March 5, 1770★★★★★
Boston Massacre
British soldiers fire into a crowd in Boston, killing five people and heightening tensions between the colonies and Britain.
Politics· United States, United Kingdom
← Previous year with events: 1769Next year with events: 1771 →View on map →View the whole 18th century
Events this year
April 29, 1770★★★★★
James Cook lands at Botany Bay
On his first voyage, Captain James Cook of HMS Endeavour landed at Botany Bay, then charted Australia's east coast and claimed it for Britain.
Exploration· Australia, United Kingdom
Ongoing
c. 15th century – c. 1860s★★★★★
The transatlantic slave trade
From the 16th to the 19th century, an estimated 12.5 million enslaved Africans were shipped across the Atlantic to the Americas, with profound consequences for both continents.
Economy· Ghana, Nigeria, Benin, Senegal, Angola, Brazil, United States, Portugal, United Kingdom
1639 – 1853★★★★★
Japan's sakoku isolation policy
The shogunate expels the Portuguese and severely restricts foreign contact, allowing only Dutch and Chinese trade at Nagasaki.
PoliticsEconomy· Japan