World History Timeline

Timeline

158 events

20th century

  1. August 29, 1910★★★★★

    Japan annexes Korea

    The Japan–Korea Annexation Treaty takes effect, making Korea a Japanese colony until 1945.

    PoliticsTreaty· South Korea, North Korea, Japan
  2. October 10, 1911★★★★★

    Wuchang Uprising

    A mutiny in Wuchang triggers the Xinhai Revolution, which spreads across the provinces and brings down the Qing dynasty.

    Revolution· China
  4. January 1, 1912★★★★★

    Republic of China founded

    Sun Yat-sen is inaugurated as provisional president in Nanjing, founding Asia's first republic.

    PoliticsRevolution· China, Taiwan
  5. February 12, 1912★★★★★

    Abdication of Puyi

    The last Qing emperor abdicates, ending more than two thousand years of imperial rule in China.

    PoliticsDynasty· China
  6. March 1, 1919★★★★★

    March 1st Movement

    Koreans proclaim independence and stage nationwide peaceful protests against Japanese rule; the movement is suppressed.

    RevolutionPolitics· South Korea, North Korea
  7. May 4, 1919★★★★★

    May Fourth Movement

    Beijing students protest the Paris Peace Conference's Shandong decision, sparking a wave of nationalism and cultural renewal.

    PoliticsCulture· China
  8. 1921★★★★★

    Mongolian Revolution of 1921

    With Soviet Red Army support, Mongolian revolutionaries led by Sükhbaatar take power, paving the way for a socialist state.

    Revolution· Mongolia, Russia
  9. July 1921★★★★★

    Chinese Communist Party founded

    The First National Congress meets in Shanghai, formally founding the Chinese Communist Party.

    Politics· China
  10. September 1, 1923★★★★★

    Great Kantō earthquake

    A powerful earthquake and ensuing fires devastate Tokyo and Yokohama, killing more than 100,000 people.

    Disaster· Japan
  11. March 12, 1925★★★★★

    Death of Sun Yat-sen

    The revolutionary revered as the 'Father of the Nation' of the Republic of China dies in Beijing.

    Death· China, Taiwan
  12. 1926 – 1928★★★★★

    Northern Expedition

    The National Revolutionary Army under Chiang Kai-shek marches north, defeats the warlords and nominally reunifies China.

    War· China
  13. February 3, 1930★★★★★

    Founding of the Communist Party of Vietnam

    A conference chaired by Nguyễn Ái Quốc (Hồ Chí Minh) in Hong Kong merges Vietnamese communist groups into the Communist Party of Vietnam.

    Politics· Vietnam, Hong Kong
  14. September 18, 1931★★★★★

    Mukden Incident

    Japan's Kwantung Army stages a railway explosion near Mukden as a pretext for invading Manchuria.

    War· China, Japan
  15. 1934 – 1935★★★★★

    Long March

    The Chinese Red Army retreats thousands of kilometres from Nationalist forces; Mao Zedong emerges as leader during the march.

    WarPolitics· China
  16. July 7, 1937★★★★★

    Marco Polo Bridge Incident

    A clash between Japanese and Chinese troops near Beijing begins the full-scale Second Sino-Japanese War (1937–1945).

    War· China, Japan
  17. December 13, 1937 – 1938★★★★★

    Nanjing Massacre

    After capturing Nanjing, the Imperial Japanese Army kills large numbers of Chinese prisoners and civilians over several weeks.

    War· China, Japan
  18. May 1939 – September 1939★★★★★

    Battles of Khalkhin Gol

    Soviet and Mongolian forces under Georgy Zhukov defeat the Japanese on the Mongolian–Manchurian border.

    War· Mongolia, Japan, Russia, China
  19. September 22, 1940 – September 26, 1940★★★★★

    Japanese invasion of French Indochina

    Japanese forces attack Lạng Sơn and land near Haiphong, compelling the French administration to accept Japanese bases in Tonkin.

    War· Vietnam, Japan, France
  20. December 7, 1941★★★★★

    Attack on Pearl Harbor

    The Imperial Japanese Navy launches a surprise attack on the US naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, bringing the United States into World War II.

    War· United States, Japan
  21. March 9, 1945★★★★★

    Japanese coup in French Indochina

    Japan overthrows the French administration in Indochina; Bảo Đại then proclaims the Empire of Vietnam with Trần Trọng Kim as prime minister.

    WarPolitics· Vietnam, Japan, France
  22. April 1, 1945 – June 22, 1945★★★★★

    Battle of Okinawa

    One of the bloodiest battles of the Pacific War, causing heavy losses among soldiers and Okinawan civilians.

    War· Japan, United States
  23. August 6, 1945★★★★★

    Atomic bombing of Hiroshima

    The United States drops the first atomic bomb used in war on Hiroshima, killing tens of thousands instantly.

    WarDisaster· Japan, United States
  24. September 2, 1945★★★★★

    Surrender of Japan

    Japan signs the Instrument of Surrender aboard USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay, formally ending the Second World War.

    WarTreaty· Japan, United States
  25. February 28, 1947★★★★★

    February 28 Incident in Taiwan

    An uprising against the Kuomintang administration in Taiwan is suppressed, killing thousands and ushering in the White Terror.

    PoliticsWar· Taiwan
  26. May 3, 1947★★★★★

    Constitution of Japan takes effect

    The postwar constitution makes the emperor a symbol of the state, and its Article 9 renounces war.

    Politics· Japan
  27. August 15, 1948★★★★★

    Republic of Korea established

    The government of the Republic of Korea is established in the south of the peninsula, with Syngman Rhee as president.

    Politics· South Korea
  30. December 1949★★★★★

    ROC government retreats to Taiwan

    Defeated in the Chinese Civil War, Chiang Kai-shek's government withdraws to Taiwan and makes Taipei its provisional capital.

    WarPolitics· Taiwan, China
  31. June 25, 1950 – July 27, 1953★★★★★

    Korean War

    North Korean forces cross the 38th parallel; the war, drawing in US-led UN forces and China, ends in an armistice in 1953.

    War· South Korea, North Korea, China, United States
  32. September 8, 1951★★★★★

    Treaty of San Francisco

    Japan signs a peace treaty with the Allied powers, ending the occupation when it takes effect in 1952.

    Treaty· Japan, United States
  33. 1958 – 1962★★★★★

    Great Leap Forward

    A campaign of rapid industrialisation and collectivisation leads to a great famine that kills tens of millions.

    EconomyPoliticsDisaster· China
  34. October 20, 1962 – November 21, 1962★★★★★

    Sino-Indian War

    China and India fight a Himalayan border war over Aksai Chin and present-day Arunachal Pradesh, ending in a unilateral Chinese ceasefire.

    War· India, China
  35. October 1, 1964★★★★★

    Shinkansen high-speed rail opens

    The Tōkaidō Shinkansen between Tokyo and Osaka opens as the world's first high-speed railway line.

    TechnologyEconomy· Japan
  36. October 16, 1964★★★★★

    China's first nuclear test

    China detonates its first atomic bomb at Lop Nur, becoming the world's fifth nuclear power.

    TechnologyWar· China
  37. 1966 – 1976★★★★★

    Cultural Revolution

    Mao Zedong launches a decade-long political movement that brings social upheaval, persecution and the destruction of cultural heritage.

    PoliticsRevolutionCulture· China
  38. February 21, 1972 – February 28, 1972★★★★★

    Nixon visits China

    U.S. President Richard Nixon's visit opens the way to normalised relations between the United States and China.

    Politics· China, United States
  39. 1974★★★★★

    Terracotta Army discovered

    Farmers digging a well near Xi'an uncover thousands of terracotta warriors buried with Qin Shi Huang's mausoleum.

    CultureArt· China
  40. January 19, 1974★★★★★

    Battle of the Paracel Islands

    Chinese naval forces clash with the South Vietnamese navy and take control of all of the Paracel Islands.

    War· Vietnam, China
  41. September 9, 1976★★★★★

    Death of Mao Zedong

    Chairman Mao Zedong, founder of the People's Republic of China, dies in Beijing; the Cultural Revolution ends soon after.

    DeathPolitics· China
  42. December 1978★★★★★

    China launches Reform and Opening

    The Third Plenum of the 11th Central Committee, guided by Deng Xiaoping, shifts China's focus to economic development and opening up.

    EconomyPolitics· China
  43. February 17, 1979 – March 16, 1979★★★★★

    Sino-Vietnamese War

    China attacks Vietnam's northern border provinces and withdraws after about a month; both sides claim victory.

    War· Vietnam, China
  44. May 18, 1980 – May 27, 1980★★★★★

    Gwangju Uprising

    Citizens of Gwangju rise against Chun Doo-hwan's military regime; the uprising is violently suppressed by the army.

    PoliticsRevolution· South Korea
  45. June 1987★★★★★

    June Democratic Struggle

    Nationwide protests force South Korea's government to accept direct presidential elections, ushering in democracy.

    PoliticsRevolution· South Korea
  46. July 15, 1987★★★★★

    Martial law lifted in Taiwan

    Chiang Ching-kuo lifts 38 years of martial law, opening the way to Taiwan's democratisation.

    Politics· Taiwan
  47. March 14, 1988★★★★★

    Johnson South Reef skirmish

    Chinese and Vietnamese naval forces clash at Johnson South Reef in the Spratly Islands; about 64 Vietnamese sailors are killed.

    War· Vietnam, China
  48. September 17, 1988 – October 2, 1988★★★★★

    1988 Seoul Olympics

    Seoul hosts the Summer Olympics, marking South Korea's economic and international emergence.

    Culture· South Korea
  49. April 15, 1989 – June 4, 1989★★★★★

    Tiananmen Square protests and crackdown

    Weeks of student-led protests in Beijing end when troops suppress them on the night of 3–4 June.

    Politics· China
  50. 1990★★★★★

    Mongolian Democratic Revolution

    Peaceful protests lead to the end of one-party rule and multiparty elections in Mongolia.

    RevolutionPolitics· Mongolia
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