The world in
What happened in 1847?
15 events across 6 world regions, each with its sources.
Europe
Unification of ItalyThe unification of Italy, also known as the Risorgimento, was the 19th-century political and social movement that consolidated various states of the Italian peninsula into the single Kingdom of Italy. On 17 March 1861 the Kingdom of Italy was proclaimed in Turin, and the process completed in 1871 with Rome as the capital, following its capture in 1870.
SourcesWikipedia ↗Image: Sebastiano De Albertis / Public domain ↗
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Caucasian WarThe Caucasian War was a 19th-century conflict of conquest by the Russian Empire against various peoples of the North Caucasus, lasting from 1817 to 1864. Imam Shamil led fierce resistance, repeatedly repelling Russian attacks, until the fall of Gunib and his capture in 1859. The war ended with the final subjugation of the Circassians and the annexation of the region in 1864.
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Outbreak of the Russo-Circassian WarIn 1763, the Russian Empire invaded Circassia and occupied Mozdok, prompting the Circassian people to organize a resistance movement to preserve their independence, marking the beginning of the Russo-Circassian War. This conflict became the longest war in the history of the Caucasus and of Russia, ending in 1864 with the defeat of Circassian forces.
SourcesWikipedia ↗Image: Heinrich Ambros Eckert / Public domain ↗
Paris-Gare-de-Lyon OpensIn the mid-19th century, Paris-Gare-de-Lyon opened as one of Paris' mainline railway termini, later becoming the hub for southeastern France's rail network. Located in the 12th arrondissement, it is one of seven major SNCF terminals in Paris, handling intercity, TGV, and suburban services. As the starting point of France's first TGV line, it marked the dawn of high-speed rail. Today, it remains one of the busiest stations in Paris and Europe, ranking among the top in France for passenger traffic.
Great Irish FamineThe Great Irish Famine was a period of mass starvation and disease in Ireland from 1845 to 1852, most severely affecting the Irish-speaking west and south. It constituted a major historical social crisis with a significant impact on Irish society and history.
SourcesWikipedia ↗Image: Illustrated London News, December 22, 1849 / Public domain ↗
Founding of the Zollverein Coal Mine Industrial ComplexIn 1847, the Zollverein Coal Mine Industrial Complex was established in western Essen, Germany, with the founding of the first coal mine on the premises. The complex later became one of the largest coal mines and coking plants in Europe and was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2001.
SourcesUNESCO World Heritage listing ↗Wikipedia ↗Image: Thomas Wolf , www.foto-tw.de / CC BY-SA 3.0 de ↗
Zürich Hauptbahnhof opensZürich Hauptbahnhof opened in 1847 as the terminus of the Spanisch Brötli Bahn, the first railway built entirely within Switzerland, marking the beginning of the Swiss railway era.
Foundation of the Alexander Nevsky CathedralThe Alexander Nevsky Cathedral was founded in the 8th arrondissement of Paris, later serving as an important site for the Russian Orthodox Church.
North America
Outbreak of the Mexican–American WarFrom 1846 to 1848, war broke out between the United States and Mexico. The immediate cause was the 1845 U.S. annexation of Texas, which Mexico still considered its territory and refused to recognize as independent. Texas had been de facto independent since 1836, with most Anglo-American residents wanting to join the United States.
SourcesWikipedia ↗Image: Adolphe Jean-Baptiste Bayot / Carl Nebel / Public domain ↗
University of Iowa foundedIn 1847, the University of Iowa was founded in Iowa City, becoming the oldest and largest public research university in the state.
SourcesWikipedia ↗Image: Billwhittaker ( talk ) at en.wikipedia / CC BY-SA 3.0 ↗
Outbreak of the Caste War of YucatánIn 1847, the Indigenous Maya people of the Yucatán Peninsula launched an armed revolt against the Hispanic population, known as the Caste War. The uprising stemmed from the latter's political and economic dominance since the Spanish conquest in the 16th century, and it is considered one of the most successful modern Native American revolts. The conflict primarily unfolded between government forces in the northwest and independent Maya groups in the southeast, lasting nearly five decades.
Central & South America
- Dominican War of Independence
The Dominican War of Independence began on February 27, 1844, when the Dominican Republic declared independence from Haiti, and ended in 1856. Prior to the war, the island of Hispaniola had been unified under Haitian rule for 22 years. The conflict resulted in a Dominican victory, securing the nation's independence.
SourcesWikipedia ↗
East Asia
Opium WarsThe Opium Wars were two military conflicts between the Qing dynasty and Western powers in the mid-19th century, beginning in 1839. The first conflict was triggered by the opium prohibition, and the second is considered a continuation of the first.
North Africa
French conquest of AlgeriaBetween 1830 and 1904, France launched a military invasion and prolonged war of conquest in Algeria. In June 1830, French forces landed near Algiers, quickly seizing the capital and coastal areas. Over the following decades, despite internal political strife, France repeatedly reinforced its military presence to suppress resistance in the interior, gradually extending control southward into the Sahara, and finalizing its colonial borders by 1904.
Oceania
New Zealand Wars outbreakThe New Zealand Wars broke out in 1845, a series of armed conflicts between the British colonial government and Māori. The root cause was disputes over the sale of Māori land to British settlers, with the conflicts lasting until 1872 across multiple campaigns.
SourcesWikipedia ↗Image: DO'Neil at English Wikipedia / CC BY-SA 3.0 ↗
Around 1847
These are known only to the century, not to the year. They are listed separately so a rough date is never mistaken for an exact one.
- Emergence of the Enlightenment
- Museum Island construction begins
- Completion of Dom Pedro V Theatre
- Establishment of Tomioka Silk Mill and Related Industrial Heritage
- Construction of Hôtel Solvay begins
- Founding of Kulangsu as an International Settlement
- Construction of the Four Hydraulic Boat Lifts on the Canal du Centre begins
- Founding of Nelson's Dockyard