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Napoleonic Wars
France, Britain, and other European powers engage in extensive warfare, influencing colonial holdings around the world. 1803-1815 -
Haitian Revolution Ends
Haiti declares independence from France, becoming the first independent black republic and abolishing slavery. -
Abolition of the Transatlantic Slave Trade Britain
Britain passed the Slave Trade Act of 1807, which made it illegal to engage in the slave trade within the British Empire. This was a crucial step in the movement to abolish slavery, though slavery itself would continue in many regions for several decades. -
The War of 1812 (U.S. vs. Britain)
The War of 1812 was fought between the United States and Britain, largely over trade restrictions and British support for Native American attacks on American settlers. The war ended in a stalemate but helped foster a sense of national identity for the U.S. and ended British interference in American affairs. -
The Congress of Vienna
European powers reorganize political boundaries and establish a balance of power after Napoleon’s defeat, reshaping the colonial order. 1814-1815 -
The First Opium War
Britain defeats China and forces it to open its ports for trade, including the opium trade, marking the beginning of the "Century of Humiliation" for China. (1839-1842) -
The Taiping Rebellion
A massive civil war in China, driven by religious and social movements, results in the deaths of millions and weakens the Qing Dynasty, which is exploited by Western powers. 1850-1864 -
The Indian Rebellion of 1857
A major uprising against British rule in India, also known as the First War of Indian Independence, which eventually led to British direct control of India. -
The Sepoy Rebellion
The Sepoy Rebellion (1857-1858) was a revolt by Indian soldiers (sepoys) against the British East India Company, sparked by grievances over cultural, religious, and military issues, including the use of controversial rifle cartridges. The British suppressed the uprising by 1858, leading to direct British rule in India. -
The Meiji Restoration
Japan undergoes rapid modernization and industrialization, opening up to Western influences and embarking on imperial expansion. -
The Suez Canal Opens
The opening of the Suez Canal connects the Mediterranean Sea to the Red Sea, greatly facilitating trade and European imperial control over global shipping routes. -
The Scramble for Africa Begins (1880s)
European powers begin to aggressively colonize Africa, with countries like Belgium, France, Germany, and Britain establishing vast colonial territories. -
The Mahdist War in Sudan
A revolt against British-Egyptian rule in Sudan led by the Mahdi, Muhammad Ahmad, ultimately culminating in the establishment of the Mahdist state, which would later fall to British forces. (1881-1899) -
Berlin Conference
The Berlin Conference took place from November 15, 1884, to February 26, 1885. It was a meeting convened by European powers to discuss and regulate the colonization and trade in Africa. The conference aimed to avoid conflict between European nations over territorial claims in Africa by establishing guidelines for the partitioning of the continent. -
Claiming the Congo
In 1885, King Leopold II acquired the vast region surrounding the Congo River in Central Africa during the Berlin Conference, which was convened to regulate European colonization and trade in Africa. Leopold presented his plans as a humanitarian effort to bring civilization and Christianity to the region, but it was actually a ruse to exploit its natural resources, particularly rubber and ivory. -
The Sino-Japanese War
Japan defeats China, asserting itself as a rising imperial power in East Asia, and gaining control over Taiwan, Korea, and other territories. (1894-1895) -
The Boer Wars
A series of conflicts between the British Empire and the Boer republics in South Africa, culminating in British victory and the establishment of the Union of South Africa. (1899-1902) -
U.S. in the Philippines
The U.S. took control of the Philippines in 1898 after defeating Spain in the Spanish-American War. The Treaty of Paris, signed that year, ceded the Philippines to the U.S., marking the start of American colonial rule over the islands. It was used for an access to China for the U.S. -
The Boxer Rebellion
A violent uprising in China against foreign influence, particularly against missionaries and foreign nationals, which was suppressed by an eight-nation alliance, including Japan, Russia, and Western powers. 1899-1901 -
The Russo-Japanese War
A war between the Russian Empire and Japan, where Japan emerges victorious, signaling the rise of Japan as a major imperial power in Asia.