The biggest developments of 1649 CE in the continuing development of Western hegemony of the world all centered on Oliver Cromwell. In last year’s bulletin we took his story up to the beheading of King Charles I in January 1649 and Cromwell’s announcement of an anti-monarchical Commonwealth. Throughout the rest of the year he consolidated … Continue reading 1649: Cromwell consolidates at home, colonizes Ireland, revamps English Navy. Etc. →

In international affairs, the Peace of Westphalia that was concluded among numerous, European-only parties in 1648 CE set the basic rules of inter-state conduct that are still fundamentally in place, covering the entire world of humankind, until today. Already in 1648, four European states had extensive transoceanic empires through which they were able to affect … Continue reading 1648: Peace of Westphalia sets inter-state rules for >370 years. (Etc.) →

1647 CE saw continuations of most of the big story-lines we’ve been following for some years now. And (spoiler alert!) 1648 will be a huge year in geopolitics. Here are three smaller but still notable developments of 1647. A battle in Ireland The position of the Confederate movement that had emerged in Ireland earlier in … Continue reading 1647: A battle in Ireland, a debate in Putney, & a planter in Barbados →

The two major developments of 1646 CE that affected the history of Western imperialism were the Parliamentary victory in the first round of England’s civil war and a series of attempts the Dutch VOC navy made in the Indies to oust the Spanish from the Philippines. We will get to them below. One smaller but … Continue reading 1646: Parliament wins 1st round of English civil war, Dutch challenge Spain in E. Indies, etc →

The biggest geopolitical trend in 1645 CE was the push by independent Portugal to start recapturing the extensive portions of Brazil’s coast that had earlier been taken from them by the Dutch. But I retain my interest in the civil war in England which was already a globe-active power and whose colonial projects (including in … Continue reading 1645: Portuguese start to re-take Dutch Brazil, English Parliament founds new army, & more. →

Without a doubt, the main development in 1644 CE was the ousting of the Ming Dynasty from Beijing and, after further turmoil there, the installation of the robust and longlasting Qing Dynasty. Other notable events in the continuing story of the rise of “the West” were the uprising that the capable but ageing Powhatan chief … Continue reading 1644: Upheavals in China, a Powhatan rising in Virginia, etc. →

In 1643 CE I’ll look at England’s continuing King vs. Parliament civil war, and its many repercussions including on Ireland, the Anglo colonies in North America, and the East India Company (EIC.) The other significant story is an attempt the Dutch swashbucklers made to take a chunk of Chile from Spain. I’ll come to those … Continue reading 1643: English civil war continues, has wide effects. Dutch poke Spain in Chile. France, China, etc. →

Here were my earlier two communiques in this project: 1, 2. Well, I am now speedily closing in on having completed 25% (125 years/days) of this 500 year/day project! That will happen on May 5. I raced right through the “100 year” mark. I’ll confess that at the time I was trying to pull together … Continue reading Project 500 Years: Communique #3 →

In 1642 CE, the main developments of geopolitical impact were the civil wars in both ultra-large China and tiny England. The significance of the latter was magnified because by then, England already had a globe-girdling empire with non-trivial positions in India, North America, and the Caribbean; and the outcome of the struggle for power “back … Continue reading 1642: England in civil war; Irish declare independence; News from China, etc. →

Yes, 1640 CE was a big year for inter-imperial change and there will be more to come. So today I will try to sort out the two big threads of 1641, which are: (1) The Portuguese-Spanish-Dutch thread, and (2) The English-Scottish-Irish thread. Fall-out from Portugal’s secession from Spain It was on December 1, 1640 that … Continue reading 1641: Four empires try to reset their balance after 1640 →