Modern Era
Russian Civil War (1917-1922): Reds Against Whites
Bolshevik victory; the Soviet state survived and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics was formed in December 1922.
All Articles
Every Chronicle article on world history, newest first: battles, empires, disasters, discoveries and revolutions.
Modern Era
Second Anglo-Afghan War (1878-1880): Maiwand and Kandahar
Britain won the main battles and gained control of Afghan foreign policy, but withdrew its troops and accepted Abdur Rahman Khan as amir.
Modern Era
Attack on Fort Sumter (1861): The First Shots of the Civil War
After 34 hours of bombardment the Union garrison surrendered and evacuated the fort on 14 April; Lincoln's call for 75,000 volunteers followed and four more states seceded.
Modern Era
Sholes and Glidden Typewriter (1868): The Birth of QWERTY
The Sholes and Glidden machine became the first commercially successful typewriter and gave the world the QWERTY keyboard layout.
Modern Era
Greek War of Independence (1821-1829): Freedom From the Ottomans
Greece won independence from the Ottoman Empire, recognised by the great powers in 1830 and established as a kingdom in 1832.
Middle Ages
Mayapan: The Last Great Maya Capital in Yucatan
Mayapan dominated northern Yucatan for about two centuries until a revolt destroyed it, after which the region split into rival provinces that faced the Spanish.
Middle Ages
Ibn Battuta in Mali (1352): A Traveller at Mansa Sulayman's Court
Ibn Battuta's account became the only detailed eyewitness description of the medieval Mali Empire written by an outsider.
Middle Ages
Muhammad bin Tughluq Moves the Capital to Daulatabad (1327)
Large parts of Delhi's Muslim elite were moved to Daulatabad, but the sultan later allowed them to return; the move spread Delhi's culture into the Deccan.
Middle Ages
Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms: China Divided (907-979)
China was divided among rival regimes until the Song dynasty, founded in 960, conquered or absorbed the last independent states by 979.
Middle Ages
Ibn Fadlan's Journey to the Volga (921): Meeting the Rus
The embassy reached the Volga Bulgar ruler in May 922; Ibn Fadlan's report became one of the most important written sources on the peoples of the steppe and the Rus.
Middle Ages
Battle of Bouvines (1214): Philip Augustus Triumphs
Decisive French victory; the coalition of Otto IV, King John and the rebel counts collapsed and Capetian control of former Angevin lands was secured.
Middle Ages
Battle of Roncevaux Pass (778): Roland and the Rearguard
Basque victory; Charlemagne's rearguard and baggage train were destroyed and several leading Franks, including Roland, were killed.