Era / 1914–2024 CE
Modern World
Conflict and shared futures
Transport changes the rhythm of cities, technology connects distant places, and daily life becomes increasingly intertwined with the world.
Selected events
Ordered by known year, month and day. Events without a known month or day follow other events in the same year; ongoing processes use their starting point.
The Mexican Revolution and the Constitution of 1917
A revolution against long-standing rule became intertwined with struggles over land, labor, and state power, with the Constitution of 1917 marking an important stage in institutional reconstruction.
Global Mobilization in the First World War
A European crisis escalated into a world war, drawing in colonial soldiers, laborers, and resources, and reshaping empires and everyday life.
The Russian Revolution and the Formation of the Soviet Union
Two revolutions ended tsarist rule and brought the Bolsheviks to power, followed by civil war and state reorganization leading to the formation of the Soviet Union in 1922.
The May Fourth Movement and New Culture Debates
The Paris Peace Conference's handling of rights in Shandong sparked student protests in Beijing that grew into a broader social movement, intertwining with New Culture, nationalism, and new political ideas.
The Communist Party of China Is Founded
The First National Congress of the Communist Party of China opened in Shanghai and later moved to Jiaxing, bringing early communist organizations together into a unified political party.
The September 18 Incident and Japan's Occupation of Northeast China
Japan's Kwantung Army used a railway explosion as a pretext to attack Shenyang, then expanded its occupation of Northeast China, marking an important beginning of Chinese resistance to Japan and the escalation of war in East Asia.
Full-Scale Resistance to Japan and Civilians at War
After the Marco Polo Bridge Incident, the Sino-Japanese War became a full-scale conflict; military and civilian resistance, urban relocation, and severe wartime atrocities profoundly changed Chinese society.
The Second World War and Global Catastrophe
War in Europe converged with existing wars of aggression in Asia, drawing many parts of the world into total war, occupation, and genocide, and realigning international power after the war.
The United Nations and the Postwar International Order
In the final phase of the Second World War, countries signed the United Nations Charter, seeking to maintain peace and pursue international cooperation through collective institutions.
Indonesia's Declaration of Independence and Anticolonial War
Sukarno and Hatta declared independence, followed by war and negotiations with the Netherlands; the transfer of sovereignty in 1949 and the declaration of independence in 1945 were distinct milestones.
Victory over Japan and the Surrender in the China Theater
Japan signed the instrument of surrender, and the surrender ceremony for the China theater took place in Nanjing; after the war against Japan ended, peace and reconstruction were soon disrupted by the Chinese Civil War.
Japan's Postwar Constitution and Institutional Reconstruction
After its defeat, Japan rebuilt its institutions under occupation; the new constitution took effect in 1947, establishing popular sovereignty, fundamental rights, and the principle of renouncing war.
Independence and Partition in South Asia
British colonial rule ended and India and Pakistan became independent; partition also brought mass migration, violence, and enduring disputes.
Israel's Establishment and Palestinians' Memory of Catastrophe
Israel declared its establishment and the war expanded; large numbers of Palestinians were forced from their homes, becoming central to the Palestinian historical memory of the Nakba.
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights
The postwar international community articulated common standards of dignity and rights, including education for everyone.
The People’s Republic of China Is Founded
On October 1, 1949, a founding ceremony was held in Beijing and the establishment of the Central People’s Government of the People’s Republic of China was proclaimed.
The Republic of India and Its Constitution Take Effect
After independence, India established the institutional framework of a republic through constitution-making, enshrining the organization of the state, fundamental rights, and adult citizens' voting rights in its constitution.
The Korean War and the Peninsula's Division after the Armistice
War on the Korean Peninsula drew in United Nations forces, the Chinese People's Volunteers, and other external powers; the 1953 armistice stopped the main fighting without establishing a peace treaty.
European Communities: From Coal and Steel Cooperation to the EU
Six countries placed coal and steel production under shared institutions, gradually expanding cooperation into economic and political affairs; the European Union was formally established in 1993.
Egypt's July Revolution and the Establishment of the Republic
The Free Officers seized power and forced the king to abdicate; Egypt subsequently abolished the monarchy, opening a new phase of anticolonial action and state reform.
Bandung: Asian and African Countries Speak Together
Representatives of 29 Asian and African countries met in Bandung to discuss anticolonialism, sovereignty, and cooperation, expressing newly independent countries' aspirations to participate in world affairs.
Ghanaian Independence and the Call for African Unity
Ghana gained independence from British colonial rule, and Nkrumah linked national independence with the political goal of African unity.
The Cuban Revolution: Batista's Rule Ends
Batista left Cuba as revolutionary forces advanced, and a new government was established, changing the political landscape of the Caribbean.
The Wave of African Independence and the Principle of Self-Determination
Many African countries gained independence from European colonial rule, changing the United Nations' membership; state-building after independence also faced pressures involving borders, resources, and the Cold War.
Algerian Independence and the End of Colonial War
Years of war and negotiations led to Algerian independence; decolonization reshaped North Africa while leaving challenges involving migration, violence, and memory.
The U.S. Civil Rights Act: Challenging Segregation and Employment Discrimination
The sustained civil rights movement helped secure federal legislation prohibiting discrimination in public places, employment, and other areas, expanding legal protections for equal rights.
Australia's Referendum and the Constitutional Status of Indigenous Peoples
A long rights movement helped bring about a constitutional referendum that removed the exclusion of Indigenous people from population counts and expanded federal legislative powers concerning Indigenous affairs.
The Founding of ASEAN and Regional Cooperation in Southeast Asia
Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand signed a declaration in Bangkok establishing the Association of Southeast Asian Nations to promote regional cooperation.
Apollo 11 and the First Crewed Moon Landing
Apollo 11 accomplished the first crewed landing on the Moon, and television allowed audiences around the world to witness a new phase of space exploration together.
ARPANET: The First Message on an Internet Precursor
Researchers in California sent the first ARPANET message; experiments in packet switching and networking across institutions laid foundations for the later development of the internet.
Fiji’s Independence and Pacific Nationhood
Fiji became an independent state, with Indigenous and migrant communities confronting institutions shaped by colonial rule.
The Change in UN Representation and U.S.-China Rapprochement
The UN General Assembly changed the arrangements for China's representation, and representatives of the People's Republic of China entered the United Nations; Nixon's visit and the Shanghai Communiqué helped move U.S.-China relations from confrontation toward rapprochement.
Khmer Rouge Rule and Cambodia's Social Catastrophe
The Khmer Rouge transformed society through forced migration, labor, and political persecution, with hunger, disease, and executions causing catastrophe; conflict continued after it lost Phnom Penh in 1979.
Saigon Changes Hands and the Vietnam War Ends
North Vietnam and its southern allies entered Saigon, and the South Vietnamese government surrendered, bringing the long war to its final stage; the following year's institutional unification of the state should be distinguished from that day's military outcome.
New Zealand's Waitangi Tribunal: Treaty Claims Enter a Public Process
The Treaty of Waitangi Act established a tribunal to investigate Māori claims that the government had breached the treaty, bringing colonial legacies into an ongoing process of inquiry and negotiation.
Reform and Opening Up and Changes to the Economic System
The Third Plenary Session of the 11th CPC Central Committee marked an important policy shift; rural reforms, special economic zones, and gradual marketization changed production, population mobility, and international connections.
The Iranian Revolution and the Establishment of the Islamic Republic
Nationwide protests and strikes overthrew the Pahlavi dynasty, and a new government led by Khomeini established the Islamic Republic, changing society and international relations.
The Opening of the Berlin Wall and a Turning Point in the Cold War Order
Protests and political crisis in East Germany led to the opening of the border, and the Berlin Wall lost its function as a barrier, ushering in rapid changes to the Cold War landscape in Germany and Europe.
The Dissolution of the Soviet Union and a Turning Point in the Cold War Order
The union's central government lost its ability to hold the republics together, and the Soviet Union ceased to exist at the end of 1991, bringing many Eurasian countries into a new phase of state-building.
The Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda
Extremist forces organized the killing of Tutsi civilians, also murdering Hutu and others who opposed the killings, exposing a severe failure of international protection mechanisms.
South Africa Holds Its First Non-Racial National Election
A long struggle against apartheid and negotiations led to an election open to all, after which Mandela became president and South Africa entered a new democratic phase.
Hong Kong's Handover and the Establishment of the Special Administrative Region
China resumed the exercise of sovereignty over Hong Kong, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region was established, and the Basic Law took effect, setting out its institutional and autonomy framework under one country, two systems.
Macao's Handover and the Establishment of the Special Administrative Region
China resumed the exercise of sovereignty over Macao, the Macao Special Administrative Region was established, Portuguese administration in Macao ended, and new institutional arrangements began to be implemented.
China Joins the World Trade Organization
After lengthy negotiations, China became the World Trade Organization's 143rd member, integrating further into multilateral trade rules and global production networks.
The Launch of the African Union and Continental Cooperation
The African Union was formally launched in Durban, continuing the work of the Organization of African Unity and placing regional cooperation, development, and peace and security within a new institutional framework.
Shenzhou 5: China's First Crewed Spaceflight
Yang Liwei entered Earth orbit aboard Shenzhou 5 and returned safely, completing China's first crewed space mission and opening a new phase of the country's human spaceflight.
The Global Financial Crisis and Cross-Border Risk
Risks in U.S. housing and credit markets spread through global financial networks, and the crisis intensified in 2008, changing social life through unemployment, tighter credit, and slow recovery.
Beijing Hosts the 2008 Summer Olympics
Beijing hosted the Summer Olympics for the first time, with athletes and audiences from around the world participating as sport, urban development, and international exchange met on the same stage.
The Paris Agreement and Global Climate Cooperation
The Paris climate conference adopted an agreement through which parties respond to climate change using mechanisms such as nationally determined contributions; reaching an agreement and putting it into practice remain distinct stages.
Reports of the Wuhan Outbreak and a Global Health Alert
Cases of pneumonia of unknown cause appeared in Wuhan, and a novel coronavirus was subsequently identified; the World Health Organization declared a public health emergency of international concern, and the world began responding to a new outbreak.
The COVID-19 Pandemic and the Global Public Health Response
The World Health Organization assessed that COVID-19 could be characterized as a pandemic; countries' health responses were closely linked to social and economic life, revealing both cross-border cooperation and disparities in resources.
Chang'e 6 Returns the First Samples from the Moon's Far Side
The Chang'e 6 return capsule landed safely carrying samples from the far side of the Moon, completing humanity's first sample return from the lunar far side and providing new physical material for comparing the Moon's near and far sides.