Vladimir Ilyich Ulyanov, later known as Lenin, leader of the October Revolution, is born in Simbirsk.
Prussia and its German allies defeat France, bringing down the Second French Empire and paving the way for German unification.
Troops of the Kingdom of Italy enter Rome, ending the Papal States; Rome then becomes the capital of unified Italy.
Dmitri Mendeleev arranges the chemical elements by atomic weight and properties, predicting elements not yet discovered.
King Wilhelm I of Prussia is proclaimed German Emperor in the Hall of Mirrors at Versailles, completing the unification of Germany led by Bismarck.
A revolutionary government holds power in Paris for over two months before being bloodily suppressed by government troops during the "Bloody Week".
France seizes Vĩnh Long, An Giang and Hà Tiên, completing the colony of French Cochinchina.