Athenian army 407 BC Alcibiades replaced as Athenian general; retired to Chersonesus; killed by assassins (404 BC) 405 BC Dionysius the Elder seizes power in Syracuse (Sicily); renowned for tyranny and cruelty Aristophanes, Socrates, Hippocrates, Thucydides live and work 404-371 BC Spartan pre-eminence in Greece 404 BC Rule of the Thirty Tyrants in Athens; overthrown by Thrasybulus (403 BC) 401 BC Battle of Cynaxa and defeat, death of Cyrus ends civil war in Asia 401 BC The Retreat of the Ten Thousand under Xenophon; 1000 miles in 122 days 399 BC Execution of Socrates in Athens 396-94 BC Aegislaus, king of Sparta, wages successful campaign against the Persians in Asia Minor 393 BC Athenians begin rebuilding the walls of their city despite Spartan opposition 387 BC Peace of Antalcidas enacted 382 BC Spartans occupy Thebes by surprise attack 379 BC Twelve Thebans rout Spartan garrison and free their native city 370 BC Epaminondes of Thebes defeats the Lacedaemonians at the Battle of Leuctra 370-62 BC Theban pre-eminence in Greece; Plato writes his famous treatises 368 BC Alexander, tyrant of Thessaly, imprisons Pelopidas of Thebes unjustly 367 BC Death of Dionysius the Elder, tyrant of Syracuse (Sicily) 366-44 BC Dionysius the Younger reigns as tyrant of Syracuse (Sicily) 362 BC Thebans victorious at the Battle of Mantinea; death of Epaminondas 360 BC Philip II of Macedonia begins his reign; Demosthenes, Aristotle live and work 356-46 BC The Sacred War: Phocians defy the Amphictyonic Council and plunder Delphi 356 BC Alexander is born to Philip II of Macedonia 351 BC 5th wonder of the ancient world: Mausoleum of Mausoleus of Caria in Asia Minor 348 BC Death of Plato 338 BC Philip II of Macedonia gains control of Greece at the Battle of Chaeronea 336 BC Death of Philip; Alexander begins his reign at the age of 20 336-23 BC Reign of Alexander the Great of Macedonia 335 BC Thebes revolts; Alexander levels Thebes to the ground, maintains control of Greece 334 BC Alexander enters Asia with 30,000 Macedonians, 5000 horse; victorious at Granicus Alexander liberates Ionia, restores their democracies, relieves them of their Persian tribute 333 BC Alexander cuts the Gordion knot; victorious over the Persians at the Battle of Issus 332 BC Alexander concludes the siege of Tyre; visits Jerusalem; gains Egypt and founds Alexandria 331 BC Greeks victorious at the Battle of Arbela; Alexander conquers Babylon, Susa, and Persepolis 330 BC Alexander pursues Darius into Parthia where Darius is killed by his own attendants 329 BC Alexander quells the final resistance of Persian rebels in Bactria and Sogdiana 328-27 BC Alexander continues his conquest into India; subdues Porus; stops at the Hyphasis River 327-25 BC Alexander’s hazardous return journey down the Indus River and along the seacoast 325-23 BC Unjust cruelty and riotous living mark Alexander’s return to Susa, Ecbatana, and Babylon 323 BC Gluttony and drunkenness cause Alexander’s death at Babylon return to the table of contents 15 Timeline of Ancient GREECE 323-276 BC Wars for control of Alexander’s Empire 322 BC Antipater, regent of Macedonia, quells the Greek rebellion urged by Demosthenes 321 BC Perdiccas, leader of the regents, murdered by his own men in Egypt 320 BC Ptolemy, regent of Egypt, invades Jerusalem on the Sabbath, enslaves 100,000 Jews 318 BC Death of Phocion, the Last of the Athenians 311 BC Roxane, Alexander’s widow, and their son, murdered at the command of Cassander 306 BC Alexander’s generals take the title of kings and put on royal crowns 301 BC Battle of Ipsus temporarily settles division of Alexander’s Empire among his generals 294 BC Demetrius Poliocretes besieges Athens but pardons the Athenians 290 BC 6th wonder of the ancient world: bronze Colossus of Rhodes; felled by earthquake in 222 BC 288 BC Demetrius expelled from Macedonia 284 BC Death of Demetrius in Seleucus’ prison in Asia; death of Ptolemy I in Egypt Rise of the Achaean and Aetolian Leagues in Greece; Euclid, Archimedes live and work 7th wonder of the ancient world: Pharos Lighthouse of Alexandria; 550 feet high 281 BC Death of Lysimachus in battle with Seleucus 280 BC Seleucus murdered; death of the last of Alexander’s generals 279-8 BC Gauls invade Greece; they settle in Galatia in Asia Minor which is named from them 277 BC Septuagint translation of the Scriptures made in Alexandria for Ptolemy Philadelphus 276 BC Peace concluded between Antigonus Gonatus of Macedonia and Antiochus Soter of Asia Ends the war for control of Alexander’s Empire 270 BC Rome gains control of Greek colony cities in Italy 251 BC The Greek patriot Aratus frees Sicyon from its tyrant 245-41 BC Agis of Sparta reigns; attempts to restore Laws of Lycurgus in Sparta 243 BC Aratus seizes the Acrocorinthus from the Macedonians 241 BC Rome acquires Greek colony of Sicily as the victor in the First Punic War with Carthage 235 BC Cleomenes becomes king of Sparta and completes Agis’ reforms 223-187 BC Reign of Antiochus III, the Great, Greek king of Syria 222 BC Antigonus Doson of Macedonia becomes the first foreign conqueror of Sparta 220-17 BC War of the Two Leagues between the Aetolian and Achaean Leagues in Greece 217 BC Ptolemy IV Philopater attempts to enter the Holy of Holies in Jerusalem and is denied 211 BC Sparta and the Aetolians conclude a treaty with Rome 207 BC Nabis usurps power in Sparta and rules as a cruel tyrant 201 BC Philopoemen frees Sparta from the tyranny of Nabis 198 BC Antiochus the Great succeeds in gaining Palestine and Judea from Ptolemy 197 BC Rome conquers Macedonia and makes it a Roman province 175-64 BC Reign of Antiochus Epiphanes, Greek king of Syria 170 BC Antiochus Epiphanes plunders the Temple; sacrifices to the abomination of desolation 168 BC Mattathias refuses to sacrifice to the Greek gods; Maccabean revolt in Judea begins 167 BC Romans unjustly send 1000 Achaeans to trial and exile in Rome 165 BC Maccabees retake Jerusalem; purify the Temple 3-1/2 years after its desecration 150 BC Exiled Achaeans, finally allowed to return, spark Greek insurrection against Rome 146 BC Rome conquers Corinth and makes Greece a Roman province (named Achaia) 145 BC Maccabees free all Judea from Graeco-Syrian dominion; conclude treaty with Rome 16 return to the table of contents TIMELINE of ANCIENT R O M E. Many dates before 700 BC are approximate or in dispute. 2242 BC The Tower of Babel dispersion, the people scattered, and the nations founded 1856 BC Inachus of Phoenicia (or Egypt) arrives in Greece (Arcadia), founds the city of Argos 1710 BC Oenotrus of Argos arrives in Italy, founds Oenotria (Magna Graecia) 1540 BC The second emigration of Pelasgians, from Thessaly in Greece, arrives in Italy 1493 BC Cadmus of Phoenicia founds the city of Thebes in Greece, introduces Phoenician alphabet 1345 BC Janus founds the city of Latium in Italy 1263 BC Evander of Arcadia arrives in Italy, encourages agriculture and introduces alphabet 1184 BC Fall of Troy to the Greeks, Aeneas escapes the burning city with a small band of survivors 1182 BC Aeneas arrives in Italy, marries the daughter of the king of Latium, and founds Lavinium 1152 BC Ascanius, son of Aeneas, founds the city of Alba Longa 869 BC Dido, sister of Pygmalion, king of Tyre in Phoenicia, founds Carthage in Africa 795 BC Numitor deposed by Amulius, reinstated as king of Alba Longa in 754 BC 753 BC Romulus founds the city of Rome on the seven hills of the Tiber river 734 BC Archias of Corinth founds Syracuse on Sicily 730 BC Capture of the Sabine women by the Romans 715 BC Numa Pompilius, a virtuous king, begins his reign in Rome 670 BC The Horatii vanquish the Curiatii; Alba Longa destroyed and the Albans removed to Rome 616 BC Romans defeat the Latins under Tarquin I 550 BC Republic of Carthage established; Carthage boasts a considerable army and navy 534 BC Tarquinius Superbus begins his reign in Rome; drains Roman Forum 518 BC Disgrace and death of Lucretia 509 BC The Tarquins expelled; Brutus becomes the first Consul; Roman Republic established Horatius makes his heroic stand at the bridge over the Tiber Mucius the Left-Handed defies Porsena, king of Clusium 499 BC Romans defeat the Latins at Lake Regillus 490 BC Famine in Rome, a second severe famine occurs in 440 BC Coriolanus leads the Volscians against Rome 460 BC Cincinnatus serves as dictator for 17 days; routes the Aequi and resigns 450 BC Twelve Tables of Roman laws established under the decemvirs 449 BC Virginia killed by her father to save her from Appius Claudius 405-396 BC Rome lays siege to and captures Veii 390 BC The Gauls under Brennus enter and burn Rome; Rome rebuilt in 389 BC Camillus defeats Brennus; the Fabii serve as ambassadors of Rome 366 BC Plebeians in Rome allowed to have consuls 361 BC Curtius leaps into the chasm in the Forum of Rome 321 BC The battle of the Caudine Forks between the Romans and the Samnites 312 BC The Appian Way, the first Roman military road (350 miles long), constructed 292 BC Rome conquers the Samnites of southern Italy return to the table of contents 17 Timeline of Ancient RomE 283 BC Rome conquers Etruria (Tuscany) 280-275 BC King Pyrrhus of Epirus aids Greek colony cities in Italy; defeated by Romans 270 BC Rome conquers Greek colony cities in Italy (Magna Graecia) 266 BC All of Italy is now subdued to Rome 264-41 BC First Punic War between Rome and Carthage; Rome gains part of Sicily and Corsica 260 BC First Roman fleet built 256-50 BC Regulus imprisoned in Carthage; returns to prison and death rather than break his word 221-18 BC Hannibal commands Carthaginian army in Spain; captures Sagantum (ally of Rome) 218-02 BC Second Punic War between Rome and Carthage 217 BC Hannibal crosses the Alps with elephants; invades Italy 216 BC Hannibal defeats Romans at Cannae 215 BC Hannibal proceeds to southern Italy; Carthage makes alliance with Syracuse in Sicily 213-11 BC Rome besieges and takes Syracuse; Archimedes slain; Hannibal marches on Rome 211-06 BC Scipio Africanus, general of the Roman army in Spain, defeats Hasdrubal of Carthage 204 BC Scipio invades Africa; marches on Carthage; Hannibal recalled to Carthage 202 BC The Romans defeat Hannibal and the Carthaginians at Zama; Carthage subject to Rome 196 BC Rome conquers Macedonia and makes it a Roman province Government of the Maccabees begins in Judea 184 BC Cato becomes Censor of Rome 149-6 BC Third Punic War between Rome and Carthage 146 BC Rome destroys Carthage; Rome conquers Corinth and makes Greece a Roman province 133 BC Spain, previously a colony of Carthage, becomes a Roman province Tiberius Gracchus becomes Tribune in Rome 123-1 BC Caius Gracchus becomes Tribune; massacre of the supporters of the Gracchi authorized 112-06 BC Romans under Marius defeat Jugurtha; Rome expands its provinces in Africa 107-100 BC Marius elected Consul six times; reforms Roman army 107-79 BC Civil war in the Roman Republic between Marius and Sulla 102-01 BC Romans under Marius defeat the Cimbri and Teutons 86 BC Mithridates, king of Pontus, puts to death all the Romans in Asia Minor; defeated by Sulla 73-1 BC Spartacus leads revolt of slaves; ultimately defeated and crucified by Romans 66-3 BC Pompey defeats Mithridates and Antiochus of Syria; Syria becomes a Roman province 63 BC Cicero becomes Consul of Rome; exposes Catiline conspiracy 60 BC First Triumvirate formed: Julius Caesar, Crassus, and Pompey 58-50 BC Julius Caesar subdues Gaul (France); Gaul becomes a Roman province 55-4 BC Caesar invades Britain twice from Gaul 53 BC Crassus invades Parthia and is slain 49 BC Caesar crosses the Rubicon with an army; civil war ensues between Caesar and Pompey 48 BC Caesar defeats Pompey at Pharsalus and becomes sole dictator 44 BC Caesar slain by Brutus in the senate on the ides of March (March 15th) 43 BC Second Triumvirate formed: the tribunes Octavius, Lepidus, and Mark Antony 42 BC Octavius and Antony defeat Brutus and Cassius at Philippi 31-30 BC Octavius defeats Antony and Cleopatra at Actium; Egypt becomes a Roman province Opponents of the Triumvirate, including Cicero, murdered 18 return to the table of contents Timeline 30 BC of Ancient RomE Octavius assumes the imperial purple; becomes Augustus Caeasr, the first emperor of Rome Roman Republic ends after 479 years (509 BC to 30 BC) 4 BC-0 AD Jesus Christ born in Bethlehem of Judea; the Christian era begins 9 AD Romans under Varus defeated by Germans under Arminius; Rhine becomes Roman frontier 14-37 AD Tiberius, emperor of the Roman Empire 19 AD The poet Virgil dies; authored The Aeneid 27-33 AD Jesus Christ crucified on Passover by Pontius Pilate, raised from the dead after three days 37-41 AD Caligula, emperor of the Roman Empire 41-54 AD Claudius, emperor of the Roman Empire 43 AD Caractacus, chief in Britain, defeated by Claudius; Britain becomes a Roman province 46 AD The biographer Plutarch born; authored Parallel Lives of the Noble Greeks and Romans 50 AD First council of apostles at Jerusalem (Acts 15) 52-96 AD New Testament written as letters to the first Christian churches in the Roman Empire 54-68 AD Nero, emperor of the Roman Empire 64 AD Fire of Rome, started by Nero; Nero lays the blame for the fire with the Christians 64-8 AD First persecution of the Christians under Nero; Peter crucified upside down; Paul beheaded 66 AD Jewish revolt against Rome begins 68 AD Nero commits suicide when the Roman army tires of his cruelty and tyranny, and revolts Three emperors reign in succession: Galba, Otho, and Vitellius 69-79 AD Vespasian, emperor of the Roman Empire 70 AD Titus destroys Jerusalem; intense suffering of Jews: 1,100,000 miserably perish 73 AD Remnant of Jewish rebels holds out at Masada; commit suicide rather than be taken 79 AD Pompeii and Herculaneum buried by the eruption of Vesuvius; Roman Colosseum dedicated 79-81 AD Titus, emperor of the Roman Empire 81-96 AD Domitian, emperor of the Roman Empire, the last of the 12 Caesars 95-6 AD Second persecution under Domitian; banishment of John to Patmos 96 AD Domitian murdered in a conspiracy planned by his wife 98-117 AD Trajan, emperor of the Roman Empire 101-6 AD Dacia (Romania), Mesopotamia, and Armenia become Roman provinces Under Trajan the empire achieves its greatest extent 106-7 AD Third persecution of the Christians under Trajan; Ignatius, bishop of Antioch, martyred 117-38 AD Hadrian, emperor of the Roman Empire; the first of the Antonine emperors 126 AD Historian Tacitus dies; authored Histories, Annals, Manners and Customs of the Germans 138-61 AD Antoninus Pius, emperor of the Roman Empire 161-80 AD Marcus Aurelius, emperor of the Roman Empire 166-77 AD Fourth persecution of the Christians under Marcus Aurelius Hadrian’s Wall built across Britain to protect Roman Britain from the Picts and Scots Justin martyred; Polycarp, the disciple of John, martyred 180-2 AD Commodus, emperor of the Roman Empire, the last of the Antonines 182-211 AD Septimus Severus, emperor of the Roman Empire 200-13 AD Fifth persecution of the Christians under Severus 211 AD Severus poisoned by his son Caracalla, who succeeded him after murdering his brother 211-84 AD Succession of emperors whose short reigns end by violence return to the table of contents 19 Timeline of Ancient RomE 235-7 AD Sixth persecution of the Christians under the Emperor Maximinus 238 AD Maximinus and his son murdered by the Roman troops, who could not bear his cruelty 249-51 AD Seventh persecution of the Christians under the Emperor Decius 255 AD Romans defeated by the Ostrogoths; Decius and sons slain; barbarian invasions on all sides 257-60 AD Eighth persecution of the Christians under the Emperor Valerian 260 AD Romans defeated by Sapor, king of Persia; Valerian flayed 269-73 AD Egypt taken by Zenobia, queen of Palmyra; Palmyra taken by Romans and razed 275 AD Ninth persecution of the Christians under the Emperor Aurelian; Aurelian murdered 284-305 AD Diocletian, emperor of the Roman Empire 285 AD Diocletian divides the empire into western and eastern halves; Maximinian co-reigns 303-5 AD Tenth, greatest, and last persecution of the Christians under Diocletian 306-37 AD Constantine, emperor; converts to Christianity after he defeats Maxentius (312) 313 AD Constantine ends Christian persecutions and restores freedom of worship; bans crucifixions 324 AD Constantine founds the city of Constantinople; removes capitol of the empire thither (330) 331 AD Heathen temples in Rome destroyed 361-3 AD Julian the Apostate, the nephew of Constantine, emperor of the Roman Empire 364 AD Emperors Valentinian and Valens divide the empire into eastern and western halves 378-95 AD Theodosius, emperor of the Roman Empire of the East in Constantinople 381 AD Second Ecumenical Council of bishops at Constantinople 402 AD Honorius, emperor of the West, removes the capital from Rome to Ravenna 404 AD Jerome translates the Old Testament into Latin (The Vulgate) 410 AD Visigoths under Alaric sack Rome for 6 days 426 AD Roman legions leave Britain to fight barbarian invasions 430 AD Augustine dies; authored Confessions, On Christian Doctrine, The City of God 431 AD Third Ecumenical Council of bishops at Ephesus 450-1 AD Invasion of the Huns into the empire under Atilla; defeated at the Battle of Chalons 455 AD Vandals under Genseric sack Rome 476 AD Germans under Odoacer sack Rome; Odoacer deposes Emperor Augustus Romulus Western Roman Empire ends after 506 years (from 30 BC to 476 AD) Eastern Roman Empire continues at Constantinople until conquered by Turks in 1453 AD 20 return to the table of contents T i mel ine of the M idd l e A g e s. Many dates before 700 BC are approximate or in dispute. 2242 BC The Tower of Babel dispersion, the people scattered, and the nations founded The Iberians, descended from Tubal the son of Japheth, eventually settle Spain The Celts and Gauls, from Gomer the son of Japheth, eventually settle Gaul and Britain The Teutons, from Ashchenaz the son of Gomer, settle Germany and Eastern Europe The Scythians (Slavs or Tartars), from Magog the son of Japtheth, settle central Asia 1300 BC The Phoenicians first reach the southern shore of Gaul, and establish trade 1184 BC Aeneas escapes Troy; his descendant Brutus colonizes Britain, which is named after him 900 BC The Rhodians establish trade in Gaul; name the Rhone River after their island 600 BC Greek colonists found Marseilles in Gaul, and many other cities in southern France 550 BC Some Gauls cross the Alps; found Milan and Cisalpine Gaul (northern Italy) 220-133 BC Cisalpine Gaul (220 BC) and Spain (133 BC) become Roman provinces 125-20 BC Southern Transalpine Gaul becomes a Roman province, known as the Province (Provence) 102-01 BC Marius defeats the Cimbri and the Teutons near Aix 70 BC Odin (Woden) settles Scandinavia, becomes the first king of the Northmen 58-50 BC Julius Caesar subdues Gaul; leads two campaigns to Britain (55-54 BC) 9 AD Germans under Arminius defeat Romans under Varus; Rhine becomes Roman frontier 43 AD Caractacus, chief in Britain, defeated by Claudius; Britain becomes a Roman province 62 AD Romans humiliate Queen Boadicea and her daughters; rebellion of the Britons quelled 64-305 AD Ten terrible persecutions of the Christians under the Roman emperors 121 AD Hadrian’s Wall built across Britain to protect Roman Britain from the Picts and Scots 177 AD First Christian martyrs of Lyons in Gaul seal their confession with their blood 178 AD First Christian missionaries preach in Britain; Britons become Christians 255 AD Romans under Decius defeated by the Ostrogoths; barbarian invasions on all sides 313 AD Edict of Milan: Christian persecutions end, religious freedom restored; crucifixions banned 325 AD First Ecumenical Council of bishops at Nicaea: “Christ is fully divine” 331 AD Heathen temples in Rome destroyed 355 AD Julian the Apostate restores order in Gaul; defeats seven German chiefs; meets the Franks 380 AD Theodosius, Roman emperor, makes Christianity the state religion of the Empire 381 AD Second Ecumenical Council of bishops at Constantinople: “Christ is fully human” 397 AD Death of St. Martin of Tours in Gaul 404 AD Jerome translates the Old and New Testaments into Latin (The Vulgate) 406 AD Invasion of Vandals and Burgundians into the Roman Empire 410 AD Visigoths under Alaric sack Rome for 6 days 426 AD Roman legions leave Britain to fight barbarian invasions 430 AD Augustine dies; authored Confessions, On Christian Doctrine, The City of God 431 AD Third Ecumenical Council of bishops at Ephesus: “Christ is a unified person” return to the table of contents 21 Ti mel ine o f th e mIdd l e Ag es 432 Patrick captured by Irish slavers; escapes and becomes missionary to Ireland 449 Vortigern invites the Angles and Saxons to Britain to fight against the Picts and Scots 450-51 Invasion of the Huns into the Empire under Atilla; defeated at the Battle of Châlons 451 Fourth Ecumenical Council at Chalcedon: “Christ is human and divine in one person” 454 Beginning of the Saxon Heptarchy, the seven kingdoms of the Anglo-Saxons, in Britain 455 Vandals under Genseric sack Rome 476 Germans sack Rome; Odoacer becomes king of the Romans; end of the Empire of the West 480-543 Saint Benedict establishes the Benedictine order of monks 481-511 Reign of Clovis; establishes the supremacy of the Salian Franks in Gaul 493-526 Theodoric the Great establishes the kingdom of the Ostrogoths in Italy 496 Battle of Tolbiac; Clovis is baptized on Christmas Day with 3000 of his subjects 500-42 Arthur prevails over the Saxons; Britons driven into Wales and Brittany after his death 527-65 Reign of Justinian the Great, Eastern emperor; closes the schools of philosophy in Athens 547 Gildas, a Briton monk, writes the history of the conquest of the Britons 548-54 Justinian recovers Africa from the Vandals (548) and Italy from the Ostrogoths (554) 563 Columba, Irish missionary to Scotland, founds monastery on Iona 561-613 War rages between Brunhilda of Austrasia and Fredegonda of Neustria 568 The Lombards invade and conquer northern Italy, found the kingdom of Lombardy 570-632 Mohammed preaches Islam in Arabia; Flight of the Prophet from Mecca to Medina (622) 590-604 Gregory the Great is pope at Rome 596 Augustine arrives in Kent of England; works among and converts many Anglo-Saxons 628-38 Reign of Good King Dagobert in France 638 Jerusalem, Palestine, and Syria fall to the Saracens 642-98 Egypt (642), Persia (651), and North Africa (698) fall to the Saracens 670 Caedmon, Saxon servant, composes first poetry in English about the Creation 687-714 Pepin of Heristal, Austrasian Mayor of the Palace, conquers all of northern France 711 Spain falls to the Saracens 717-54 Boniface, bishop to the Germans, works among the Germans beyond the Rhine 731-35 Bede, Saxon monk, writes Ecclesiastical History of the English; translates one Gospel 732 Charles the Hammer, Mayor of the Palace, defeats the Saracens at Tours/Poitiers 741-51 Pepin the Short, Mayor of the Palace; becomes king of the Franks in 751 756 Pepin grants lands won from the Lombards to the pope; beginning of the Papal States 771-814 Charlemagne reigns in France, Germany, and Italy; wars with the Saxons and Saracens 774 Charlemagne crosses the Alps and ends the kingdom of Lombardy in northern Italy 793-911 Viking raids terrorize Ireland, England, Spain, France, Germany, and southern Italy 794 Ragnor Logbrod, king of the Danes; killed by King Aella of the Anglo-Saxons 800 Charlemagne crowned on Christmas Day in Rome as Holy Roman Emperor 802-37 Egbert, king of Wessex, unifies the Anglo-Saxon Heptarchy into the nation of England 814-40 Reign of Louis the Meek, king of France and Holy Roman Emperor 833 Louis’ sons prevail over him by treachery on the Field of Lies 841 Louis’ sons quarrel over the division of the empire; Battle of the Brothers at Fontenay 22 return to the table of contents Ti mel ine o f th e mIdd l e Ag es 842 Strassburg Oath taken by Ludwig, king of Germany, and Charles, king of France 843 Emperor Lothair signs the Treaty of Verdun dividing France, Italy, and Germany 845 Vikings colonize Iceland 849-901 Alfred the Great founds the first English navy and Oxford College; translates the Gospels 862 Rurik, a Viking chief, establishes the first government in Russia 863 Cyril, missionary to the Slavs, invents the Cyrillic alphabet and translates the Gospels 866 Robert the Strong, count of Paris, falls in battle against the Normans 878 Alfred signs the Treaty of Wedmore; Danes in the Danelagh become Christians 882 Vikings arrive in Constantinople; serve as the Eastern emperor’s Varangian Guard 885 Normans under Rollo lay siege to Paris, Charles the Fat makes a shameful treaty; deposed 887-98 Civil war in France between the Carolingians and Eudes, the count of Paris 911 Charles the Simple gives Normandy to Rollo in exchange for peace and protection End of Carolingian rulers in Germany; Conrad of Franconia becomes king 919-36 Reign of Henry the Fowler of Saxony; founds Saxon line of kings in Germany 922-56 Robert, count of Paris, becomes king of France after the death of Charles 925-40 Athelstan, grandson of Alfred, translates the entire Scriptures into Anglo-Saxon 936-73 Reign of Otto the Great, king of Germany; crowned emperor by the pope (961) 936-85 Harold Bluetooth, king of Denmark; conquered by Otto; brings Christianity to Denmark 948-78 The priest Dunstan is the chief counselor for four kings of the Anglo-Saxons 956-87 Hugh Capet, count of Paris, reigns in France through Carolingian puppet kings 961-83 Otto II succeeds his father as king of Germany; crowned emperor by the pope (980) 966 Duke Mieszko of Poland becomes a Christian; Catholic duchy of Poland founded 978 Death of Edward the Martyr, king of England; reign of Ethelred the Unready begins 982 Viking Eric the Red explores Greenland 983-1002 Otto III succeeds his father as king of Germany; crowned emperor by the pope (996) 987 Hugh Capet becomes king in his own right; founds Capetian dynasty of French kings 989 Duke Vladimir of Russia becomes a Christian; Orthodox kingdom of Russia founded 991 Ethelred the Unready institutes the Danegeld tax to pay off the Danish invaders 994-1028 Olaf, king of Norway, brings Christianity to Norway; missionaries evangelize Sweden 996-1031 Robert the Pious, virtuous and beloved king of France; mourned at his death 1000 General period of unrest, famine, and plague, due to the expectation of the Last Judgment King Stephen of Hungary becomes a Christian; Leif Ericsson lands in North America Norman adventurers dispute the Byzantines for southern Italy and gain a foothold 1002 St. Brice’s Day massacre of Danish inhabitants of England; sparks English-Danish war 1002-24 Reign of Henry II (St. Heinrich); the last of the Saxon emperors 1014 Danish kings rule in England, beginning with King Canute (1014-35) 1031-60 Reign of Henry I, son of Robert the Pious, king of France; Truce of God established 1035-66 Reign of Edward the Confessor, son of Ethelred, king of England 1038-56 Reign of Heinrich III, king of Germany; appoints four popes during his reign 1039-57 Macbeth slays Duncan of Scotland and usurps the throne; slain in turn by Duncan’s son 1040-99 El Cid, knight of Christian Spain, performs many exploits against the Spanish Moors return to the table of contents 23 Ti mel ine o f th e mIdd l e Ag es 1054 Schism between the Roman Catholic (Latin; West) and Orthodox (Greek; East) Churches 1056-1106 Reign of Heinrich IV of Germany; defies Pope Gregory VII, who deposes and restores him 1059 Church decree ends lay investure; requires celibacy of all clergy, not monks only 1060-1108 Reign of Philip I, son of Henry I, king of France 1065-71 Palestine, Jerusalem, and Syria fall to the Seldjucid Turks 1066 Death of Edward the Confessor; Saxons, Danes, and Normans all claim the English throne Harold defeats Danes at Stamford Bridge; William defeats Harold at Hastings 1087-1100 Reign of William II of England; Anselm, founder of scholasticism, becomes archbishop 1094 Peter the Hermit and Pope Urban II preach the First Crusade at Clermont in France 1099 Godfrey of Bouillon and the crusaders take Jerusalem; kingdom of Jerusalem founded 1100-35 Reign of Henry I, son of William the Conqueror, king of England 1108-37 Reign of Louis VI, son of Philip I, king of France; tragic romance of Abélard and Héloïse 1119 Battle of Brenneville between Henry I and Louis VI; English victorious due to their armor 1123 First Lateran Council confirms the decrees of 1059 and the Concordat of Wurms 1125-37 Reign of Lothair II, king of Germany and Holy Roman Emperor (1133) 1130 Norman kingdom of Sicily founded; comprising Norman lands in southern Italy and Sicily 1135-53 War in England between Matilda and Stephen; Treaty of Wallingford ends the conflict 1137-80 Reign of Louis VII, son of Louis VI, king of France; divorces Eleanor of Aquitaine (1152) 1138-52 Reign of Conrad III, first Hohenstaufen king of Germany 1139 Portugal, formerly a county of Castile, becomes an independent Christian kingdom 1146 Edessa falls to the Turks (1144); St. Bernard of Clairvaux preaches the Second Crusade 1147-49 Second Crusade under Conrad III and Louis VII; unsuccessful siege of Damascus 1152-90 Reign of Frederick Barbarossa, king of Germany and Holy Roman Emperor (1155) 1154-89 Reign of Henry II, son of Matilda and the duke of Anjou; first Plantagenet king of England 1170 Murder of Thomas à Becket, archbishop of Canterbury 1171-2 Henry II of England conquers a large portion of Ireland; subdues northern Wales 1176-77 Lombard League defeats Frederick Barbarossa; he makes peace with Pope Alexander III 1180-1223 Reign of Philip II, Augustus, son of Louis VII, king of France 1184 Frederick hosts the great festival at Mainz; marries his son to Constance of Sicily (1186) 1187 Latin kingdom of Jerusalem falls to the Turks under Saladin 1189-99 Reign of Richard I, the Lion-Heart, king of England; vassal to Philip II for lands in France 1189-92 Third Crusade: siege of Acre (1191); Richard I, Philip II, and Leopold of Austria quarrel 1190-97 Reign of Heinrich VI, king of Germany; Holy Roman Emperor 1193-94 Richard I imprisoned by Leopold of Austria; granted release by Emperor Heinrich VI 1199-1216 Reign of John Lackland, brother of Richard the Lion-Hearted, king of England 1202-4 Fourth Crusade against the Eastern Christians: Latin knights conquer Constantinople 1208 Albingensian Crusade against heretics in southern France 1208-13 England under the interdict of the pope; England becomes a fief of the Church (1213) 1209 Saint Francis founds the Franciscan order of friars 1212-50 Reign of Frederick II, king of Sicily, Germany, and Jerusalem; Holy Roman Emperor 1214 Battle of Bouvines: France defeats the allied armies of England, Flanders, and Germany 24 return to the table of contents Ti mel ine o f th e mIdd l e Ag es 1215 John Lackland signs the Magna Charta under duress on the meadow of Runnymede 1216 Saint Dominic founds the Dominican order of friars 1216-72 Reign of Henry III, son of John Lackland, king of England 1217-21 Fifth Crusade against Egypt; Damietta taken; then lost 1126-70 Reign of Louis IX, grandson of Philip Augustus, king of France (under regency until 1236) 1228-9 Sixth Crusade undertaken by Frederick II; treaty with Turks gives Jerusalem to Frederick 1248-54 Seventh Crusade undertaken by Louis IX; captures Damietta, strengthens Christian cities 1263-7 Barons’ War between Henry III of England and his noblemen; the king prevails 1265 Parliament of Lords and Commons first established in England 1267-73 Thomas Aquinas, Italian scholastic philosopher, writes Summa Theologica 1270 Eighth Crusade undertaken by Louis IX; cut short by his death 1270-85 Reign of Philip III, the Bold, son of Louis IX, king of France 1271-2 Ninth and last Crusade undertaken by Prince Edward of England 1272-1307 Reign of Edward I, son of Henry III, king of England 1273-91 Reign of Rudolf of Hapsburg of Germany; founder of the Hapsburg line of German kings 1277-82 Edward I of England conquers Llewelyn of Wales; Wales becomes a fief of England 1282 Sicily passes from the Normans (1194), Germans (1266), and French; Sicilian Vespers 1285-1314 Reign of Philip IV, the Handsome, son of Philip III, king of France 1290 Jews expelled from England, also expelled from France (1392) and Spain (1492) 1291 Acre in Palestine, the last Christian stronghold, falls to the Turks 1296 Edward I of England annexes Scotland; Coronation Stone removed 1297-1306 William Wallace wages war against England for Scotland’s independence 1298 Battle of Wurms: Albrecht of Hapsburg defeats Aldof of Nassau; becomes king 1302 Matins of Bruges in Flanders; massacre of 3000 Frenchmen; Battle of the Spurs 1303 Philip IV of France imprisons Pope Boniface VIII, who is freed by the people, but then dies 1306-29 Robert I, the Bruce, crowned king of Scotland; continues war for independence 1307-14 Knights Templar arrested and burned at the stake, on the order of Philip IV 1307-27 Reign of Edward II, first Prince of Wales, king of England 1308 William Tell; Swiss Confederation gains its independence from the duchy of Austria 1309-76 Babylonian Captivity of the Church, popes at Avignon as puppets of the French kings 1314 Battle of Bannockburn, Robert I of Scotland defeats the English under Edward II 1314-28 Reign of Philip IV’s three sons in turn: Louis X, Philip V, and Charles IV 1327-77 Reign of Edward III, son of Edward II, king of England 1328-50 Reign of Philip VI, nephew of Philip IV, first of the Valois line of French kings 1328 Treaty of Northampton (Robert the Bruce and Edward III); Scotland independent 1336 Rebellion of the Flemish under James van Arteveld; he asks Edward III for aid 1337-1453 Hundred Years’ War between England and France, instigated by Edward III of England 1340 Naval Battle of Sluis, English defeat the French 1341-65 War of the Two Joans in Brittany over the succession of the holder of the duchy 1346 Battle of Crécy in France; English under the Black Prince defeat the French 1347 Siege of Calais in France; English under Edward III take the town return to the table of contents 25 Ti mel ine o f th e mIdd l e Ag es 1348 The Black Death, the plague, sweeps Europe; one third of the population killed 1350-64 Reign of John II, the Good, son of Philip VI, king of France 1356 Battle of Poitiers in France; the Black Prince takes John II of France captive 1358 Jacquerie, or Revolt of the Peasants, of France; finally put down by the nobles 1360 Treaty of Brétigny; John II returns to France; Edward III receives lands and ransom 1364 The French under Du Guesclin defeat the army of Navarre at Mantes 1364-80 Reign of Charles V, the Wise, son of John II, king of France 1377-99 Reign of Richard II, son of the Black Prince; Chaucer writes The Canterbury Tales 1378 Great Schism in the Church precipitated by the return of the popes to Rome 1380-1422 Reign of Charles VI, son of Charles V, king of France (in regency until 1388) 1381 Peasants’ Revolt in England under Wat Tyler; ably settled by Richard II 1382 Battle near Courtrai, in Flanders; French defeat the Flemish and rescue their spurs 1399-1413 Reign of Henry IV Bolingbroke, king of England, first of the Lancastrian kings of England 1403 Battle of Shrewsbury; Percy Rebellion quelled by Henry IV 1407-35 Rivalry between the Armagnacs and the Burgundians cause misery in France 1413-22 Reign of Henry V, son of Henry IV, king of England 1415 Battle of Agincourt in France; English under Henry V defeat the French 1418 Council of Constance ends the Great Schism and settles the papacy in Rome 1420 Treaty of Troyes gives Henry V the hand of Princess Catherine and France 1422-61 Reign of Henry VI, son of Henry V, king of France and England 1429 Joan of Arc lifts the siege of Orleans; escorts Charles VII to Rheims to be crowned 1430-1 Joan betrayed at Compiègne; sold to the English; trial and martyrdom at Rouen in France 1435 Treaty of Arras: Burgundians become allies of Charles VII against the English 1437 English driven out of Paris; Charles VII begins rebuilding the country 1453 English driven out of Guienne and Normandy; Hundred Years’ War ends Turks conquer Constantinople; end of the Roman Empire of the East 1454 Printing invented; Henry VI of England becomes insane; duke of York is named Protector 1455-85 The War of the Roses between the Lancastrians (red rose) and the Yorks (white rose) 1461 Henry VI captured; Edward, duke of York, proclaimed King Edward IV of England 1461-83 Reign of Louis XI, son of Charles VII, king of France 1470 Warwick switches his allegiance from Edward to Henry; Henry replaced on the throne 1471 Warwick Kingmaker killed at the Battle of Barnet; Edward regains the throne Battle of Tewkesbury secures the crown for the Yorks; Henry VI and his heir killed 1472 Women defend Beauvais against the attack of Charles the Bold, duke of Burgundy 1476 Caxton brings the printing press to London 1477 Charles the Bold slain at the battle of Nancy; Louis XI annexes Burgundy 1483 Richard, duke of Gloucester, murders Edward IV’s sons; ascends the throne as Richard III 1485 Battle of Bosworth; Henry Tudor (Lancaster) defeats Richard III (York) End of the War of the Roses; of feudalism; and of the Middle Ages 26 return to the table of contents T I M E L I N E of the R E N A I S S A N C E and R E F O R M A T I O N. 452 Refugees fleeing barbarian invasions first establish Venice 727 First doge elected in the republic of Venice 1065-71 Syria, Palestine fall to the Seljuk Turks; they defeat the Byzantines, settle in Asia Minor 1184 Pope asks bishops to “inquire” into people’s beliefs, the beginning of the Inquisition 1206 Genghis Khan (1162-1227) reigns over the Mongols, begins course of conquest 1215 Pope rules heretics can be stripped of property, and punished by the state 1220 Pope takes responsibility of Inquisition from bishops and gives it to the Dominicans 1229 Inquisition regulated, heretics executed by the state by burning at the stake 1252 Final change made to Inquisition: pope authorizes use of torture to gain confessions 1255-1380 Venice and Genoa at war for control of Mediterranean shipping 1260-79 Kublai Khan (1215-94), grandson of Genghis, conquers China, establishes Mongol dynasty 1275-92 Marco Polo of Venice (1254-1324): visits China and serves Kublai Khan, returns to Venice (1295), captured by the Genoese (1298), writes The Travels of Marco Polo (1299) 1290 Englishman Roger Bacon popularizes the use of gunpowder in Europe 1304 Giotto di Bondone (1266-1337), paints the 38 frescoes in the Scrovegni Chapel in Padua 1309-78 Babylonian Captivity of the Church: popes reside in Avignon, France rather than Rome 1311 Council of Ten is created to govern the republic of Venice 1341 Italian poet Petrarch (1304-74) crowned Poet Laureate at the Capitol in Rome 1353 Ottoman Turks take Thrace and gain a foothold in Europe 1356 Golden Bull provides for seven electors of the Holy Roman Empire 1369 Tamerlane (1336-1405), Mongolian chief, begins ravages of Asia, Russia, Near East, India 1374-8 John Wycliffe (1328-84), Oxford professor, condemns Church abuses, translates Vulgate into English (1380-84), teachings condemned as heretical 1378 Papacy returns to Rome under Pope Gregory XI 1378-1402 Gian Galeazzo Visconti rules Milan; conquers much Italian territory, dies of plague 1378-1417 Great Schism of the Papacy: competing French and Italian popes 1383 Richard II of England weds Anne of Bohemia; Wycliffe’s teachings spread to Prague 1389 Beyazid (1347-1403) becomes sultan of the Ottoman Turks: defeats Christians at Nicopolis (1396), besieges Constantinople, and is defeated by Tamerlane at Angora (1402) 1397 Manuel Chrysoloras of Constantinople becomes professor of Greek at Florence Founding of the Medici Bank in Florence 1400s Period of the greatest height of the Venetian empire 1401 Lorenzo Ghiberti (1378-1455): Florentine sculptor designs famous baptistery doors 1402 Jan Hus (1370-1415), Bohemian professor, begins preaching the reform ideas in Prague 1409 Council of Pisa: Two rival popes deposed, a third elected; three popes claim sovereignty 1414-8 Council of Constance: ends papal schism, condemns and burns Jan Hus as a heretic 1418-66 Donatello (1386-1466), a Florentine, recognized as greatest sculptor since classical Rome 1420-34 Filippo Brunelleschi (1377-1446), Florentine, designs dome of the Santa Maria del Fiore Return to the Table of Contents 27 Timeline of the Renaissance & Reformation 1434 Cosimo de’ Medici (1389-1464) becomes ruler of Florence, Italy 1435 Leon Baptista Alberti (1404-72), writes the Treatise on Painting, guidebook on perspective 1440 Platonic Academy founded in Florence by Cosimo de’ Medici 1440-55 Johannes Gutenberg (1397-1468) invents and perfects printing from moveable metal type 1447-55 Pontificate of Nicholas V, founder of the Vatican Library, patron of the humanists 1450 Francesco I Sforza (1401-66) becomes duke of Milan; founds the Sforza dynasty 1453 Ottoman Turks capture Constantinople and end the Byzantine Empire of the East 1455 Gutenberg Bible printed 1463-79 Ottoman Turks and Venetians at war 1469 Ferdinand of Aragon and Isabella of Castile marry, unite the Christian kingdoms of Spain 1473 Sistine Chapel built by Giovanni de Dolci in Rome 1476 War begins between Ferdinand and Isabella and the Moorish province of Granada 1478 Lorenzo de Medici, the Magnificent, 1449-92, becomes ruler of Florence Inquisition begins in Spain: Jews, Muslims, and Protestants persecuted 1479 Venice signs treaty of Constantinople; pays Ottomans tribute for Black Sea trading rights 1480 Lodovico Sforza seizes power in Milan 1481-1510 Sandro Botticelli (1444-1510), Florentine painter, reaches height of popularity, reknown 1482-1519 Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519), Italian painter, sculptor, architect, musician, engineer, and scientist, reaches height of popularity and reknown 1483-98 Inquisition begins in Spain, Torquemada is Inquisitor General, 2000 burned at stake Charles VIII begins reign in France (1470-98) 1484 Papal Bull issued condemning witchcraft; Inquisitors sent to Germany 1485-1509 Henry VII of England (1457-1509): first Tudor king, crowned on Bosworth battlefield 1486-98 Savonarola (1452-98) begins preaching against vices of popes, cardinals, clergy, and people 1492 Ferdinand and Isabella conquer the Muslim kingdom of Granada; Jews expelled 1492-1503 Pontificate of Alexander VI (1431-1503); died by poison he had prepared for another 1493-1519 Maximilian I of Austria (1459-1519): Holy Roman Emperor; gains Flanders and Low Countries for the house of Hapsburg by marriage (Mary of Burgundy) 1494-95 First Italian War: France invades Italy; Holy League forces French withdrawal 1494 Lorenzo de’ Medici dies; Medici driven out of Florence, republic established 1495-9 Perkin Warbeck impersonates Richard of York, claims throne of England, is executed 1498 Girolamo Savonarola (1452-98), Dominican reformer of Florence, burned at the stake 1498-1515 Louis XII of France (1462-1515) reigns, continues Italian wars 1499 Caesar Borgia (1475-1507), becomes ruthless captain of the papal armies Swiss cantons gain their independence from Emperor Maximilian I and the Hapsburgs 1500-01 Second Italian War: Louis XII of France conquers Milan, divides Naples with Spain 1501 Papal Bull orders the burning of books which question the pope’s or Church’s authority 1502 France and Spain at war; Frederick, elector of Saxony, establishes Wittenberg University 1503-13 Pontificate of Julius II (1443-1513), waged wars in Italy his entire period of sovereignty 1504-50 Michelangelo Buonarroti (1475-1564), reaches height of reknown: David in 1504; Sistine Chapel ceiling in 1534; dome of St. Peter’s in 1550 1505 Treaty of Blois between France and Spain: France keeps Milan, Spain gains Naples 1505-07 Raphael Santi (1483-1520) well known for Madonnas and the Stanze frescoes (1508-17) 28 Return to the Table of Contents Timeline of the Renaissance & Reformation 1506 Pope Julius II authorizes the sale of indulgences to help pay for St. Peter’s Basilica 1509 Erasmus (1469-1536) writes In Praise of Folly which ridicules Church abuses Venice defeated by the League of Cambrai (pope, France, Spain, Holy Roman Empire) 1509-47 Reign of Henry VIII of England (1491-1547); weds Catherine of Aragon 1510-13 Holy League drives Louis XII of France from Milan and Italy 1512 Medici return to Florence 1513 Giovanni de Medici becomes Pope Leo X, authorizes sale of indulgences for St. Peter’s Machiavelli writes The Prince, it is thought Caesar Borgia was the inspiration 1515-47 Francis I king of France (1494-1547): ideas of the Renaissance encouraged in France 1515 Third Italian War: Francis I of France recaptures Milan at the battle of Marignano Thomas Wolsey (1475-1530) made cardinal and lord chancellor of England 1516 Charles I (1500-58), grandson of Emperor Maximilian, becomes king of Spain 1517 Martin Luther (1483-1542) posts 95 Theses against indulgences on Wittenberg chapel door 1519 Dr. Eck challenges Dr. Luther to a debate; Luther realizes he agrees with Jan Hus 1519-56 Charles I of Spain, of the house of Hapsburg, becomes Emperor Charles V Erasmus publishes the Greek-Latin New Testament and encourages its translation 1519 Ulrich Zwingli (1484-1531) begins the Reformation movement in Switzerland 1520 Francis I of France and Henry VIII of England meet on Field of the Cloth of Gold Papal Bull issued against Luther; Luther burns the Bull and makes final break with Rome Luther publishes Open Letter to the Christian Nobility of the Germans, Babylonian Captivity of the Church; and On the Freedom of a Christian 1520-66 Under Suleiman the Magnificent (1494-1566) the Ottoman Empire reaches greatest height 1520-76 Titian Vecelli (1488-1576), recognized as greatest painter of the Venetian school 1521 Diet of Worms: Luther refuses to recant; pope urges his arrest and execution; Luther escapes into hiding at Wartburg Castle; begins German translation of the Bible 1521-26 First War for the Balance of Power between Francis I of France and Emperor Charles V 1522 Charles V establishes the Inquisition in the Netherlands, which had embraced Luther 1523 First translation of the Bible into French 1524 Erasmus publishes Freedom of the Will 1524-25 German peasants revolt; the Peasants’ War crushed by the nobility 1525 Anabaptist movement begins in Zurich, Switzerland, at Zwingli’s church Luther publishes Bondage of the Will in response to Erasmus William Tyndale (1495-1536) publishes New Testament in English 1526 Treaty of Madrid ends First War for the Balance of Power: Francis I returns to France Diet of Speyer: Edict of Worms suspended; German princes free to choose religion Hungary loses terrible battle to the Turks; much of Hungary falls under Ottoman control Reformation spreads to Sweden and Denmark 1526-29 Second War for the Balance of Power: France, England, Italy, Pope against Charles V 1527 Sack of Rome by Charles’ Imperial troops; Pope Clement VII captured 1529 Henry VIII of England dismisses Thomas Wolsey and appoints Thomas More in his place Peace of the Ladies ends the Second War for the Balance of Power Second Diet of Speyer: Edict of Worms reinstated, Protestant princes “protest” reversal Turks besiege Vienna; Charles accedes to the Protestants to gain their help against Turks Return to the Table of Contents 29 Timeline of the Renaissance & Reformation 1530 German Protestants sign the Augsburg Confession, statement of Lutheran faith 1531 Civil war in Switzerland between Catholic and Protestant cantons; Protestants defeated German Protestant princes unite in the Schmalkald League against Charles V 1532 1533 Religious Peace of Nuremberg allows Protestants in the Empire to practice religion freely Henry VIII of England appoints Thomas Cranmer (1489-1556) archbishop of Canterbury; Cranmer voids Henry’s marriage to Catherine; the king weds Anne Boleyn John Calvin (1509-64) experiences conversion to the Protestant faith in France 1534 Henry VIII declared head of the Church in England; Luther publishes the German Bible Ignatius Loyola (1491-1556) founds the Society of Jesus, better known as the Jesuits 1535 Francis I of France declares the Huguenots (French Protestants) heretics Charles V captures Tunis and frees 20,000 Christian slaves Thomas More executed by Henry VIII for refusing to take the Oath of Supremacy Death of Francesco II Sforza; Milan comes under Spanish control Radical Anabaptists in Munster, Germany destroyed by army of Catholics and Protestants 1536 Henry VIII dissolves monasteries and seizes their properties, Tyndale burned at the stake Anne Boleyn executed for treason; Henry VIII weds third wife, Jane Seymour (dies 1537) John Calvin publishes Institutes of the Christian Religion defining Protestant doctrine Menno Simons (1496-1561) becomes the Anabaptist leader in the Netherlands 1536-8 Third War for the Balance of Power between Francis I of France and Charles V 1539 Henry VIII places the Great Bible in every church, based on Tyndale’s translation 1540 Henry VIII weds, divorces fourth wife, Anne of Cleves; weds fifth wife, Catherine Howard Francis Xavier (1506-1552), one of the first Jesuits, departs for missionary work in India, Malay, and Japan; 30,000 were baptized by his influence before his death 1541 Diet at Ratisbon: Protestants, Catholics agree on justification by faith as basis for reunion 1541-61 Calvin establishes religious rule, refuge for persecuted Protestants in Geneva, Switzerland 1542 Henry VIII executes Catherine Howard for treason Pope Paul III establishes the Inquisition in Rome and Italy 1543 Copernicus publishes his heliocentric theory, which is condemned by the Church Henry VIII weds sixth and final wife, Catherine Parr, who outlived him 1545 Widespread massacres of Waldenses in 22 French towns, many burned at the stake 1545-63 Council of Trent reforms Church abuses, reaffirms heretical status of Protestants 1546 George Wishart, Scottish reformer, burned at the stake at St. Andrews 1547 John Knox (1514-72), Scottish reformer, captured by French in siege of St. Andrews 1547-52 War between Charles V and John Frederick, elector of Saxony, and Maurice of Saxony 1547-53 Edward VI king of England (1537-53): establishes Protestant services in English 1547-59 Henry II king of France (1519-59): renews war for the Balance of Power with Charles V 1550 Giorgio Vasari (1511-74), Michelangelo’s student, publishes Lives of the Artists 1553 Lady Jane Grey, a Protestant, is made queen of England for ten days 1553-8 Mary I of England, a Catholic, reigns; re-establishes Catholicism; persecutes Protestants John Knox flees to Geneva; preaches to the English refugees there 1555 Peace of Augsburg allows German princes to determine their province’s religion Latimer, Ridley, Cranmer (1556), prominent Protestants, burned at the stake in England 1556 30 Charles V abdicates: his son, Philip II (1527-98), rules Spain, the Netherlands, and the Return to the Table of Contents Timeline of the Renaissance 1556 & Reformation New World; his brother, Ferdinand I (1503-64), rules Austria and the Empire Philip II reestablishes the Inquisition in the Netherlands 1557 Fourth Italian War under Henry II of France; Scots Protestants sign First Covenant 1558 Calais retaken by the French after 200 years; its loss hastened Mary I’s death 1558-64 Ferdinand I, first emperor without pope’s confirmation, for upholding Peace of Augsburg 1558-1603 Elizabeth Tudor, 1533-1603, reigns; re-establishes Protestantism and Church of England 1559 Henry II of France signs peace with Philip II of Spain, ends French claim to Italy 1559-60 Francis II of France (queen: Mary Stuart of Scotland) shortest reign in France 1560 Geneva Bible: first time verse divisions appear; Conspiracy of Amboise in France 1560-74 Charles IX of France: queen mother, Catherine de’ Medici, real power behind the throne 1561-7 Mary queen of Scots: arrives in Scotland, marries Darnley, is implicated in his murder, marries Bothwell, is imprisoned in Lochleven after abdicating in favor of her son James IV 1562-98 French religious wars between Catholics and Huguenots (Protestants) 1563 Englishman John Foxe publishes The Book of Martyrs 1564-76 Maximilian II, emperor (1527-76), Catholic who allowed Lutherans unparalleled freedoms 1566 The nobles in Philip II’s dominions protest his tyrannical government 1567-73 The duke of Alba rules the Netherlands for Philip II; institutes Council of Blood 1568-1609 The Netherlands (Protestant) revolt under William of Orange the Silent (1533-84) against oppressive Spanish (Catholic) rule of Philip II 1572 St. Bartholomew Day’s Massacre: 20,000 Huguenots killed on Catherine de’ Medici’s order 1574 Siege of Leyden: William of Orange cuts the dikes, floods the Spanish, relieves the town 1574-89 Henry III of France, Catherine de’ Medici the real power behind the throne 1576-1612 Rudolf II, emperor (1552-1612); deposed for neglect and mismanagement of affairs 1579 Protestant provinces revolted from Spain form the United Provinces of the Netherlands 1584 William of Orange assassinated in Delft at the behest of Philip II 1587-89 War of the Three Henrys; final religious war in France 1588 English navy defeats the Spanish Armada of Philip II 1589-93 Henry of Navarre (1553-1610) wages war in France to claim crown as Henry IV 1590 Henry of Navarre wins brilliant victory at battle of Ivry, which turns the tide of the war Edmund Spenser (1552-1599) publishes The Faerie Queene 1593 Henry IV of France (Henry of Navarre) renounces Protestant faith and is crowned king 1595 Sir Walter Raleigh (1554-1618) heads expedition to find the fabled city of El Dorado 1596-1603 Ferdinand of Styria (1578-1637) restores his Protestant duchy to the Catholic faith 1598 Edict of Nantes: Huguenots granted religious toleration in France 1598-1621 Philip III of Spain (1578-1621): orders the expulsion of the Moriscos from Spain 1599 Earl of Essex fails to resolve Irish rebellion; offends Elizabeth, executed for treason (1601) 1600 First performance of Shakespeare’s (1564-1616) Hamlet at the Globe Theater in London East India Company formed; Henry IV of France weds Marie de’ Medici 1603-25 James I of England (1566-1625) first king of Scotland and England (Great Britain) 1605 Gunpowder Plot by Catholic extremists to blow up Parliament and king, foiled 1609 Johannes Kepler (1571-1630) develops explanation of planetary motion 1610 Henry IV of France assassinated; Marie de’ Medici becomes regent for Louis XIII 1611 Publication of the Authorized (King James) Version of the Bible Return to the Table of Contents 31 Timeline of the Renaissance 1617 & Reformation Ferdinand of Styria chosen king of Bohemia at the diet; attempts to restore Bohemia to the Catholic faith as he had done to the Styrians, fails to uphold the Peace of Augsburg 1618 Lutheran nobles of Bohemia revolt in Prague, begins the Thirty Years’ War 1619-20 Bohemians elect Frederick, the Winter King, king of Bohemia in place of Ferdinand 1619-37 Ferdinand II, emperor (formerly Ferdinand of Styria) elected by the diet 1620 Imperialists under Tilly retake Prague; Frederick and Elizabeth exiled to Holland 1621 Spain under Philip IV (1621-65) renews war with the United Netherlands 1624-42 Cardinal Richelieu, French prime minister, during reign of Louis XIII 1625 Danes enter the Thirty Years’ War under King Christian IV; defeated by Wallenstein 1625-49 Charles I of England (1600-49); constant quarrels with Parliament began Civil War 1627 Francis Bacon publishes The New Atlantis 1627-28 Richelieu conducts the siege of the Huguenots in La Rochelle, France 1628 Petition of Right, enlarged edition of the Magna Charta, becomes law in England 1629 Ferdinand II issues Edict of Restitution following the withdrawal of the Danes 1630 Gustavus Adolphus (1594-1632) enters the war with exemplary Swedish troops Siege and sack of Magdeburg unites German Protestants and Swedes against Tilly 1632 King Gustavus killed in the battle of Lutzen; Swedes still victorious over Wallenstein Galileo (1564-1642) supports the Copernican system; tried before the Inquisition 1634 Wallenstein, detested for his cruelty, deserted by his men and killed 1635 Richelieu declares war and prevents peace between Ferdinand II and Protestants 1637 Scots Covenanters resist Charles I’s attempts to force the Anglican Church on Scotland 1637-57 Ferdinand III, emperor (1608-57) besieged on all sides by the French and Swedes 1641 Irish rebellion against England, thousands of English killed, Charles I unable to put down Charles I attempts to seize five Puritan leaders in the Parliament, precipitates Civil War 1641-8 English Civil War; Charles I captured by Scots; turned over to Parliament for trial 1642-3 Death of Richelieu; death of Louis XIII; four year old Louis XIV becomes king of France 1648 Peace of Westphalia ends the Thirty Years’ War 1648-58 Commonwealth of England: no monarchy or House of Lords; Oliver Cromwell, Protector 1649 Charles I beheaded for treason against England 1650-1 Charles II leads unsuccessful attempt to regain throne; hides in Royal Oak, escapes 1660 Charles II of England (1630-85) restored to the throne after the death of Oliver Cromwell 32 Return to the Table of Contents T I M E L I N E of N E W W O R L D C O L O N I Z A T I O N and the A M E R I C A N R E V O L U T I O N. Many dates before 700 BC are approximate or in dispute. 2242 BC The Tower of Babel dispersion, the people scattered, and the nations founded Native Americans emigrate from Asia over the land bridge connecting Asia and Alaska 250-900 AD Mayan civilization flourishes in eastern Mexico and Central America 860 Iceland discovered by the Vikings 982 Greenland discovered by the Viking Eric the Red 1002 Leif Eriksson discovers North America 1100 Rise of Inca peoples in Peru 1325 Aztecs found city of Tenochtitlan (now Mexico City) on an island in Lake Texcoco, Mexico 1328 Invention of the sawmill spurs shipbuilding in European maritime states 1420 Portuguese reach the Madeira Islands 1427 Portuguese reach the Azores Islands 1450 Henry the Navigator establishes school for teaching navigation, astronomy, cartography 1453 Turks overrun Constantinople, shutting off the overland trade route to the Far East 1470-84 Portuguese explorers discover the Gold Coast of Africa and the Congo River 1487 Bartholomew Diaz discovers the Cape of Good Hope 1492 Christopher Columbus reaches the West Indies for Spain, thinks they are the East Indies 1493 Line of Demarcation: Pope divides the New World between Spain and Portugal 1497 John Cabot discovers Newfoundland 1497-98 Vasco da Gama rounds the Cape of Good Hope and reaches India for Portugal 1498 Columbus discovers South America 1500 Pedro Cabral claims Brazil for Portugal 1501-02 Amerigo Vespucci sights South America and determines it is a “New World” 1502-04 Columbus’ fourth voyage; he reaches Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia 1507 New geography proposes the New World be called “America” after Amerigo Vespucci 1513 Vasco Nunez de Balboa discovers the Pacific Ocean Portuguese reach Canton, China by sailing east Juan Ponce de Leon sights the land he names “Florida” 1516-61 Ponce de Leon and other Spaniards explore Florida 1519-22 Ferdinand Magellan, 1480-1521, becomes the first to circumnavigate the world 1521 Hernando Cortes conquers the Aztec capital of Tenochtitlan and Mexico 1532 King Carlos I of Spain prohibits enslavement of Indians; largely ignored in the colonies 1533 Francisco Pizarro conquers the Inca capital of Cuzco and conquers Peru 1535 Jacques Cartier navigates the St. Lawrence River; Spaniards explore Chile 1540 Hernando de Soto discovers the Mississippi River 1540-42 Coronado explores the American southwest in search of gold 1540s Spanish arrive in California 1565 First permanent European colony in North America founded at St. Augustine, Florida Return to the Table of Contents 33 Timeline of New World Colonization and the American Revolution 1577-80 Sir Francis Drake circumnavigates the world 1584 Raleigh founds first English colony in present-day North Carolina: Roanoke, which fails 1607 Captain John Smith founds Jamestown and the Virginia colony Smith is captured by Chief Powhatan and saved from death by Pocahontas 1608 Samuel de Champlain founds a settlement on the St. Lawrence which becomes Quebec 1609-10 Henry Hudson sails up Hudson River; discovers Hudson’s Bay 1616 Smallpox epidemic decimates the Native American population in New England 1619 First African slaves arrive in Virginia 1620 Pilgrim Separatists sail from England in the Mayflower, establish Plymouth Plantation 1624 Colony of New Netherland established by the Dutch West India Company Virginia Company dissolved and Virginia becomes a crown colony 1625 French settlements in the Caribbean (St. Christopher) begin 1626 Peter Minuit of New Netherland buys Manhattan for 60 guilders; New Amsterdam settled 1629 Massachusetts Bay Colony established by the Massachusetts Bay Company at Boston Charter granted to Captain John Mason for the colony of New Hampshire Charter granted to Sir Robert Heath for the colony of Carolina 1630-42 16,000 English colonists migrate and settle in Massachusetts Bay Colony 1631 Charter granted to Lord Baltimore for the colony of Maryland 1633 Colony of Connecticut founded by the Earl of Warwick 1635 Boston Latin Grammar School is established as first public school in America 1636 Harvard College established in Cambridge, Massachusetts 1636-38 Pequot War with Connecticut colonists 1638 First printing press reaches America 1640 Providence Plantations unite to form the colony of Rhode Island 1642 Montreal, Canada, founded by the French 1646 The Bahamas colonized by the English 1652 First money minted in the colonies; the pine tree shilling of Massachusetts Rhode Island enacts the first law in the colonies declaring slavery illegal 1661 John Winslow et al purchase the territory of Maine from the Massachusetts Bay Colony 1664 English acquire New Netherland; rename colony and Manhattan settlement “New York” King Charles II grants charter for New Jersey to Lord Berkeley and Sir George Carteret Colony of Carolina extended south 1670 Hudson’s Bay Company founded 1675-78 King Philip’s War: Metacomet, Wampanoag chief, wars against colonists due to territorial encroachment in Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New Hampshire, and Maine 1681 English Quaker William Penn granted territory known as Pennsylvania La Salle claims Louisiana for France after reaching the mouth of the Mississippi River 1690-97 King William’s War between Britain and France in North America 1692 Salem, Massachusetts, witch trials; 150 persons accused; 20 executed 1693 College of William and Mary founded in Williamsburg, Virginia 1696 Slave trading for profit first engaged upon in the colonies 1697 Massachusetts General Court: official repentance for witch hysteria; families compensated 1700 Massachusetts and New York expel Roman Catholic priests 34 Return to the Table of Contents Timeline of New World Colonization and the American Revolution 1701 Yale College founded in Connecticut 1702-13 Queen Anne’s War between Britain and France in North America 1704 First newspaper published in the colonies, The Boston News-Letter 1710 First postal system established in the colonies 1712 Carolina colony divided into North and South Carolina Pennsylvania bans import of slaves 1718 New Orleans is founded by the French at the mouth of the Mississippi River 1729 Benjamin Franklin, 1706-90, begins publishing the Pennsylvania Gazette 1731 Benjamin Franklin founds the first American public library in Philadelphia 1732 Establishment of the colony of Georgia, first settlers were debtors from English prisons 1732-57 Benjamin Franklin publishes Poor Richard’s Almanack 1734-54 Great Awakening: Jonathan Edwards and George Whitefield, influential preachers 1741 Vitus Bering explores the coast of Alaska, sponsored by Peter the Great of Russia 1744-8 King George’s War between Britain and France in North America 1754-63 French and Indian War; French and English use Indians to terrorize the other’s territory 1755 Braddock’s Defeat: British general, Edward Braddock, does not listen to his lt. colonel, 23 year-old George Washington, and is mortally wounded by the French on the Ohio frontier 1760 English take Quebec under General James Wolfe; George III ascends the English throne 1763 Peace of Paris: Britain gains Canada and land east of the Mississippi from France France retains New Orleans; Britain gains Florida from Spain North American Indian uprising against the British led by Pontiac, Ottawa chief, fails Proclamation of 1763: prohibits English settlement west of the Appalachian Mountains 1764 Bostonian James Otis publishes Rights of the British Colonies Asserted and Proved urging a united response to recent repressive acts of the British Parliament 1765 British Parliament passes Stamp Act, which imposes first direct tax on American colonies Parliament passes Quartering Act, which requires colonists to house, feed British troops Sons of Liberty use force to make Stamp Act agents resign; impose boycott of British goods 1766 New York Assembly refuses General Thomas Gage’s request to honor the Quartering Act Parliament repeals the Stamp Act 1767 Townshend Acts imposes tax on imports into the American colonies Mason-Dixon line established 1768 British warships sail into Boston Harbor to support British officials harassed by colonists 1769 George Washington presents the Virginia Resolves to the Virginia House of Burgessess Boycott of British goods spreads to the other colonies beyond Massachusetts 1770 Boston Massacre: British troops fire on Boston mob, five killed Townshend Acts repealed except tea tax 1772 Rhode Island colonists burn a British customs schooner Committees of Correspondence appointed 1773 Boston Tea Party: tea dumped into Boston harbor to protest the newly-passed Tea Act 1774 British Parliament passes the Intolerable Acts as reprisals against the colonies Parliament passes the Boston Port Bill shutting down Boston Harbor until tea is paid for General Thomas Gage arrives in Boston and places Massachusetts under military rule First Continental Congress meets in Philadelphia; every colony represented but Georgia Return to the Table of Contents 35 Timeline of New World Colonization and the American Revolution 1775 Patrick Henry delivers “Give me liberty or give me death” speech against British rule British troops sent to destroy a colonial arms cache at Concord Troops confronted by armed colonists at Lexington; battles of Lexington and Concord British troops retreat to Boston Colonial volunteers numbering 13,000 besiege British troops in Boston Ethan Allen and Green Mountain Boys capture Fort Ticonderoga and munitions Second Continental Congress; appoints George Washington general of Continental Army Battle of Bunker Hill at Boston; British sustain heavy losses but win the battle King George III refuses to even look at the Continental Congress’ Olive Branch Petition Continental Congress issues Declaration on the Causes and Necessity of Taking Up Arms American Post Office established with Benjamin Franklin as Postmaster General American Navy established by Congress Congress enters into negotiations with foreign governments 1776 Thomas Paine publishes Common Sense British evacuate Boston after American forces capture Dorchester Heights above Boston Continental Congress authorizes the thirteen colonies to establish provincial governments South Carolina: Americans successfully defend Charleston from a British naval attack British fleet sails into New York Harbor, commanded by General William Howe July 4: Declaration of Independence, drafted by Jefferson, issued by Continental Congress British trap Americans at Brooklyn Heights; Americans escape by night over East River Nathan Hale captured spying on the British, executed without trial Congress appoints Jefferson and Franklin to negotiate treaties with foreign governments American navy virtually destroyed at the battle of Valcour Bay American army suffers several crushing defeats at the hands of the superior British forces Washington’s troops escape the British by crossing Delaware River into Pennsylvania Christmas: Washington recrosses the Delaware and recaptures Trenton, New Jersey 1777 Congress mandates United States flag: 13 stars on field of blue, 13 red and white stripes British General Burgoyne’s troops come south from Canada, recapture Fort Ticonderoga Lafayette arrives in Philadelphia, volunteers service in Continental army without pay British General Howe occupies Philadelphia; Congress relocates Battle of Saratoga: first major American victory; General Burgoyne surrenders Congress adopts the Articles of Confederation directing government of the United States Continental army suffers through a harsh winter at Valley Forge 1778 Treaties of Amity and Commerce, and Alliance, signed between France and the U. S. Baron von Steuben of Prussia arrives at Valley Forge to train and drill American troops British incite Iroquois to wage campaign of terror against American frontier settlements British General Clinton withdraws troops from Philadelphia; Americans reoccupy the city British capture Savannah and Atlanta, Georgia 1779 British burn Portsmouth and Norfolk, Virginia Battle of Savannah: Americans suffer a crushing defeat at the hands of the British John Paul Jones captures a British frigate off the coast of England against impossible odds 1780 British capture Charleston, South Carolina, and the entire southern American army Benedict Arnold appointed commander of West Point; turns traitor 36 Return to the Table of Contents Timeline of New World Colonization and the American Revolution 1780 Francis Marion harries British in South Carolina, keeps them from engaging Washington 1781 Battle of Cowpens: Americans win major victory over the British in South Carolina General Cornwallis and British troops arrive in Yorktown, Virginia to recuperate French fleet arrives, links with Lafayette’s American troops to cut British off by land, sea Washington’s troops join with Lafayette’s troops to cut off and bombard the British at Yorktown by land, the French fleet cuts off and bombards the British by sea. General Cornwallis surrenders to General George Washington at Yorktown 1782 British troops begin withdrawal, Parliament votes to end the war; peace talks begin Congress adopts the Great Seal of the United States of America 1783 Treaty of Paris ends the American War and recognizes American independence George Washington dismisses his troops and resigns his commission before Congress Return to the Table of Contents 37 1 38 Return to the Table of Contents T I M E L I N E of the G R E A T R E P U B L I C. 1785 Congress sets the temporary capital of the United States at New York City Congress sends John Adams as ambassador to England; Thomas Jefferson to France 1786 Congress adopts a monetary system based on the Spanish dollar, not English pound Daniel Shays instigates Shays’ Rebellion 1787 Shays’ rebels attack the federal arsenal at Springfield, Mass., but are dispersed Congress calls for Constitutional Convention to address the need of a stronger government Congress enacts the Northwest Ordinance to provide territories a means to become states May-Sept. Constitutional Convention meets in Philadelphia 1787-88 Delaware first state to ratify the Constitution, followed by the eight others necessary 1788 Massachusetts makes the slave trade illegal Anti-Federalists in Virginia call for a statement of rights to be added to the Constitution Maryland cedes 10 square miles along Potomac River to be used as permanent capital 1789 First Congress: George Washington elected first President; John Adams Vice President Congress establishes Dept. of State, War, Treasury; Post Office; Supreme Court; US Army 1790 First Census taken: pop. 4 million, 19% slaves; largest city: Philadelphia at 42,000 people 1791 10 amendments ratified, added to the Constitution (Bill of Rights); Vermont becomes state 1792 Congress establishes United States Mint; Kentucky becomes a state 1793 Washington re-elected; Eli Whitney invents the cotton gin and mass manufacturing 1794 Congress establishes the United States Navy “Mad Anthony” Wayne quells the Indian uprising in the Northwest (Ohio) Territory Whiskey Rebellion quelled in Pennsylvania 1795 Important treaties signed with England, Spain, and Algiers 1796 Tennessee becomes a state 1797 John Adams elected the second President of the United States 1798 11th Amendment, forbidding individuals or foreigners from suing states, ratified 1799 Death of George Washington 1800 Washington DC becomes the permanent capital of the United States 1801 Thomas Jefferson elected third President of the United States 1801-05 War with the Barbary Pirate States in North Africa 1803 Jefferson purchases Louisiana Territory from Napoleon; Ohio becomes a state 1804 12th Amendment, clarifying the election of President and Vice President, ratified Aaron Burr kills Alexander Hamilton in duel; Homestead Act opens West for settlement 1804-06 Lewis and Clark Expedition explores from the Mississippi to the Pacific Ocean 1806 Zebulon Pike explores southern Louisiana Purchase; Arkansas, Red, Rio Grande Rivers 1807 Robert Fulton’s steamboat, the Clermont, makes first steamboat voyage up the Hudson 1808 United States bans the importation and foreign trade of slaves 1809 James Madison elected the fourth President of the United States 1811 First steamboat voyage from Pittsburgh to New Orleans William Henry Harrison quells Indian rebellion under Tecumseh at Tippecanoe Return to the Table of Contents 39 Timeline of the Great Republic 1812 Louisiana enters the Union as a slave state 1812-4 War of 1812 between Britain and United States over territorial and shipping disputes 1814 British capture and burn Washington DC; Star-Spangled Banner written by Francis Key Treaty of Ghent between England and United States ends the war 1815 Battle of New Orleans, final battle of the war; Americans defeat the British 1816 Indiana becomes a state 1817 James Monroe elected fifth President of the United States; Mississippi becomes a state 1817-25 Clinton builds Erie Canal connecting the Hudson River to the Great Lakes 1818 Andrew Jackson quells Creek, Seminole Indian rebellion in Florida; Illinois becomes state 1819 Congress purchases Florida Territory from Spain; Alabama enters the Union 1820 Missouri Compromise: Missouri enters Union as slave state; Maine as free state 1823 Monroe establishes Monroe Doctrine to prevent European meddling in the Americas 1825 John Quincy Adams elected sixth President of the United States 1826 Death of John Adams and Thomas Jefferson on July 4th 1828 First passenger steam railway, Baltimore and Ohio (B&O) begins at Baltimore, Maryland Noah Webster completes first American dictionary; spelling, pronunciation standardized 1829 Andrew Jackson elected seventh President of the United States 1830 Joseph Smith produces the Book of Mormon in English, Mormonism begins 1831 Nat Turner’s raid in Virginia: Turner, an escaped slave, kills 61 whites William Lloyd Garrison publishes The Liberator newspaper, begins abolitionist movement 1832 South Carolina passes Nullification Act making void new tariff laws passed by Congress Black Hawk Indian War in Illinois and Wisconsin 1833 Clipper ship design perfected; revolutionizes sea travel 1834 Cyrus McCormick receives patent for McCormick Reaper, which revolutionizes farming Indian Territory (present Oklahoma) organized to serve as Indian homeland 1835-42 Zachary Taylor quells rebellion of Seminole Indians in Florida 1836 Whitmans, missionaries to the Indians, first to travel the Oregon Trail to Oregon Seige of the Alamo; Battle of San Jacinto; Texas achieves independence from Mexico Arkansas enters the Union as a slave state 1837 Martin Van Buren elected President; Michigan enters the Union as a free state Samuel F. B. Morse invents Morse code and the telegraph 1838 Cherokee Indians go on the Trail of Tears 1839 Daguerreotypes invented; photography craze sweeps America 1841 William Henry Harrison elected ninth President, dies one month after inauguration John Tyler becomes tenth President after Harrison’s death 1842 Ashburton Treaty settles boundary between U.S. and Canada east of the Rockies 1843 John C. Fremont maps the Oregon Trail 1843-68 Great Migration: 500,000+ pioneers take the Oregon Trail west 1845 James K. Polk elected President; Florida and Texas enter the Union as slave states 1846 49th parallel set as northern boundary of Oregon Territory; Iowa enters a free state 1846-47 First surgeries performed using ether and chloroform anesthetics 1846-48 Mexican War; Treaty of Guadalupe Hildalgo ends war; cedes much land in West to U.S. 1847 Postage stamps introduced to pay for cost of delivering mails 40 Return to the Table of Contents Timeline of the Great Republic 1848 Gold discovered at Sutter’s Mill in California; California Gold Rush begins Daniel Webster makes famous reply to Hayne; Wisconsin enters the Union as a free state 1849 Zachary Taylor elected twelfth President of the United States Harriet Tubman escapes slavery on the Underground Railroad 1850 Taylor dies in office; Millard Fillmore becomes President after his death Compromise of 1850: Fugitive Slave Act allows escaped slaves to be seized in the North California enters the Union as a free state 1852 Harriet Beecher Stowe writes Uncle Tom’s Cabin 1853 Franklin Pierce elected President; Gadsden Purchase of land in the southwest 1854 Kansas-Nebraska Act repeals Missouri Compromise; allows new states to be slave states Commodore Perry enacts commercial treaty with Japan 1857 James Buchanan elected President Dred Scott Decision: no person who has been a slave can be a free U.S. citizen 1858 Gold discovered in Colorado Territory, precipitates Pikes Peak or Bust Gold Rush Lincoln-Douglas debates; first transatlantic cable laid; Minnesota becomes a state 1859 1860 John Brown’s raid on Harpers Ferry, Virginia; Oregon becomes a state Nov. 6: Abraham Lincoln elected sixteenth President of the United States Dec. 20: South Carolina secedes from the Union Pony Express established to carry mail to Western settlers 1861 Miss., Flor., Ala., Geo., Lou., Tex., Vir., Ark., N. Car., Tenn. secede from the Union Feb. 9: Confederate government formed: Jefferson Davis, president; Richmond, capital Mar. 4: Lincoln inaugurated as President of the United States Apr. 12: Confederates fire on Fort Sumter, South Carolina, and capture it Apr. 19: Lincoln issues Proclamation of Blockade against Southern ports Robert E. Lee resigns commission in U. S. Army; accepts commission in Confederate Army Jul. 21: Battle of Bull Run; Stonewall Jackson and Confederates defeat Union army Kansas enters the Union as a free state 1862 Sioux Indian uprising in Minnesota and Iowa; 1000 settlers scalped and killed Feb.: Ulysses S. Grant captures Forts Henry and Donelson in Tennessee Mar.: Naval battle between the ironclads Monitor and the Merrimac to a draw Peninsular Campaign: Union attempts to seize Richmond, the Confederate capital Apr. 6-7: Battle of Shiloh: Confederates defeat Union army under Grant Apr. 16: Slavery abolished in the District of Columbia 1862 Apr. 25: Admiral David Farragut captures New Orleans for the Union Jul. 1: Battle of Malvern Hill; Union general McClellan begins retreat Aug. 29-30: 2nd Battle of Bull Run; Confederates under Jackson defeat Union Sep. 4: Lee invades the North with the Army of Northern Virginia Sep. 17: Battle of Anteitam: McClellan stops Lee’s advance on Washington, D.C. Nov. 7: Lincoln replaces McClellan with General Ambrose E. Burnside Dec. 13: Battle of Fredericksburg; Union under Burnside Overland Trail Stage established to carry mail, passengers west; Pony Express phased out 1863 Jan. 1: Lincoln issues Emancipation Proclamation freeing slaves in Confederate states Jan. 25: Lincoln replaces Burnside with General Fighting Joe Hooker Return to the Table of Contents 41 Timeline of the Great Republic 1863 May 2: Battle of Chancellorsville; Lee defeats Army of the Potomac under Hooker May 10: Stonewall Jackson dies from wounds received at Chancellorsville Jun. 20: West Virginia becomes a state on the side of the Union Jun. 28: Lincoln replaces Hooker with General George Meade Jul. 1-3: Battle of Gettysburg; Meade defeats Lee, turns tide of war against Confederacy Jul. 4: Vicksburg surrenders to Grant; opens Mississippi to Union control Jul. 18: 54th Mass. Volunteers, first black regiment, covers itself with glory at Ft. Wagner Sep. 19-20: Battle of Chickamauga; Confederate victory traps Union army at Chattanooga Nov. 19: Lincoln delivers the Gettysburg Address Nov. 24-25: Battle of Chattanooga; Grant defeats the Confederates 1864 May 6: Battle of the Wilderness; Confederate tactical victory, Union morale victory May 11: Battle of Spottsylvania a draw, but Lee suffers irreplaceable losses of officers, men June 15: Grant begins 9 month siege of Lee’s forces at Petersburg, Virginia Sep. 2: Sherman captures Atlanta, Georgia Oct. 19: Battle of Cedar Creek; Union victory under Calvary General Philip Sheridan Oct. 31: Nevada becomes a state on the side of the Union Nov. 8: Lincoln reelected to second term Nov. 15: Sherman begins march to the sea from Atlanta Dec. 15-16: Battle of Nashville; Union victory crushes Confederate Army of Tennessee Dec. 21: Sherman reaches Savannah leaving 300 miles of devastation behind him 1865 Mar. 25: Battle of Petersburg; Grant breaks Lee’s lines and marches on Richmond Apr. 9: Lee surrenders to Grant at Appomattox Courthouse Apr. 14-15: Lincoln assassinated early in second term; Andrew Johnson becomes President May: Remaining Confederate forces surrender; Civil War officially ends May 24: Decoration (Memorial) Day observed on disbanding of Union Army Dec. 18: 13th Amendment, forbidding slavery in United States and possessions, ratified 1866 Cyrus Field lays the first successful transatlantic cable 1867 Reconstruction Act passes over veto; provides process for seceded states to re-enter Union United States purchases Alaska Territory from Russia; Nebraska becomes a state 1868 President Johnson impeached by the House; not convicted by the Senate 1868 14th Amendment, protecting rights of citizens by due process of law, ratified First trade treaty enacted between the United States and China 1869 Ulysses S. Grant elected eighteenth President Completion of the Union Pacific, the transcontinental railroad, near Ogden, Utah 1870 15th Amendment, forbidding the abridgement of voting rights based on race, ratified Last of the seceded Southern states readmitted to the Union Census: pop. 39 million; weather signal service established to track storms 1871 October: Great Chicago Fire 1873 Levi Strauss invents blue jeans for miners 1874 Captain James Eads completes the bridge spanning the Mississippi at St. Louis 1876 Centennial Exposition held in Philadelphia to celebrate the country’s hundredth birthday Little Big Horn: U.S. forces under Custer massacred by Indians under Sitting Bull Alexander Graham Bell invents the telephone; Colorado becomes a state 42 Return to the Table of Contents Timeline of the Great Republic 1877 Rutherford B. Hayes elected nineteenth President Thomas Edison invents the phonograph 1878 President Hayes receives the first Chinese embassy to the United States 1879 Thomas Edison invents the incandescent light bulb 1881 James Garfield elected President; assassinated; Chester A. Arthur becomes President Captain Eads completes the jetties at the mouth of the Mississippi Booker T. Washington becomes first president of Tuskegee Institute in Alabama O.K. Corral gunfight at Tombstone, Arizona; Billy the Kid killed by Pat Garrett 1883 First skyscraper built in Chicago (ten stories); Brooklyn Bridge opens Civil Service Examinations established to obtain government positions 1885 Grover Cleveland elected President; George Eastman invents film 1886 Statue of “Liberty Enlightening the World” completed on Bedloes Island, New York Bay Geronimo surrenders to United States marshals on September 4 1889 Benjamin Harrison elected President; Oklahoma Territory opened to white settlers Washington, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota become states Terrible flood at Johnstown, Pennsylvania, kills 2000 people 1890 Wounded Knee, South Dakota, massacre: army officers kill 350 Sioux Indians Idaho, Wyoming become states Italian emigrants in New Orleans establish secret crime society, the Mafia 1893 Grover Cleveland elected President again for a second term World’s Fair in Chicago held to celebrate the 400th anniversary of Columbus’ discovery 1896 Gold discovered in Alaska, triggers Klondike Gold Rush; Utah becomes a state 1897 William McKinley elected President 1898 Spanish-American War: precipitated by the destruction of the battleship Maine United States acquires Philippines, Puerto Rico, Guam from Spain; annexes Hawaii 1899-1901 Philippine War: Filipino rebels rise up against the governorship of the United States 1901 McKinley assassinated early in second term; Theodore Roosevelt becomes President Return to the Table of Contents 43