WORLD HISTORY · TIMELINE 日本語
The 18th century1701–1800
What were the key events of the 18th century?
In the 18th century (1701–1800), Enlightenment ideas spread with France at the center, and the Industrial Revolution began in Britain. The Thirteen Colonies declared independence and the French Revolution broke out, while in Japan the shogunate pursued reforms and townspeople's culture spread.
- Enlightenment spreads from FranceEurope
- Shogunate reforms; townspeople's culture spreadsAsia
- Britain wins the Battle of PlasseyAsia
- Industrial Revolution begins in BritainEurope
- Thirteen Colonies declare independenceNorth America
- Storming of the Bastille starts French RevolutionEurope
- Haitian Revolution begins in Saint-DomingueLatin America
- Mount Unzen eruption triggers Ariake Sea tsunamiAsia
Summaries are written by the site editors.
Decade by decade
The 18th century in AP history courses
| AP World History | Unit 3–4 (Land-Based Empires; Transoceanic Interconnections), Unit 5–6 (Revolutions; Consequences of Industrialization) |
|---|---|
| AP U.S. History | Periods 2–4 |
Key events of the 18th century (timeline · excerpt)
Tip: the PC view is best for studying
On a computer, each region has its own vertical line, so you can follow the flow of events and see what was happening in different parts of the world at the same time.
War of the Spanish Succession begins
Mount Fuji's great Hoei eruption
Tokugawa Ienobu becomes shogun; Shotoku reforms begin
Russia moves capital to St. Petersburg
George I's accession starts Hanoverian dynasty
Tokugawa Yoshimune becomes eighth shogun
Neighborhood fire brigades organized in Edo
South Sea Bubble bursts, stocks crash
Peter I takes title of emperor; Russian Empire founded
Russia and Qing sign Treaty of Kyakhta
War of the Polish Succession begins
John Kay invents the flying shuttle
Qianlong Emperor takes the Qing throne
Nader Shah captures Delhi
Russian exploration ships reach Sendai Bay
Bering expedition lands in Alaska
Celsius proposes a practical temperature scale
Shogunate begins compiling its edicts
Storm brings major flooding to Kanto
Second Silesian War begins
Bunraku play Natsu Matsuri Naniwa Kagami premieres
French win the Battle of Lauffeld
Ruins of Pompeii are rediscovered
Diderot's Encyclopédie begins publication
French and Indian War begins
Britain wins the Battle of Plassey
British East India Company wins at Plassey
Motoori Norinaga meets Kamo no Mabuchi
Treaty of Paris ends the Seven Years' War
Full-color nishiki-e prints born in Japan
Tanuma Okitsugu becomes shogun's chamberlain
Watt patents improved steam engine
Sugita Genpaku and others publish Kaitai Shinsho
Thirteen Colonies declare independence
Tanuma Okitsugu dismissed as senior councilor
Matsudaira Sadanobu takes office, launches Kansei Reforms
Britain begins settling Australia
Storming of the Bastille starts French Revolution
Haitian Revolution begins in Saint-Domingue
Mount Unzen eruption triggers Ariake Sea tsunami
Hayashi Shihei's Kaikoku Heidan banned
France proclaims the First Republic
Russian envoy Laxman arrives at Nemuro
Source: Wikipedia date pages ("January 1" … "December 31") / CC BY-SA 4.0. Regions are assigned by the site editors.
Dates and events are based on Wikipedia and other references. Summaries and regions are written by the site editors.