| 1700 AD Great Northern War -A war breaks out that became known as the Great Northern War. Russia, Poland and Denmark join forces to oppose Sweden. Both Danish and Saxon troops invade Sweden. Charles XII, leading Sweden responded by landing troops in Zeeland and forcing Denmark to withdraw from the alliance. Swedish forces then defeated Russian troops at Narva on November 30, 1700. |
| 1701 AD War of the Spanish Succession Begins - The War of Spanish succession breaks out when Charles II dies and names the grandson of Louis IV, Phillip V, King of France. The Hapsburgs who coveted the crown and had claims on the throne went to war over the succession. A grand alliance was formed that included the England, Holland, Austria and later Brandenburg, to oppose Louis IV and Bourbon France. The war was to last for 11 years and was fought overseas in Italy and in the Spanish colonies. |
| 1704 AD Battle of Blenheim - The English and the Dutch won a stunning victory over French and Bavarian forces in the Battle of Blenheim on August 13, 1704. England’s Duke of Marlborough led the British. He led a cavalry charge that broke the French lines and forced many of their soldiers into the Danube, where hundreds died. The French and their allies lost 4,500 dead and 11,000 wounded. The British captured 11,000 prisoners. They suffered 670 dead and 1,500 wounded. |
| 1704 AD Newton Publishes Optick - In 1704 Isaac Newton published his work "Optick". This was the result of Newton's work on reflection, refraction, diffraction and the spectra of light. |
| 1706 AD French Suffer Defeat on the Battlefield - The French suffered a series of defeats on the battlefield. The first at the battle of Ramillies on May 23rd, forced the French to withdraw from the cities of Belgium. The second when the British raize the siege of Barcelona also on May 23rd. The third occured when a French army was defeated at Turin, thus forcing their withdrawal from Italy. |
| 1706 AD The Act of Union Great Britain came into being with the union of England and Scotland. Scottish laws remained in effect, but the Scottish Parliament was abolished and instead Scotland sent representatives to the English Parliament. |
| 1709 AD Battle of Poltava - The Russians under Peter the Great were victorious at the battle of Poltava in the Ukraine. The Russians victory was so decisive that it made Russia the dominant power in Northern Europe. |
| 1712 AD Treaty of Aargau The Protestant victory over Catholic forces in the battle of Villmergien led to the peace treaty of Aargau. This treaty established Protestant dominance in Switzerland while protecting the rights of the Catholics. |
| 1713 AD Peace of Utrecht - The War of Spanish Succession came to an end with the Peace of Utrecht. Under its terms Philip V from the Bourbon House of France was officially recognized as the King of Spain. Spain and France were however, forbidden to merge. France recognized Protestant succession in England, pledging not to interfere in the internal affairs of the country. The Spanish Netherlands became a possession of the Hapsburgs, while England received Gibraltar. Portuguese possessions in the New World were recognized. |
| 1716 AD Battle of Peterwardein The Austrians declared war on the Ottoman Empire on April 13, 1716. On August 5th they defeated the Ottomans at the battle Peterwardein. The Austrians went on to conquer all of Hungary from the Ottomans. |
| 1718 AD Treaty of Passarowitz The Austrians and the Ottomans signed the Treaty of Passarowitz. Under its terms Austria gained control of Belgrade, Northern Serbia and the Banat of Temesvar. The treaty established the border between Islam and Christianity as the Danube River. |
| 1720 AD Chinese Assault Tibet -The Chinese Emperor K'ang-His attacked Tibet and drove off the final Mongol influence on China. A pro Chinese Dali- Lama was installed to rule Tibet. |
| 1720 AD Treaty of the Hague The treaty of Hague was signed between Spain and the Quadruple Alliance made up of Britain, France,Holland and Austria. Spain’s Charles gave up his claim to the Italian throne, in return for a promise that his son will become the ruler of Parma, Piacenza and Tuscany. The Holy Roman Emperor Charles VI gave up his claim to Spain. |
| 1721 AD Bach Composes Brandenburg Concertos -In 1721 J.S. Bach composed his six Brandenburg Concertos. In 1722, he finished the first volume of The Well-Tempered Clavier, and published the second volume in 1740. |
| 1721 AD Treaty of Nystad Under the Treaty of Nystadt, Russia received Estonia, and Livonia and parts of the Baltic Islands. That brought the Great Northern War to a final end. |
| 1724 AD Treaty of Constantinople -The Ottomans and the Russians signed the treaty of Constantinople on June 23, 1724. The treaty partitioned Persia between the Ottoman Empire and Russia. |
| 1725 AD Peter the Great Dies After a rule that lasted 42 years Peter the Great died. He was 52 years old, and during his reign Russia had been transformed. |
