The Second Millenium

[Vince53]

1758

Clement XIII begins his eleven year reign as Pope.
He practiced blatant nepotism while living a fairly modest life himself, and he was strictly honest. He ordered the naked statues in the Vatican to be covered with mass-produced fig leaves, and he gave generously to the poor from his private fortune.
He dismayed his opponents by defending the Jesuits, but he was unsuccessful. Portugal, France, Spain, and three Italian states expelled them.


New Jersey establishes the first Indian reservation in North America.


It's a rough and tumble year for Britain and Frederick the Great of Prussia. But they win most of their battles against the French in America, Asia, and Europe, including two naval battles. The British even capture what will become Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.


The great astronomer, Edmund Halley, had realized that several major comets were the same one, and he had predicted the approximate date of its return. If he was correct, it would show that comets are governed by scientific principles and were not uncontrolled events. On Christmas Day, Halley's Comet is spotted in the night sky.


What? You've never heard of Roger Joseph Boscovich? This Jesuit priest was an all-around genius who had made various discoveries about how to plot the behavior of planets. This year he publishes his atomic theory.

 

[Vince53]

1759

The Jesuits, who had been protecting the Indians, are expelled from Brazil.


George Washington gets married, the first life insurance company in America opens, and the British Museum opens.


Meanwhile, Britain and France continue to slug it out. Europe calls it "The Seven Years War," while Americans call it "The French and Indian War." Britain captures much of Canada and hands the French so many naval defeats in Europe and Asia that the French Navy cannot recover. But British ally Frederick the Great suffers two massive defeats against France's Austrian and Russian allies.


In Greenland, Denmark founds a settlement named "Spiders" that is today their fifth-largest town.

 

[Vince53]

Welcome to 1760.

France’s defeated governor in America surrenders, handing Canada and the north central United States over to the British.

22-year-old George III begins his sixty year reign as King of Great Britain. He was also ruler of Hanover, a German kingdom in the northern part of the Holy Roman Empire. His reign will be distinguished by magnificent victory over France, and tremendous defeat by the United States. His reign will also be dominated by bitter infighting among Parliament.

A highly moral Anglican and excellent family man, he greatly improved British agriculture and built a private library that eventually became a major national library. He actively supported education, science (allowing scholars free access to his large library), and the arts, and he gave heavily to charity.

Swamped with military expenses, he had to tax his subjects heavily, provoking the Americans into revolt. To be fair, America benefited from English protection and had suffered far less than Britain from wars. The subject of bitter disdain from both British and Americans, he has become regarded as a decent man who was overwhelmed by a hopeless situation.

 

[Vince53]

Welcome to 1761.

Venus passes between the Earth and the Sun. Although you wouldn't know it, the event is observed by scientists around the world, who discover that Venus has an atmosphere.

It's a good year for Britain. They capture a major India city from France, but their Prussian ally loses a fortress to the Russians. Earlier in the year, the crumbling Mughal Empire of India had won one of the largest battles of the century against a coalition of French allies. However, the Mughals had to rely so heavily on their Afghan allies that Afghanistan effectively took over most of the Mughal Emire.

Two earthquakes hit London.

 

[Vince53]

And it's 1762!

After arresting her husband, Catherine the Great begins her successful 34 year reign over Russia. Appointing brilliant generals and admirals, she wins most of her wars, expanding into Poland on the west, Islam territory to the south, and Alaska on the east, as well as seizing minor northern kingdoms that are still part of Russia.

Although considered “The Golden Age of Russia,” the burdens on the serfs were so severe that she had several major revolts. Indifferent to religion, she used Christianity as a weapon, providing protection to Christians in Turkish areas, thus gaining their support. She restricted Catholicism, yet protected Catholics from persecution.

Rather than persecute Moslems on the fringes of her empire, Catherine took control of Moslem education. She established Moslem settlements and paid for mosques that were under government control. She restricted Judaism, mostly to prevent competition with Orthodox bankers and merchants.

Catherine practiced frequent immorality, often lavishing land and serfs to lovers that she grew tired of.

 

[Vince53]

We return to 1762.

Britain is really having a good year. Their Prussian allies make peace with Russia, and Sweden (Britain's enemy) also withdraws from the war.After winning a few battles in Europe against the French, Britain and Prussia are on good shape.

In fact, Britain declares war on Spain and Naples, quickly seizing Manila (the capital of the Philippines) and Havana (the capital of Cuba).

When Afghanistan had been defeated by the Mughal Empire of India, the Sikhs had remained neutral. This year, Afghanistan slaughters about 30,000 Sikhs in retaliation. Sikhs are a religion, not an ethnic group, that was centered around Punjab, India. There are about 27 million Sikhs in the world today.

With support from sympathetic Christians, Jews build a synagogue in Plymouth, England that is still in use.

 

[Vince53]

It's 1763!

The French and Indian War officially ends, with France giving up all of Canada to Britain.

In Rhode Island, wealthy Jewish merchants help construct the Touro Synagogue. A large, beautiful building that currently serves about 175 Jewish families, it is the oldest synagogue building in North America.

Guyana was a small Dutch colony on South America's northern coast. Outnumbering the Whites about ten to one, Black slaves revolted, seizing half the colony and driving out about half the Dutch. Next year, a combined French and British army will defeat them.


Chief Pontiac leads a major Indian war against the British west of New York. Although the Indians lose, Britain orders all English settlers west of the Appalachian mountains to return east and leave the Indians alone.

Britain seizes Florida from Mexico (which is controlled by Spain). But Mexico seizes Louisiana (where the Mississippi River enters the Gulf of Mexico) from France. With its Indian population devastated by disease and slave raids, Florida had become a refuge for runaway Black slaves and Indians from other areas. Spain had offered all of them freedom and refuge if they converted to Catholicism.

 

[Vince53]

Welcome to 1764!

The Habsburg Empire had expanded to include the Szekelys, who had refused an order to be drafted into the Austrian Army. Under orders from the Austrian Empress, Austria massacres about 400 Szekelys, scattering many more around eastern Europe.

The Quebec Gazette is first published in Quebec. Undergoing several mergers, this weekly newspaper is the now the oldest newspaper in North America.

The British win a major victory over an alliance of four Asian Indian kingdoms.

In England, James Hargreaves invents a spinning wheel that has multiple spools of thread. England's cotton industry was growing, and they had developed larger, more powerful looms. But the English couldn't produce enough yarn to feed the looms. The "spinning jenny" enabled a worker to produce yarn eight times faster than before. This helped England begin the Industrial Revolution.

 

[Vince53]

And it's 1765 today!

Britain passes The Stamp Act, requiring Americans to use only stamp-embossed paper, printed in London, for all legal documents, newspapers, and even playing cards. The papers were taxed when sold. Enraged at being taxed without representation, the colonists protest so vigorously that the Stamp Act is repealed next year.


Two days after passing the Stamp Act, Parliament passes The Quartering Act, requiring all local American governments to provide food and lodging for any British troops in the area, including those passing through. With the French and Indian War over, Americans feel that they do not need the protection of a standing British army, and protests grow.


It is still a mystery of history: about 100 French shepherds had been attacked by a gigantic wolf-like creature, with dozens of deaths. Even the military couldn't stop the attacks. Possibly it was a pack of wolves, combined with popular hysteria, but this year, the beast is killed by a professional wolf-hunter, and the attacks end.

 

[Vince53]

1766

Christian VII begins his 42 year reign as King of Denmark. Already King of Norway and ruler of two territories, this insane monarch had a successful reign. Why? Different advisors seized the Throne at different times, making him a figurehead, and they ruled well.

Wanting to decrease their deaths, Dutch slave traders release a cargo of slaves on their ship and put them to work. When they assign the slaves to clean weapons, the slaves seize the ship. The surviving crew sail to South Africa, where local militias recapture the slaves.

Sweden becomes the first country in the world to put freedom of the press in its constitution. Shortly afterwards, Sweden passes various other laws allowing freedom of information.

Forced to repeal the Stamp Act in the face of violent American protests, Britain nonetheless declares that it can tax the American colonies at will, without allowing them to have representation.

 

[Vince53]

And it is 1767.

Parliament comes up with a brilliant idea. They will tax imports to the 13 colonies, and all the money will go to support American governors and judges. Since the Americans had been supporting these officials with their own tax money anyway, there would be no extra burden on the Americans. The catch? The judges and governors would have to be loyal to Britain if they wanted to be paid.

The taxes cause so much protest that eventually all of them are repealed except the tax on tea.

Mexico expels the Jesuits.


Britain discovers the Picairn Islands, which will later be settled by mutineers from the HMS Bounty. These four islands are spread over several hundred square miles and are Britain's last south Pacific territories.


The legendary American woodman Daniel Boone finds his way through the Cumberland Gap (a narrow gap in the Appalachian Mountains) that provides easy access into what is now Kentucky. Defying a British ban on settling there, Americans flock through the gap into lands claimed by the Indians.

 

[Vince53]

1768

Ukranian rebels massacre about 2,000 Polish and Jewish civilians.

Turkey declares war on Russia. Six years later, Russia has gained large Moslem areas , much of which are still part of Russia.


Fourteen years after obtaining independence form Genoa, Corsica, a large island south of France, is conquered by the French. Although closer to Italy than to France, it remains part of France to this day.


The tiny kingdom of Nepal is established by uniting several smaller kingdoms. It remains a kingdom until 2008, when rioting citizens force the government to convert to a democracy.


The first Encyclopedia Britannica is published. This three-volume work will eventually become the world's most famous and reliable encyclopedia. But its strongly anti-Biblical slant, and public exposure of other errors, help it decline. The internet virtually drives it into bankruptcy, especially with the slightly more error-prone Wikipedia. A DVD edition is produced that is designed to be unusable when newer operating systems come along. Its last printing was in 2012, and today it is sold on the internet.

 

[Vince53]

Sorry Folks, but the internet went down yesterday. Here is 1769:

A famine begins in Bengal, India. By next year, over 10 million people will have died in the worst natural disaster in history.

Clement XIV begins his five year reign as Pope. Elected partly because he opposed the Jesuits, he brought some peace to Europe’s Catholic kingdoms by suppressing the Jesuits. Even the Catholic Encyclopedia states that he was “abundantly justified,” although the reasons were more political than religious. To top it off, Protestant and Orthodox nations protected the Jesuits.


The European colonization of California begins, as Spain begins establishing a string of 21 Catholic missions.


On June 8, a total solar eclipse occurs.


In Italy, a Catholic Church is being used to store 20 tons of gunpowder. But lightning strikes, killing about 3,000 people in the explosion.


As the Ottoman Empire continues to crumble, Russia seizes a large fortress in western Ukraine. A sturdy structure that still stands, the fortress will change hands a few more times before Russia seizes it once and for all in 1807.


It isn't a tank, but England invents a steam-powered vehicle for hauling artillery.


Now, listen carefully, because this is difficult. The 1769 King James Version is printed. This edition made a large number of small changes from the original 1611 KJV. Most of the changes involved modernized spelling. Some words were changed to modern words that mean the same thing. And some errors were corrected. Most KJVs in use today are based on the 1769 edition, not the 1611 edition.

 

[Vince53]

1770 is a violent year for frustrated Americans and frustrated British troops.

In New York City, an American mob captures several British soldiers, but marches them unharmed to the Mayor’s Office to demand an end to unfair taxation and government corruption. But steadily more soldiers and Americans arrive, an officer orders a charge, one American is fatally bayoneted, and everyone goes home.


Pelted for hours by snowballs and rocks, outnumbered British soldiers in Boston fire without orders on an American mob, killing five and wounding six. Among the dead are Crispus Attucks, the first Black American to die for his country. Future US President John Adams successfully defends the soldiers, although two are branded on the hand. Although the event helped galvanize the American Revolutionary War, even the United States agrees today that the soldiers were innocent of murder. However, an engraving by Paul Revere turns “The Boston Massacre” into an American legend.


About 2,000 Americans assemble in North Carolina in order to intimidate the British into ending unfair taxation. A 1,000 man British army gives them the chance to leave peacefully. Most of the Americans refuse, and it is only British restraint that prevents a massacre. Nine Americans are killed and seven are executed for treason. About 18 British are killed.

 

[Vince53]

1770 is such a bad year that we have to take a second look.

Famine rages through Bengal, killing about 10 million people in the worst natural disaster in history. But Britain forces the Bengalis to work harder to keep up profits.



She NEVER said "They have no bread? Let them eat cake!" 14 year old Marie Antoinette marries King Louis of France. Fireworks are set off at the wedding, starting a fire that kills 132 people.


Spain seizes the Falkland Islands in the South Atlantic from Britain. Isolated but with a strategic location, the islands are close to oceanic oil (They didn't know that, back then). The two nations barely avoid war when they agree to jointly settle the islands.


The Ottoman Empire suffers three major defeats from Russia and another major defeat from Georgia. But victorious Russian troops bring the Black Plague to central Russia from Turkey. Moscow alone loses about 76,000 killed by the plague.


Lexell's Comet comes 1,400,000 miles from Earth, the closest ever recorded for a comet. It flies away and is never seen again.


British explorer James Cook claims Australia and New Zealand for Britain.

 

[Vince53]

1771 CAN'T be worse than last year.

It takes 31 years of heavy warfare, but Vietnam begins its successful overthrow of their Chinese overlords.

For reasons still unknown, Canadian Indians attack a peaceful Innuit (Eskimo) settlement in northern Canada, massacring about twenty people.


Three Ethiopian aristocrats raise an army and seize the nation.


In Moscow, 57,000 people die from the Black Plague.


Slovenia is a nation with 2.05 million inhabitants. It is on the Adriatic Sea in southern Europe, east of Italy. This year, a Lutheran evangelist translates the New Testament into Slovenian.

 

[Vince53]

It's 1772, and the climate in America "angry."

While chasing smugglers, a small British warship runs aground in Rhode Island. Led by a local restaurant owner, Americans row out and burn the ship.



Over the next 23 years, large parts of Poland are annexed by Prussia, Austria, and Russia. The majority of Jews now live in these four countries. Many of the rights granted to Jews by Poland are taken away.

A fire in Edo, Japan, destroys a path of buildings fifteen miles long and twenty miles wide.


With its insane King too incompetent to handle things, Denmark executes its Regent and exiles its Queen, after the Regent got her pregnant.


France discovers The Desolation Islands over 2,000 miles southeast of Africa. More than 300 islands make it almost as big as Puerto Rico, but only scientists and researchers live in these cold wastelands.


Although never authorized, Black slavery existed in Britain. This year, a British court rules that slavery is a violation of British common law, and it is banned shortly afterwards.


A British scientist isolates nitrogen. An inert gas that makes up most of Earth's atmosphere, nitrogen can neither burn nor explode.

 

[Vince53]

“Boston Harbor a Teapot Tonight!”


1773 marks the most famous tea party in history.


Enraged at the tax on tea, Americans board British merchant ships in Boston Harbor and throw 300 tons of tea overboard. Contrary to legend, only a few Americans were disguised as Indians. British reaction is so stringent that this one event became a major force behind the American Revolution.

And, deciding to protest peacefully, many Americans start drinking coffee instead of tea. As a result, coffee becomes a major American beverage. Today, Americans drink $40 billion worth of coffee every year, but only $2 billion worth of tea. And 85% of it is iced tea.


On a comical side note, the two British companies that owned the tea later sue the United States for damages. The US replied, quite reasonably, that it had not existed at the time, and that it did not organize the Boston Tea Party.


British explorer James Cook becomes the first European to cross the Antarctic Circle, although ice blocks his passage to the South Pole.


With the Pope's approval, the Holy Roman Empire expels the Jesuits.


For the next nine years, China will compile the largest collection of Chinese literature in history. With 2.3 million hand-written pages, the writers are not paid, but are given government jobs as a reward.

 

[Vince53]

Britain really botches up 1774.

Determined to bring their American colonies under control after the Boston Tea Party, England passes a series of “Intolerable Acts.” As a result, the 13 colonies elect representatives to the Continental Congress in Philadelphia. The Congress tries unsuccessfully to solve the problems through negotiation. They do, however, organize successful boycotts of British goods.


You need to understand that no one in America was in charge of the 13 colonies. The highest government there was each colonial leadership. The first Continental Congress, authorized by the colonies to exist for only one year, was not really a congress--it was appointed by the colonies, but it was authorized to negotiate with Britain. As such, it was the first government over the entire 13 colonies.


As a result of the Congress, Maryland citizens burn a British merchant ship loaded with tea. In New Jersey, Americans burn a wagon train carrying British tea.


And now, Britain's side of the story. Britain, France, Spain, and the Netherlands were powerful nations that often declared war suddenly and attacked quickly. Therefor, Britain needed to have a large army, which had little to do during peacetime, but which cost a lot of money. A large army was stationed in the Americas to prevent other nations from attacking America's large cities without warning. Thanks to the British, America was rarely attacked by these other three nations, and it was also more difficult for Indians to attack. Someone had to pay for this army, and Britain felt that it should be the Americans.

 

[Vince53]

We return to 1774.

Abdul Hamid I begins his successful 15 year reign over the Ottoman Empire. A devout Moslem pacifist, he is quickly defeated in a major battle. But he then reforms the government, straightens out a lot of corruption, improves the educational system, re-organizes the military, and establishes an effective fire department. But Russia and her allies continue to seize Turkish territory, and he is unable to stop the decline of the Ottoman Empire.

The first Unitarian congregation is founded in London.

The great British scientist Joseph Priestly discovers oxygen. Two other scientists had already discovered it, but Priestly's published results make it known.

Australia is an island continent, right? No, this year James Cook discovers Norfolk Island, hundreds of miles away from Australia. But today it is part of Australia.

The legendary tree planter, Johnny Appleseed is born. He will plant apple orchards in the north central United States, providing food for settlers who arrived later. And the Indians loved him and never attacked him.