The world’s largest database of social change milestones from throughout human history
We are building the world’s largest database of social change milestones, from the first fire to today’s good news. Change is not only possible, it has happened consistently throughout human history.
Filter by era, country, topic, actor, source, and more. Submit your own milestones!
3899
social change milestones archived
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Era
- Agriculture (10000 - 3000 B.C.E.)
- Civilization (3000 B.C.E. - 500 C.E.)
- Modernity (1500 - 1945 C.E.)
- Post-classical (500 - 1500 C.E.)
- Post-modernity (1945 - 2016 C.E.)
- Prehistory (250000 - 10000 B.C.E.)
- Today (2017 C.E. - ???)
Year
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Search
Era
- Agriculture (10000 - 3000 B.C.E.)
- Civilization (3000 B.C.E. - 500 C.E.)
- Modernity (1500 - 1945 C.E.)
- Post-classical (500 - 1500 C.E.)
- Post-modernity (1945 - 2016 C.E.)
- Prehistory (250000 - 10000 B.C.E.)
- Today (2017 C.E. - ???)
Year
Topics
Region
Countries
State/Province
Institution
Sources
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1790 C.E. September 25Four great Anhui troupes introduce Anhui opera to Beijing for first time
Hui opera, or Huiju, remains as a popular regional genre of Chinese opera. It is now most prominent in the area around Huangshan City and Chizhou, as well as Wuyuan County, Jiangxi.
-
1788 C.E. June 21The United States Constitution is ratified
Today the U.S. Constitution is the oldest written constitution in operation in the world.
-
1787 C.E. May 25Constitutional Convention convenes in Philadelphia, marking new era of democracy
This idea formed the basis of the new U.S. Constitution, which became the law of the land in 1789.
-
1776 C.E. March 9Adam Smith publishes “The Wealth of Nations” driving the rise of capitalism
The publishing of "The Wealth of Nations" marked the birth of modern capitalism as well as economics.
-
1775 C.E. June 14The Bengali Renaissance thrives in the Bengal region of the Indian subcontinent
The Bengali Renaissance was a cultural, social, intellectual and artistic movement in the eastern part of the Indian subcontinent during the period of the British Indian Empire, from the nineteenth century to the early twentieth century dominated by Bengalis.
-
1774 C.E. October 26John Wilkinson invents a boring machine that becomes perhaps humanity’s first machine tool
John "Iron-Mad" Wilkinson invented precision boring machine that could bore cast iron cylinders, such as those used in steam engines of James Watt.
-
1773 C.E. January 17Captain James Cook becomes first human known to cross Antarctic Circle
In 1773, James Cook and his crew crossed the Antarctic Circle for the first time; however, although they discovered nearby islands, they did not catch sight of Antarctica itself.
-
1772 C.E. June 28The Qianlong Emperor orders the creation of the Siku Quanshu
The Siku Quanshu ended up surpassing the Ming dynasty's 1403 Yongle Encyclopedia in size, which was China's largest encyclopedia prior to the creation of the Siku Quanshu.
-
1768 C.E. January 16King Prithvi Narayan Shah founds the Kindgom of Nepal
Founded by King Prithvi Narayan Shah, a Gorkhali monarch of Rajput origin from medieval India,[6] it existed for 240 years until the abolition of the Nepalese monarchy in 2008.
-
1765 C.E. December 15James Watts invents the steam engine
The firm of Boulton and Watt became famous and Watt lived until August 19, 1819, long enough to see his steam engine become the greatest single factor in the upcoming new industrial era.
-
1790 C.E. September 25Four great Anhui troupes introduce Anhui opera to Beijing for first time
Hui opera, or Huiju, remains as a popular regional genre of Chinese opera. It is now most prominent in the area around Huangshan City and Chizhou, as well as Wuyuan County, Jiangxi.
-
1788 C.E. June 21The United States Constitution is ratified
Today the U.S. Constitution is the oldest written constitution in operation in the world.
-
1787 C.E. May 25Constitutional Convention convenes in Philadelphia, marking new era of democracy
This idea formed the basis of the new U.S. Constitution, which became the law of the land in 1789.
-
1776 C.E. March 9Adam Smith publishes “The Wealth of Nations” driving the rise of capitalism
The publishing of "The Wealth of Nations" marked the birth of modern capitalism as well as economics.
-
1775 C.E. June 14The Bengali Renaissance thrives in the Bengal region of the Indian subcontinent
The Bengali Renaissance was a cultural, social, intellectual and artistic movement in the eastern part of the Indian subcontinent during the period of the British Indian Empire, from the nineteenth century to the early twentieth century dominated by Bengalis.
-
1774 C.E. October 26John Wilkinson invents a boring machine that becomes perhaps humanity’s first machine tool
John "Iron-Mad" Wilkinson invented precision boring machine that could bore cast iron cylinders, such as those used in steam engines of James Watt.
-
1773 C.E. January 17Captain James Cook becomes first human known to cross Antarctic Circle
In 1773, James Cook and his crew crossed the Antarctic Circle for the first time; however, although they discovered nearby islands, they did not catch sight of Antarctica itself.
-
1772 C.E. June 28The Qianlong Emperor orders the creation of the Siku Quanshu
The Siku Quanshu ended up surpassing the Ming dynasty's 1403 Yongle Encyclopedia in size, which was China's largest encyclopedia prior to the creation of the Siku Quanshu.
-
1768 C.E. January 16King Prithvi Narayan Shah founds the Kindgom of Nepal
Founded by King Prithvi Narayan Shah, a Gorkhali monarch of Rajput origin from medieval India,[6] it existed for 240 years until the abolition of the Nepalese monarchy in 2008.
-
1765 C.E. December 15
James Watts invents the steam engine
The firm of Boulton and Watt became famous and Watt lived until August 19, 1819, long enough to see his steam engine become the greatest single factor in the upcoming new industrial era.
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Submit a Milestone
Did we miss a social change milestone? What social progress have you seen around the world that I should include? Let us know!
NOTE: We cannot guarantee we will post all stories submitted here. We only post stories that represent milestones in human development (as opposed to “feel good” stories). We want something that would make sense to put on a timeline of human progress. For example, a story like “Random customer leaves a huge tip” isn’t a great fit. “Country X passes economic inequality reform bill” is a great fit.