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Period: 500 BCE to
Timeline
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430 BCE
Peloponnesian War
The Peloponnesian War was fought in ancient Greece between Athens and Sparta, which were the two most powerful city-states in ancient Greece at the time (431 to 405 B.C.E.). This war shifted power from Athens to Sparta, making Sparta the most powerful city-state in the region. This war was significant because it marked the first major conflict between two powerful civilizations in history. -
900
Rise of Feudalism
Feudalism, also known as the feudal system, was a combination of legal, economic, military, cultural, and political customs that flourished in medieval Europe between the 9th and 15th centuries. This was significant because it allowed societies in the Middle Ages to retain a relatively stable political structure. -
1215
Magna Carta
The Magna Carta was issued in June 1215 and was the first document to put into writing the principle that the king and his government were not above the law. It sought to prevent the king from exploiting his power, and placed limits of royal authority by establishing law as a power in itself. This was significant because it brought upon the idea that no matter how significant, leaders were not above the law. -
1350
The Black Death
The Black Death was a global plague that killed more than one third of Europe. This traumatic event occurred in the mid 1300s and was also known as the bubonic plague. The Black Death is extremely significant because it is known to be the most fatal pandemic in all of human history. The Black Death was transmitted by the bite of an infected flea, or exposure through the break of the skin of an infected material. -
1500
The Renaissance
The Renaissance, following the black death, was the rise of more urban populations and a more secular society. People now wanted to be with others, and they also needed jobs. This was significant because with a more secular society, there was no religious connection, which had been everywhere before this. This secular society is believed to have begun after the black death because it made people doubt what they believed in, and put questions into their faith. -
Slave Trade
Slave Trade started in Europe, but when North and South America saw what they were doing and they realized how much money was being made, they copied them and slave and triangular trade was born. These slave workers often were paid nothing and stayed in horrible conditions because rich people loved to make money but hated spending it. This is significant because it led to centuries of black hatred, discrimination, and cruelty. -
The Industrial Revolution
The Industrial Revolution, a significant event in modern history, was the process of change from an agrarian and handicraft economy to one dominated by industry and machine manufacturing. These technological changes introduced novel ways of working and living and fundamentally transformed society. -
World War 1
World War 1, one of the most known historical events to mankind, was a global conflict between two coalitions which were the Allies and the Central Powers. The fighting took place all throughout Europe, the Middle East, Africa, the Pacific, and parts of Asia. This war was fueled by the assassination of Austrian archduke Franz Ferdinand by South Slav nationalist Gavrilo Princip. This event is extremely significant because it ultimately changed the known nature of warfare. -
World War 2
World War 2 was extremely significant because it involved over thirty countries and is known to be the biggest and deadliest war in all of history. This war was sparked by the Nazi invasion of Poland in 1939, and the war then dragged on for six bloody years until the Allies defeated the Axis powers of Nazi Germany, Japan and Italy in 1945. -
Nuremberg Trials Following WW2
On November 20th, following World War 2, the Nuremberg Trials officially began in Germany. The trials were chosen to be in Nuremberg, Germany, because the Palace of Justice was undamaged and there was a large prison located there. These trials were a series of military tribunals. The trials were significant because their purpose was to prosecute members of the political, military, and economic leadership of many Nazi Germany war crimes against peace. -
President John F. Kennedy Assassination
President John F. Kennedy was tragically assassinated in 1963, leaving Vice President Johnson to be sworn in as the new president. This left Johnson to now be the president of the United States. Johnson’s pure commitment to the Vietnam war effort led to a huge increase in military operations and troop deployments in Vietnam. This shift from Kennedy to Johnson was significant because it marked a turning point in the scale and intensity of the United States involvement in the Vietnam War. -
The Tet Offensive
The Tet Offensive of 1968 was a major military campaign that was launched by the North Vietnamese and Viet Cong forces during the lunar new year holiday of Tet. This attack involved coordinating attacks on towns, cities, and military installations all throughout South Vietnam. This was significant because it had a profound impact on public opinion throughout the United States, which led to increased opposition to the war and a shift in public sentiment. -
The Fall of Saigon
The Fall of Saigon marked the final end of the Vietnam War as well as the reunification of Vietnam under communist rule. This was a significant moment that symbolized the failure of the United States-backed South Vietnamese government. This event not only affected the war, but it had a much more global impact on politics and the perception of United States military involvement. This was a turning point that helped to shape the legacy of the Vietnam War. -
The Iraq War
The Iraq War had significant impacts on the United States. The war started because the United States wanted to remove Saddam Hussein from power and eliminate Iraq’s weapons of mass destruction, which would possibly be used to harm others in the Middle East and around the world. The aftermath of the Iraq War increased instability throughout the region. This event was significant because the Iraq War shaped the United States foreign policy and military engagements throughout the Middle East.