The world in
What happened in 1906?
16 events across 6 world regions, each with its sources.
Europe
Russian Revolution of 1905Between 1905 and 1907, the Russian Empire experienced massive anti-government social unrest, including strikes, peasant revolts, and military mutinies, driven by decades of discontent and the disastrous Russo-Japanese War. The turmoil compelled Nicholas II to issue the 1906 Fundamental Laws, create the State Duma, and promise a multi-party system, though these were later undermined.
SourcesWikipedia ↗Image: Unknown author Unknown author / Public domain ↗
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.
- Denmark Expedition
From 1906 to 1908, Denmark organized the ship Danmark to explore northeastern Greenland. The expedition aimed to complete mapping of the last uncharted stretches of that coast and gather scientific data from little-studied areas, including information on the remaining Inuit of northeastern Greenland. Its name derives from the vessel Danmark.
SourcesWikipedia ↗
Construction of Casa Milà beginsCasa Milà, the last private residence designed by Catalan architect Antoni Gaudí, began construction in Barcelona in 1906. Nicknamed 'La Pedrera' for its rough-hewn appearance, it is an iconic work of Catalan Modernisme.
Completion of the Quinta da Regaleira estateBetween 1904 and 1910, the Quinta da Regaleira estate was constructed near Sintra, Portugal, and later became part of the Cultural Landscape of Sintra, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Opening of Bréguet–Sabin stationBréguet–Sabin is a station on Line 5 of the Paris Métro, located in the 11th arrondissement of Paris. The station's name comes from nearby Rue Bréguet, which honours the Bréguet family, local watchmakers and inventors.
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Construction of Fort Breendonk beginsIn 1906, Belgium began building a fortification at Breendonk. It was part of the second ring of defences around Antwerp, intended to resist a German attack. The fort was covered with a thick layer of earth and surrounded by a moat for protection. It later served as a Nazi prison camp during WWII and is now a national memorial.
SourcesWikipedia ↗Image: Trougnouf (Benoit Brummer) / CC BY 4.0 ↗
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 ↗
Founding of the Great Mosque of DjennéAround the 13th century, the first Great Mosque of Djenné was established on the flood plain of the Bani River, later becoming the heart of the city and a major African landmark.
Maji Maji RebellionAn armed rebellion against German colonial rule broke out in German East Africa from 1905 to 1907, triggered by forced cotton cultivation policies. The conflict caused massive deaths, overwhelmingly from famine.
SourcesWikipedia ↗Image: Maximilian Dörrbecker ( Chumwa ) / CC BY-SA 2.5 ↗
North America
1906 San Francisco EarthquakeOn the morning of April 18, 1906, a powerful earthquake struck Northern California along the San Andreas Fault near San Francisco. The main shock and ensuing fires caused severe destruction in San Francisco, making it one of the most serious natural disasters to befall a major U.S. city.
Establishment of Mesa Verde National ParkIn 1906, Mesa Verde National Park was established in Colorado, the first U.S. national park created to preserve archaeological sites. The park is known for its cliff dwellings built by the Ancestral Puebloans and covers about 211 km². It was later designated a World Heritage Site in 1978.
SourcesUNESCO World Heritage listing ↗Wikipedia ↗Image: Elaine from Sheffield, England / CC BY 2.0 ↗
West Asia
Iranian Constitutional Revolution (1905–1911)A political movement from 1905 to 1911 in Persia that sought to replace the absolute rule of the Qajar shahs with a constitutional monarchy. The revolution was short-lived but resulted in the creation of a constitution and a parliament, driven by widespread discontent among various social groups.
SourcesWikipedia ↗Image: Unknown author Unknown author / Public domain ↗
- Persian Constitutional Revolution
The Persian Constitutional Revolution was a revolution that took place between 1905 and 1911 in Persia under the Qajar dynasty, leading to the establishment of a parliament. It has been described as an epoch-making episode in the modern history of Persia.
SourcesWikipedia ↗
Central & South America
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 ↗
East Asia
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Beijing Zoo foundedBeijing Zoo was founded in 1906 as part of an agricultural experimentation ground during the Qing dynasty. Originally known as the 'Garden of Ten Thousand Beasts', it became China's oldest zoo, established in the Xizhimen area of Beijing to combine animal exhibition, breeding, and research.
Around 1906
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.
- Completion of the Taipei Grand Mosque
- Establishment of Women's Suffrage Worldwide
- Establishment of Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park
- Construction of Grimeton Longwave Radio Station
- Construction of the Trans-Iranian Railway begins
- Construction of the 20th-Century Architecture of Frank Lloyd Wright Begins
- Construction of the Historic Monuments of Dengfeng in 'The Centre of Heaven and Earth'
- Establishment of the Ancient Building Complex in the Wudang Mountains