The world in
What happened in 1885?
17 events across 8 world regions, each with its sources.
North America
Founding of Bryn Mawr CollegeBryn Mawr College was established as a Quaker women's liberal arts college in Pennsylvania, later becoming one of the first US women's colleges to offer doctoral degrees and a member of the Seven Sisters.
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.
Founding of Arizona State UniversityArizona State University was founded in 1885 as a normal school by the 13th Arizona Territorial Legislature, initially part of a nationwide movement to train teachers for public schools.
SourcesWikipedia ↗Image: The original uploader was Schwnj at English Wikipedia . / CC BY-SA 2.5 ↗
Construction of the Texas State Capitol BeginsThe Texas State Capitol began construction in 1885, marking the start of the building that would house the state government. Designed by architect Elijah E. Myers in an Italian Renaissance style, it later became the seat of the Texas Legislature and the Governor's office, and was designated a National Historic Landmark.
South Asia
Outbreak of the Aceh WarIn early 1873, discussions between representatives of the Aceh Sultanate and the United States in Singapore provoked the Netherlands, leading to a Dutch military attack on Aceh and the start of the Aceh War. The conflict was part of a series of late 19th-century wars that consolidated Dutch rule over modern-day Indonesia, ultimately ending in 1904 with the Dutch annexation of Aceh and control over the entire Indonesian archipelago. The war lasted over three decades, resulting in around 4,000 Dutch and 25,000 Acehnese deaths.
SourcesWikipedia ↗Image: Unknown author Unknown author / Public domain ↗
Outbreak of the Third Anglo-Burmese WarIn 1885, the Third Anglo-Burmese War broke out. The war lasted only a few weeks, though residual resistance continued until 1887. It was the third British invasion of Burma in the 19th century, resulting in the loss of Burmese independence.
SourcesWikipedia ↗Image: Willoughby Wallace Hooper / Public domain ↗
Founding of the Indian National CongressThe Indian National Congress was founded on 28 December 1885. It is India's oldest political party and the first modern nationalist movement to emerge in the British Empire in Asia and Africa.
SourcesWikipedia ↗Image: Indian National Congress / Public domain ↗
East Asia
Meiji RestorationThe Meiji Restoration was a series of modernising reforms carried out in Japan between 1868 and 1889. It began with the restoration of imperial rule in 1868, overthrowing the Tokugawa shogunate and the warrior government that had ruled Japan for over six hundred years, and bringing an end to the feudal system. During the reforms, Japan actively adopted Western ideas, production methods and technology, rapidly industrialised, and underwent fundamental changes to its political and social structure, transforming the country into a modern power.
Self-Strengthening Movement BeginsQing officials launched the Self-Strengthening Movement in 1861, aiming to strengthen China by adopting Western military technology. Though lasting until 1895, its beginning marked the start of modern industrialization and military modernization in China.
SourcesWikipedia ↗Image: Unknown author Unknown author / Public domain ↗
Sino-French WarThe Sino-French War was a limited conflict fought from 1884 to 1885 between the French Third Republic and Qing China over influence in Vietnam. Qing China attempted to protect its tributary Vietnam, leading to conflict with France. The main theater was in northern Vietnam, with spillovers into the Chinese coast, Taiwan, and the Penghu Islands. The war ended with peace negotiations, where Qing China recognized the French protectorates of Tonkin and Annam, bringing Vietnam under French influence.
SourcesWikipedia ↗Image: SinoFrenchWar1884-1885.jpg : PHGCOM derivative work: Cj73 / CC BY-SA 3.0 ↗
North Africa
Mahdist WarThe Mahdist War (1881–1899) was a colonial conflict between the Mahdist Sudanese, led by Muhammad Ahmad who proclaimed himself the Mahdi, and the forces of Egypt and later Britain. Beginning in 1881, the Mahdists overthrew Egyptian rule in Sudan and established a Mahdist state. The British later joined the conflict alongside Egypt, eventually defeating the Mahdists. The war involved other powers such as Italy, the Congo Free State, Ethiopia, and France, and was marked by internal rebellions and famine.
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.
Sub-Saharan Africa
- Establishment of the Congo Free State
In 1885, King Leopold II of Belgium proclaimed the Congo Free State as his private possession after the Berlin Conference, replacing the International Association of the Congo. Located in Central Africa, it was an absolute monarchy under his personal rule, in a personal union with Belgium, initiating over two decades of exploitation and atrocities in the Congo Basin.
SourcesWikipedia ↗
- Atrocities in the Congo Free State
Between 1885 and 1908, in the Congo Free State under the personal rule of King Leopold II of Belgium, colonial administrators enforced harsh labour policies to collect natural rubber, resulting in widespread atrocities. These, combined with disease, famine, and displacement, led to a sharp decline in the Congolese population, estimated in the millions to tens of millions.
SourcesWikipedia ↗
West Asia
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Founding of the Church of Mary MagdaleneThe Church of Mary Magdalene is a Russian Orthodox church on the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem, near the Garden of Gethsemane. It was founded approximately in the late 19th century. The church serves as an Eastern Orthodox place of worship, located across the Kidron Valley.
Europe
Outbreak of the Serbo-Bulgarian WarOn 14 November 1885, the Kingdom of Serbia declared war on the Principality of Bulgaria, dissatisfied with Bulgaria's unification with Eastern Rumelia, marking the outbreak of the Serbo-Bulgarian War. The war lasted until 28 November 1885, ending in a decisive Bulgarian victory and a truce. Known as 'the war of the captains versus the generals', the conflict initiated international recognition of Bulgaria's unification.
SourcesWikipedia ↗Image: Original uploader was ЧерноризецХрабър at bg.wikipedia / Public domain ↗
Oceania
Founding of the Melbourne Cricket GroundThe Melbourne Cricket Ground was established in the 1850s by the Melbourne Cricket Club in Yarra Park, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. It became a major venue for Australian rules football and cricket, served as the main stadium for the 1956 Melbourne Olympics, and is still managed by the Melbourne Cricket Club.
Around 1885
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.
- Second Industrial Revolution
- 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