The Second Millenium

[SkyWriting]

Brethren, for about five years now, I have been writing a history thread on another Christian forum. Starting with the year 1 AD, I have advanced about one year every day, although certain years have taken several days. The thread has about a dozen followers.

I have been locked out of the other forum (There were no issue or complaints) and they will not answer my requests. I have learned a lot from researching the thread, and I'm just going to continue it here.

I had left off the series at the year 1340.

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[Vince53]

On to 1704!

Europe's wars have spread to the Americas. A 50 man British army, allied with 1,000 Creek Indians, begins raiding Florida. In one raid, they destroy a Catholic mission and kill the priest in charge. And a French and Indian army massacres an English settlement in Massachusetts.


The British government supports "The Boston Newsletter," America's first regularly published newspaper. It will survive until the British evacuate Boston during the American Revolution.


After Turkey's forced withdrawal from central Europe, Hungary wanted its independence restored. A Hungarian army defeats a Danish, German, Austrian, and Serbian coalition twice. After losing their next battle, the defeated Hungarians are still able to hold their positions while the victorious Austrians retreat.


In one of history's most important battles, England captures Gibraltar from Spain. This large island controls the northern entrance to the Mediterranean, and England holds it to this day.

 

[Vince53]

Look alive! It's 1705!


A very unsuccessful Papal legate arrives in China. When he orders all Catholic missionaries to ban Chinese customs in new converts, the Emperor orders the missionaries not to abolish the customs. The Legate won’t give in, so the Emperor imprisons him, where he dies two years later.


Joseph 1, King of Hungary, Germany, and Bohemia, begins his six year reign as Holy Roman Emperor. Largely due to the brilliant leadership of one of his generals, he peacefully ended the Hungarian revolt and established control over Italy, He reformed the bureaucracy and the finances and stabilized the Empire.


Japan has a good year financially. Using interest from loan repayments, the governments buys a large tract of useless swampland and turns it into rice paddies, settling 2,800 peasants there. And the government acquires a fortune by seizing the vast wealth of merchant due to his unbecoming conduct.

 

[Vince53]

1706 is known as "The Horrible Year" in France.

First, a league of English, Dutch, German, Swiss and Scottish troops defeat France in Belgium. Then a combined Austrian-Savoy army defeats the French so badly in northern Italy that they drive the French out of the country.

July 22, 1706--Great Britain is founded by the union of Scotland and England. Wales was already joined to England. Despite some rough times, the union lasts today. And thus France loses Scotland, its most faithful ally against England.

After his father retires to a monastery, Tekel the Cursed begins his three year reign over Ethiopia. To settle questions of the succession, he has his widely-revered father murdered. After putting down a brief civil war, he is murdered by his own son. This begins "The Era of Princes," in which local rulers supplant the central government, and Ethiopia descends into a period of chaos.

 

[Vince53]

Reality check. Today is January 1, 2015. Happy New Year.

1707

The Black Plague reaches Iceland, and in one year, 25% of the population dies.


After a 49 year reign, the ruler of the Mughal Empire in India dies. His last, lengthy war may have cost India 2,600,000 lives, and he had bankrupted the treasury in order to win. Although he now ruled most of modern India, his death marked the height of the Empire, as the Mughal Empire now began a rapid decline.


Despite winning a major victory on land, France and Spain lose most of their navies as The War of the Spanish Succession continues.


A massive Japanese earthquake and tidal wave kills 5,000 people and causes Mount Fuji to erupt for the last time.


In southeast Asia, the Lao Empire collapses. Eventually, Thailand and Laos will emerge.

 

[Vince53]

Let's take a look at 1708.

"Son of the Lion" begins his unhappy three year reign over Ethiopia. With the last few Emperors having been murdered, he executes dozens of relatives who were involved, puts down two short rebellions, and dies under mysterious circumstances.

Having defeated everyone else, Sweden is defeated once again by Russia in The Great Northern War.

The Anglican Church completes Saint Paul's Cathedral in London top of the city's highest point. Still an active church, it has daily services and hourly prayer meetings and is often used for major events.

The Black Plague breaks out in Masuria, a region in northern Poland that includes 20,000 lakes. About 1/3 of the population eventually dies.

 

[Vince53]

1709 will really shine--we hope.

In New York, a slave market for Negros and Indians is opened on Wall Street.

Tokugawa Ienobu begins his three year reign as Shogun of Japan (The Emperor was only a figurehead during Japan’s isolation period). He quickly grants many freedoms to the common people, explainng that their complaints should be allowed to reach the government safely.

Afghanistan successfully revolts against Persia and becomes an independent nation.

The Great Frost of 1709 hits western Europe. In France, the Atlantic Coast and Seine River actually freeze over. Famine breaks out during this three month period as winter crops die.

After another major defeat by the Russian, Sweden permanently loses its position as a world power.

When you melt iron and pour it into a mold, you get "cast iron." Cast iron had been around for about 2300 years, but this year, an English inventor finds a way to mass-produce it. Eventually, cast iron will be used to build bridges and buildings.

 

[Vince53]

And today it is 1710.

Sweden can't beat the Russians, but they can beat everyone else. Denmark invades with a 14,000 man army, and Sweden defeats them.

English colonists send "The Four Mohawk Kings" on a successful diplomatic mission to London. They are received by Queen Ann with honor and England agrees to send Anglican missionaries to help stop the spread of Catholicism among the Mohawks. England and the Mohawk Nation also sign a defense treaty against the French.

England also captures Nova Scotia, in Canada, from the French.

Beijing replaces Istanbul as the world's largest city.

 

[Vince53]

Welcome to 1711!

The newly-appointed governor of North Carolina quickly begins persecuting anyone not belonging to the Church of England, especially Quakers. The former governor leads an armed rebellion that is defeated, and most Quakers (who did not take part in the rebellion) flee the colony.

Taking advantage of the chaos, the Tuscarora Indians rebel, attacking European settlements in the Carolinas. Both sides assemble Indian allies, and the bloody war lasts four years before the Tuscarora are defeated.

With one Emperor after another being assassinated by relatives, Ethiopian nobles elect Yostos, a local chief as Emperor. Serving for five years, he put down some minor rebellions and built two churches. When he became ill, the Imperial Guard restored a member of the royal family to the Throne, who treated Yostos kindly.

 

[Vince53]

It is now 1712!

The Chiloe Archipelago consists of several islands just off the southwestern coast of Chile. Badly abused by their Spanish masters, the Indians revolt, killing Spanish nobility but no one else, before being defeated. All of the abuses are ended for four years, and then restored.

Although the majority of Swiss were Protestant, the government was dominated by Catholics, who began persecution, including beheadings, of Protestants. Two battles are fought, and the victorious Protestants force freedom of religion on the government.

Bound for Indonesia, a Dutch ship runs aground in western Australia. The survivors intermarry with local aborigines, introducing genetically inherited European diseases to the population.

A short, stout, English common man named "John Bull" appears for the first time, and quickly becomes a beloved and popular symbol of England.

What? You've never heard of Taylor's Theorem? This elementary calculus rule is the foundation of higher math, and it is invented (discovered?) this year.

 

[Vince53]

Welcome to 1713!

"The Soldier King" begins his brilliant 27 year reign over Prussia. He cleans up corruption, passes fair taxes, established primary schools, resettles empty areas, improves the army, straightens out the finances, and turns Prussia into a small but powerful state. And he stays out of wars.

Having won the War of the Spanish Succession, Britain gains large amounts of land from both France and Spain in return for peace. French settlers in Nova Scotia (part of Canada) are given one year to swear allegiance to Britain or leave.

 

[Vince53]

And now it is 1714.

Austria's Habsburg Empire reaches its greatest extent after being on the winning side of the war of Spanish Succession. They get Naples, Milan, and other Italian territories, and even part of the Netherlands.

Russia's advance into Swedish territory had been stalled because they could not sail supplies to their troops. Wildly different records show that a giant Russian fleet (between 70 and 100 large ships) attacked a small Swedish fleet (between 7 and 24 ships) capturing or sinking the entire Swedish fleet. Still celebrated in Russia, it is their first major naval victory.

Turkey begins a successful four year war with Venice, capturing most of Venice's possessions in Greece.

The Church of England established a school for both boys and girls. It is not the first such school, but is the oldest surviving one.

 

[Vince53]

Let's visit 1715.

Widespread war breaks out in South Carolina, as a major coalition of Indians strives to destroy the colony. Lasting two years, it ended when the Mohawks joined with the colonists. About 7% of the colonists die (many from disease, starvation, or exposure).


Louis the Beloved begins his fifty-eight year reign over France. His failed reign includes loss of territory in Europe and North America, several failed wars, famine, economic disaster, and a collapse of government authority, all of which will help produce the French Revolution fifteen years after his death. His mistress claimed that he once said "After me, the deluge."


A major Scottish rebellion suffers continual military defeat.


But while Sweden can't beat Russia, they manage to occupy Norway this year.


A total eclipse is visible in London for the last time in 900 years.

 

[Vince53]

1716 is a great year for Austria. Attacking an 150,000 man Turkish army, the Austrians slaughter so many that most desert. With only 50,000 men left, the Turks continue to lose territory and are forced to sign a peace treaty with Austria and Venice.

Yoshimune begins his twenty-nine year reign as Shogun of Japan. He then continued to be an influence after voluntarily abdicating to his son. He is still well-loved by the Japanese and has been portrayed in various movies and television series as a hero. He reformed the economy and established three shogunate lines to give the government a better choice of leaders.


England spends the year executing the leaders of Scotland's unsuccessful rebellion.

 

[Vince53]

Mother Nature has a bad year in 1717.

A massive flood hits Europe's northern coast, and a massive earthquake hits New Zealand. Nine days of blizzards bury the northeastern United States in snow. A storm sinks a pirate ship with 4.5 tons of treasure off the Massachusetts coast.


Fearing Spain's growing power, Britain and France put aside their differences to unite with the Netherlands in The Triple Alliance. The Holy Roman Empire joins next year. Spain responds by uniting all its South American colonies into one great colony.

England? They get their first ballet and their first Masonic Lodge.


Blackbeard the pirate begins his career by seizing several ships in the Caribbean. He then converts them to pirate ships.

Shattered by last years's major defeat, Turkey loses Belgrade, Yugoslavia, to the Austrians.

 

[Vince53]

Good Heavens, it's 1718!

Shocked that their powerful French ally had betrayed them by uniting with England, the Spanish declare war. Spain demanded the return of Italian territory they had lost, and soon Spain successfully invaded southern Italy. But after two years of war, everybody gave back their captured lands and peace was restored.

A French commercial company founds New Orleans where the Mississippi River flows into the Gulf of Mexico. It quickly becomes one of America's most important seaports.

So powerful that they actually blockaded Charleston, South Carolina, pirates suffer a series of major naval defeats from Britain. The Carolinas are kept busy hanging the survivors.

The Sudan, a miserable, poverty-stricken area between Egypt and Ethiopia, is forced to convert to Islam. To this day, the conflict continues as local Christians refuse.

 

[Vince53]

1719

Christian author Daniel Defoe publishes "Robinson Crusoe." The terrifying scene in which the marooned sailor finds a footprint on his deserted island is one of the greatest scenes in literature.

Russia wins a small naval battle, capturing all three Swedish ships.

 

[Vince53]

Welcome to 1720.

Tibet had surrendered to China 23 years ago, but this year, China conquers and occupies Lhasa. Today, Lhasa is the capital of Mongolia.


The South Sea Bubble damages the English economy. This is an overly-simplistic explanation--The South Sea Company sold shares to the public. They used this money to purchase high-interest debt obligations of the British government, thus paying off the debt. Now the government owed the money to the South Sea Company. The Company made big profits from the high interest payments. Share prices rose as the Company continued to make big profits. The Company collapsed when its profits could not possibly pay off the high share prices.


A bitter ex-clergyman named Jonathan Swift begins writing "Gulliver's Travels." This angry attack on the human race has become a beloved children's classic, although few children have read it.


Edmond Halley is appointed Royal Astronomer of Britain. He had already discovered that the sun's heat caused parts of the atmosphere to rise, causing trade winds and monsoons. He helped Isaac Newton publish his theory of gravity, studied the orbits of comets, invented a diving bell, charted stars visible in the southern hemisphere, and invented an improved compass.


Halley is most famous for proving that various comets in history were actually the same comet, and he correctly predicted its next return. Wanting to prevent the violence of the French Revolution from spreading, ha asked that the world remember that an Englishman proved it. Halley died without ever seeing Halley's Comet, which was named after him when his prediction was proved correct.


The Great Plague of Marseille quickly kills 100,000 Frenchmen. Thousands of corpses litter the streets and France erects a wall around the city to keep people from leaving with the plague. It takes the city 45 years to recover, but it is the last major outbreak of the Black Plague in Europe.

 

[Vince53]

How will 1721 do?

Innocent XIII begins his three year reign as Pope. He puts a near-final end to nepotism, forbidding any future Popes to give any land or gifts to any relatives, although he made his own brother a cardinal. He tightened finances, gave aid to Catholic nations fighting the Turks, and tried unsuccessfully to bring a Catholic rebellion to England.


Parliament elects England's first Prime Minister--Robert Walpole. Similar to a President, a Prime Minister is elected by the House of Commons (similar to the US House of Representatives), rather than by direct vote of the people. However, the House of Commons is elected by direct vote of the people.


Walpole still holds the record as the longest-lasting Prime Minister--21 years. He presided over the steady decline of the Monarchy and increase in the power of commoners. Keeping England free from war and rebellion, Walpole brought in an era of prosperity that made the commoners support him. However, his success enabled his enemies to unite successfully and force him to resign.


A badly-beaten Sweden makes peace with Russia. Having gained much of the Swedish Empire. Russia is now the most powerful nation in eastern Europe; Sweden has never recovered.

 

[Vince53]

Welcome to 1722!

Afghanistan conquers Persia (their former rulers). After gaining independence in 1709, Afghanistan had defeated two invading Persian armies before launching their own attack. And Russia, having just beaten Sweden, get into the act, invading Persia. But seven years later, Persia overthrows the Afghans and reconquers Afghanistan.

Europeans discover Easter Island, far off the western coat of South America. They find a tropical paradise that has been devastated by civil wars, covered with giant statues of heads.

After 61 years, the Emperor of China dies, and Yongzheng takes over. A competent, hard.working tyrant, he strengthened the government while lowering excpenses and esrtablished a long-lasting council that was a mjor influence on Chinese deelopment.