18th Century CE

Image depicting the 18th Century CE, such as the French Revolution or an early steam engine

The 18th century, the Age of Enlightenment, witnessed profound intellectual and political upheaval, characterized by the rise of rational thought, democratic revolutions, and the dawn of industrialization.

  • Major Events
    1. The American Revolution (1775–1783 CE) leads to the independence of the United States.
    2. The French Revolution begins (1789 CE), overthrowing the monarchy.
    3. James Watt perfects the steam engine (1776 CE), accelerating the Industrial Revolution.
    4. Captain Cook explores and maps the Pacific, leading to British colonization of Australia (late century).
  • Major Empires
    1. British Empire (Rapid expansion after victories over France)
    2. Qing Dynasty (China, height of power and territory)
    3. Russian Empire (Expands under Catherine the Great)
    4. French Empire (Shaken by Revolution)
  • Major Conflicts
    1. Seven Years' War (1756–1763 CE), a global conflict between European powers.
    2. American Revolutionary War (1775–1783 CE).
    3. French Revolutionary Wars begin (1792 CE).
  • Population Trends
    1. Rapid population growth in Europe, fueled by improved agriculture and early industrialization.
    2. Start of mass transatlantic migration from Africa (slavery) and Europe (settlement).
  • Key Leaders
    1. George Washington (First U.S. President)
    2. Catherine the Great (Empress of Russia)
    3. Louis XVI (King of France, executed 1793 CE)
  • Key Intellectuals
    1. Voltaire (French writer and philosopher of the Enlightenment)
    2. Jean-Jacques Rousseau (Philosopher, works influenced the French Revolution)
    3. Adam Smith (Scottish economist, wrote The Wealth of Nations, 1776)
  • Major Religions
    1. Christianity (Rise of Evangelicalism and new denominations; challenged by rationalism).
    2. Islam (Declining power of Ottoman Empire; Wahhabi movement begins in Arabia).
    3. Indigenous American religions suffer due to European colonization.
  • Key Developments
    1. Invention of the cotton gin (1793 CE) and the power loom.
    2. Publication of the Encyclopédie in France, disseminating Enlightenment knowledge.
    3. Formalization of modern chemistry by Antoine Lavoisier.