Era · c. 1500 – 1800
Voyages of exploration, the Reformation and the age of revolutions that reshaped Europe and the wider world.
Nineteen people were hanged and one pressed to death before the governor halted the trials; the colony later admitted the injustice, reversed convictions and paid compensation.
About 38 MacDonalds were killed by soldiers billeted among them and more died of exposure; a 1695 inquiry called it murder but no one was punished.
Brazil became the world's leading gold producer for much of the 18th century, transforming its population, economy and capital and pouring wealth into Portugal and, through trade, Britain.
Dozens of towns were destroyed and roughly 54,000–60,000 people died; the region was rebuilt in a distinctive late Baroque style.
Omani forces captured Fort Jesus after a 33-month siege, ending Portuguese rule on the Swahili coast north of Mozambique.
Decisive Habsburg victory; the Ottoman field army was destroyed and the sultan agreed to peace talks that produced the Treaty of Karlowitz.
The embassy failed to build a European coalition against the Ottomans, but Peter recruited hundreds of foreign experts and returned determined to modernise Russia.
Government troops dispersed the rebels; Peter ordered over 1,000 executions, confined Sophia as a nun and began disbanding the Streltsy.
The Khalsa was established as the order of initiated Sikhs, giving the community a distinct identity, discipline and military organisation.
The Ottoman Empire ceded most of Hungary and Transylvania to the Habsburgs, Podolia to Poland and the Morea to Venice, its first major territorial loss in Europe.
Decisive Swedish victory; the Russian siege of Narva was broken and much of the Russian army was killed, captured or disarmed.
Sweden lost its Baltic empire; by the Treaty of Nystad in 1721 Russia gained Livonia, Estonia, Ingria and part of Karelia and became a great power.
