The world in
What happened in 1898?
20 events across 8 world regions, each with its sources.
Europe
Signing of the Treaty of Paris (1898)On December 10, 1898, the United States and Spain signed the Treaty of Paris, formally ending the Spanish-American War. Spain relinquished claims over Cuba and ceded Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Philippines to the U.S., with the U.S. paying $20 million for the Philippines. The treaty marked the dissolution of the Spanish Empire's major overseas colonies and established the U.S. as a colonial power in the Caribbean and Pacific.
SourcesWikipedia ↗Image: Frances Benjamin Johnston / Public domain ↗
Swiss National Museum opens in ZurichThe Swiss National Museum opened in Zurich in the late 19th century near the main train station. It is a key museum of cultural history in Switzerland, overseen by the Federal Office of Culture. Part of the Swiss National Museums group, it later added branches in different regions and a collections centre with specialized conservation services.
The Dreyfus affair breaks outThe Dreyfus affair was a major political scandal in France in the late 19th century. It began in 1894 when Captain Alfred Dreyfus, a Jewish officer, was wrongly convicted of treason. This caused deep divisions in French society between Dreyfusards who believed in his innocence and anti-Dreyfusards. Émile Zola's open letter in 1898 was a turning point. The affair lasted until 1906 and had a profound political impact.
Opening of the Hôtel Ritz Paris on Place VendômeIn the late 19th century, the Hôtel Ritz Paris opened on Place Vendôme in the city's 1st arrondissement. Located at number 15, it is one of the most luxurious hotels in the world and a member of The Leading Hotels of the World.
Founding of the University of St. GallenIn 1898, the University of St. Gallen was established in St. Gallen, Switzerland, as a research university known for business, economics, and social sciences.
Construction of the Jungfrau Railway beginsSwitzerland began constructing a rack railway linking Kleine Scheidegg to the Jungfraujoch. The approximately 9-kilometre line runs mostly within the Jungfrau Tunnel, built inside the Eiger and Mönch mountains, with two intermediate stations. Its terminus, Jungfraujoch station, is the highest railway station in Europe.
Construction of Casa CalvetCasa Calvet began construction in Barcelona, designed by Antoni Gaudí. The building served both as a commercial property and a private residence.
North America
Klondike Gold RushFrom 1896 to 1899, about 100,000 prospectors headed to the Klondike in Yukon, northwestern Canada. Gold was found on August 16, 1896; when news reached San Francisco the next year (spurring a rush), migration surged. The route and cold proved harsh: only about 30,000–40,000 arrived, and roughly 4,000 found gold. In 1899, discovery at Nome, Alaska drew many away, marking the rush’s end.
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 Northeastern UniversityIn 1898, the Boston Young Men's Christian Association founded an all-male institute in Boston, Massachusetts, which became the precursor to Northeastern University. Initially a private educational institution, it was renamed Northeastern College in 1916 and gained university status in 1922.
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.
Battle of OmdurmanOn 2 September 1898, an Anglo-Egyptian force under Major General Herbert Kitchener defeated the Mahdist army led by Abdallahi ibn Muhammad at Kerreri, north of Omdurman. The British employed Maxim guns extensively, inflicting heavy casualties. This decisive battle ended the Mahdist State and secured British-Egyptian control over Sudan.
SourcesWikipedia ↗Image: Edward Matthew Hale (1852-1924). Original uploader was Raoulduke47 4 January 2007 (original upload date) at en.wikipedia / Public domain ↗
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.
Central & South America
Spanish–American WarFrom April to August 1898, the United States fought Spain after the USS Maine sank in Havana Harbor. The war ended with the U.S. gaining sovereignty over Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Philippines, and establishing control in Cuba, making the U.S. the leading Caribbean power and bringing an end to Spain’s presence in the Americas, Asia, and the Pacific.
SourcesWikipedia ↗Image: Original uploader was Fouquet at nl.wikipedia / Public domain ↗
Banana WarsBetween 1898 and 1934, the United States carried out a series of military occupations, police actions, and interventions in Central America and the Caribbean. These operations were primarily conducted by the United States Marine Corps, which compiled the Small Wars Manual (1921) based on its experiences.
SourcesWikipedia ↗Image: A. R. Harrison, United States Marine Corps / Public domain ↗
Sub-Saharan Africa
- 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 ↗
Completion of St. Joseph's Cathedral, ZanzibarSt. Joseph's Cathedral was completed in 1898 in Stone Town, Zanzibar. Built at the initiative of French Spiritan missionaries and designed by French architect Béranger, the neo-Romanesque structure serves as the seat of the Diocese of Zanzibar. It is one of the most important historical buildings in Stone Town and a major visitor attraction, featuring interior frescoes of Old Testament scenes and stained glass imported from France.
Oceania
Philippine RevolutionFrom 1896 to 1898, the Philippine revolutionary organization Katipunan waged a war of independence against Spanish colonial rule. The revolution began in August 1896 under the leadership of Andrés Bonifacio, later led by Emilio Aguinaldo. In 1897, the revolutionaries signed the Pact of Biak-na-Bato with Spain, after which Aguinaldo went into exile in Hong Kong, though hostilities never ceased. In 1898, Philippine revolutionaries declared independence, but it was not recognized by Spain, which sold the islands to the United States in the Treaty of Paris.
SourcesWikipedia ↗Image: Desconocido (pertenece a la misma sesión de fotos que File:Los defensores de Baler en Barcelona (septiembre de 1899, La / Public domain ↗
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 ↗
East Asia
1887 Yellow River floodIn late September 1887, a massive breach of the Yellow River occurred near Zhengzhou, Henan, China, killing at least 930,000 people. It was one of the deadliest natural disasters in recorded history and the most fatal flood in Chinese history.
Around 1898
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
- Establishment of Women's Suffrage Worldwide
- 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