Early Modern
Mayflower Voyage and Plymouth Colony (1620): The Pilgrims
The Pilgrims founded Plymouth Colony, the second lasting English settlement in North America; about half died in the first winter.
All Articles
Every Chronicle article on world history, newest first: battles, empires, disasters, discoveries and revolutions.
Early Modern
Zhang Juzheng's Reforms (1572-1582): Saving the Ming Treasury
Zhang restored Ming finances and administrative discipline, but after his death in 1582 he was disgraced and much of his programme lost momentum.
Early Modern
First Battle of Panipat (1526): Babur Founds Mughal Rule
Decisive victory for Babur; Ibrahim Lodi was killed, the Lodi sultanate fell and Babur took Delhi and Agra.
Early Modern
Relation (1605): The World's First Printed Newspaper, Strasbourg
A printed weekly of foreign news appeared in Strasbourg, the model for the newspapers that spread across Europe in the following decades.
Early Modern
Battle of Pavia (1525): Francis I Captured by Charles V's Army
Decisive imperial victory; Francis I was captured and the French were driven out of Lombardy.
Early Modern
Pedro Álvares Cabral Reaches Brazil (1500): Portugal's Claim
Cabral claimed the land for Portugal, beginning the Portuguese colonisation of what became Brazil.
Contemporary
First Earth Day (1970): Birth of the Environmental Movement
An estimated 20 million Americans took part, building political momentum for the EPA, the Clean Air Act of 1970 and later environmental laws.
Contemporary
The Troubles (1968–1998): Conflict in Northern Ireland
About 3,500 people were killed before the conflict was largely brought to an end by ceasefires and the Good Friday Agreement of 1998.
Contemporary
Notting Hill Race Riots (1958): Racist Violence in West London
Several days of attacks on Caribbean residents ended with over 100 arrests and exemplary sentences; the riots spurred Black community organising and the first Caribbean carnival in London.
Contemporary
Invention of the Integrated Circuit (1958): Kilby and Noyce
Two independent inventions created the integrated circuit, the basis of modern microchips and computers.
Contemporary
Israeli Declaration of Independence 1948: Founding of Israel
The State of Israel was proclaimed as the British Mandate for Palestine ended; it was quickly recognised by the United States and the Soviet Union, and neighbouring Arab states went to war.
Contemporary
Founding of NATO (1949): The North Atlantic Treaty Signed
Twelve Western countries formed a collective defence alliance; the treaty entered into force on 24 August 1949.