Timeline / Before 1800 to 1820
Date Country Theme
1700 - 1750s Germany Fine And Applied Arts
"Palace Schwetzingen" is bulit and flourised under the Palatine Prince Elector Carl Theodor. The baroque castle complex includes more than 100 sculptures and a "Türkischer Garten" ("Turkish Garden") with a mosque, biult from 1779 to 1791, that makes it the earliest mosque- style in Germany and the largest structure of its kind in a german garden. It was designed by Nicolas de Pigage. However the oriental details are not for religious but for decorative purposes.
1700 - 1750s Germany Cities And Urban Spaces
The newly built Palace of Schwetzingen (built on the site of a former palace that actually dates back to 1350) flourishes under the Palatine Prince Elector Karl Theodor. Today a heritage site of great cultural significance, it contains some 100 sculptures and is known for its Türkischer Garten, a garden in the Turkish style with a mosque (constructed 1779–91 and the earliest mosque-style and largest structure of its kind in any German garden), designed by French architect Nicolas de Pigage and with “Oriental” details that are for decorative purposes only.
1700 United Arab Emirates (Sharjah) Political Context
In the early 1700s, the (Al-Qasimi) Qawasim confederation migrates to the coast of the Arab Gulf from the Persian littoral. Here, they establish their main base in Julfar (later Ras al-Khaimah), soon extending their sway all along the lower Gulf, across areas of the east coast and towns on the Persian littoral.
During the 18th and 19th Germany Travelling centuries
Travellers from Europe approached the notion of the Near East with dreams of a “holy world” and “treasuries of wisdom”. The European desire for the “Orient” arose partly as a result of the Enlightenment, which since the 1800s had already changed the public psyche, filtering down from the rationalism of intellectuals to the scientification of the public. In addition, the many wars of the period, especially the Napoleonic Wars, produced in the people nostalgia; a desire for distance, the unknown, and the halcyon days of the past. Romantic-era authors and philosophers, much disturbed by these very topics (e.g. Friedrich Schlegel), thus attempted to escape into something magical – the “Orient” seemed to them, and their readers, an ideal imaginary world.
1745 - 1747 Germany Cities And Urban Spaces
Prussian King Friedrick II commissions G. W. von Knobelsdorff to build Sanssouci Palace in Potsdam.
1765 - 1800 Saudi Arabia Political Context
In 1765 Imam Muhammad bin Saud establishes the First Saudi State in Arabia, starting with the Najd region, and making its capital the city of Dir‘iyya.
1769 - 1785 Germany Music, Literature, Dance And Fashion Date Country Theme
The era of Sturm und Drang (Storm and Stress) in literature (i.e. the works of Goethe, Schiller, Hölderlin and Herder) is characterised by lyricism, fantasy, freedom, juvenility and idealism, which is felt most keenly in the dramatic writing of the period.
1772 - 1807 Germany Cities And Urban Spaces
Karl Eugen, Duke of Wittenberg, built three important palaces: one in the centre of Stuttgart, Neues Schloss (1746–1807); Schloss Solitude (1763–9); and Schloss Hohenheim (1772–93).
1777 - 1810 Portugal Fine And Applied Arts
Under Queen Maria I (1734–1816) and King João VI (1767–1826) a new neoclassical decorative grammar replaces the dominant rococo style. Besides French and English influences, the main features of the furniture are the carving of classical inspiration and the inlay work using various woods, creating both geometrical and floral compositions.
Around 1800 Germany Travelling
The wealthiest among the bourgeoisie begin to undertake more exploratory and scientific journeys to “discover” the rest of the world.
1782 - 1813 Tunisia Reforms And Social Changes
The reign of Hammuda Pasha Bey, known as the “Founder” of modern Tunisia. He made possible the renovation of the city walls of Tunis and the restoration of its fortifications, and undertook similar projects in cities such as Bizerte and Le Kef.
1782 - 1813 Tunisia Political Context
During the reign of Hammuda Pasha Bey, known as the “Founder” of modern Tunisia, the Regency of Tunis enjoys a thriving economy and an overall sense of security.
1786 United Kingdom Music, Literature, Dance And Fashion
Scotland’s most famous poet Robert Burns (b. Alloway, Scotland 1759; d. Dumfries, Scotland 1796) is set to immigrate to the West Indies when a collection of his poems, chiefly in the Scottish dialect, is published in the county town of Kilmarnock in 1786. The publication launches Burns’ career.
1787 Spain Rediscovering The Past
Antigüedades Árabes de España published by Real Academia de Bellas Artes de San Fernando – it marks the beginning of the rediscovery of the Arab past.
1789 - 1791 Germany Travelling
The Brandenburg Gate is built, today it a famous landmark of German reunification.
Around 1800 Germany Music, Literature, Dance And Fashion Date Country Theme
"Disire for the orient" arises because of the breakovers around 1800, as the Enlightenment already had changed peoples life to a more rationalistic way of thinking and the scientification of the public. Also the sumless wars, especially the Napoleonic Wars, produced nostalgia and desire for the distance, the unknown, the paradise... Authors and philosophers from the era of romanticism bothered this topics (e.g. Friedrich Schlegel) and they tried to escape into something magical- the orient seemed to be a imaginary world.
1790 - 1800 United Arab Emirates (Sharjah) Political Context
Between around 1790 and the early 1800s, threatened by increasing British inroads into traditional Gulf economies and politics, and supported by the Persians and Omanis, the Qawasim attack British vessels to defend their economic empire in the Lower Gulf.
1796 Egypt Cities And Urban Spaces
The residence, Bayt al-Suhaymi is built.
1797 Austria Political Context
Austria and France conclude the Treaty of Campo Formio on 17 October. Austria then cedes to Belgium and Lombardy. To compensate, it gains the eastern part of the Venetian Republic up to the Adige, including Venice, Istria and Dalmatia.
1800 - 1803 Saudi Arabia Political Context
Most parts of Arabia become part of the new Saudi State. In 1803, The two holy cities of Mecca (Makkah) and Medina (Madinah), along with the rest of the Hijaz region, join the Saudi State.
Early 1800s United Arab Emirates (Sharjah) Economy And Trade
The Qawasim possess a fleet of over 700 long-distance trading vessels, venturing all over the Gulf as well as in India and East Africa.
1800s United Arab Emirates (Sharjah) Cities And Urban Spaces
In around 1800, the Sharjah town is estimated to have around 2,000 to 3,000 inhabitants.
1800 - 1814 Italy Cities And Urban Spaces
In the Napoleonic age, monumental architecture is intended to celebrate the glory of the new regime. An example of that is the Foro Bonaparte, in the area around the Sforza’s Castle in Milan (a project by Giovanni Antonio Antolini).
1800 United Kingdom Political Context
The Kingdom of Great Britain comes into being under the Treaty of Union of the kingdoms of England (which then included Wales) and Scotland on 1 May 1707. It lasts, controlled under a single parliament and government based at Westminster, up until 31 December 1800. Date Country Theme
Beginning of 19th century Germany Cities And Urban Spaces
Garden cities – planned urbanisation to overcome the housing crises in growing cities –come into vogue. Examples include Margarethenhöhe in Essen, Dresden- Hellerau and Dresden-Briesnitz.
1801 Egypt Migrations
Mehmed Hüsrev Pasha commands 6,000 Turkish troops to assist the British in expelling the French from Rashid. For this he is assigned Governor of Egypt.
1801 United Kingdom Political Context
The Irish Rebellion of 1798, which was intended to put an end to what Irish nationalists perceived as the subordination and dependency of Ireland on the British crown, instead contributes to the Irish parliament’s vote to join the union between the kingdoms of Great Britain and Ireland. On 1 January 1801, Britain, Scotland and Ireland sign the Act of Union and merge, to form the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland.
1802 United Kingdom Rediscovering The Past
The Treaty of Paris is signed. Following defeat by Anglo-Ottoman forces, France surrenders to Britain the Egyptian antiquities it has collected. The way is open for British exploration of Egyptian archaeology.
1802 Germany Rediscovering The Past
The first Chair of Archaeology is appointed at the Christian-Albrechts-Universität in Kiel.
1803 - 1818 Saudi Arabia Political Context
The third Imam, Saud ibn ‘Abd al-‘Aziz, faces a hostile reaction from the Ottoman Empire through its powerful viceroy in Egypt Muhammad ‘Ali Pasha. After ‘Abd al-‘Aziz’s death in 1814, his son, Abdallah, battles with the Egyptian army in many regions of the state. Finally Dir‘iyya is surrendered, and Imam Abdallah is then taken to Turkey, where he is executed.
1804 Serbia Political Context
The First Serbian Uprising culminates in the first Serbian Vožd (Grand Leader), a progenitor of the Kara#or#evi# Dynasty, #or#e Petrovi#. He is elected, at a gathering of the Serbs at Orašac on the Feast of the Presentation, having won many famous victories against stronger and better-armed Turkish armies at Ivankovac, Mišar and Varvarin. Following the Treaty of Bucharest and the failure of the Uprising, Petrovi# flees to Austria in 1813, but soon after, eager to continue his efforts at expelling the Turks, he joins the Greek liberation movement. He secretly returns to Serbia in 1817 to discuss a joint plan of action with the Prince of Serbia Miloš Obrenovi#, but Miloš has him assassinated.
Around 1805 United Arab Emirates (Sharjah) Economy And Trade Date Country Theme
The Qawasim demand tribute from the British East India Company in exchange for navigational rights in the Gulf; the British then begin military interventions aimed at destroying the economic hegemony of the Qawasim in the Lower Gulf region.
1806 United Arab Emirates (Sharjah) Political Context
A temporary Peace Accord is achieved between the British East India Company, represented by Captain David Seton the Resident at Muscat, and Sheikh Sultan bin Saqr. This comes following several incidents labelled by the British as “piracy”, which the Qawasim argue is crucial defence of their existentially important economic interests in the Gulf region.
1806 Germany Political Context
The twin battles of Jena and Auerstedt are fought – in the midst of the collapse of the Prussian State and abolition of the Holy Roman Empire by Kaiser Franz II – under pressure from Napoleon Bonaparte.
1807 - 1816 Portugal Political Context
First Napoleonic invasion. Prince Regent João (1767–1826, crowned in 1816) transfers the court and the seat of political power to Brazil, avoiding being deposed and replaced by a Napoleonic nominee as in other European kingdoms. In Portugal, Beresford, the British governor, intervenes in Portuguese general politics disregarding national needs.
1807 Egypt Great Inventions Of The 19th Century
On 8 May Muhammad ‘Ali Pasha, the Ottoman Governor of Egypt, gives the order to start digging the Mahmudiya Canal, from the River Nile to Alexandria through al- Buhayra, to transport water and as a route for cargo ships.
1808 Egypt Cities And Urban Spaces
Muhammad ‘Ali Pasha builds Shubra Palace on the site of a former kiosk where walis went for recreation during the Ottoman era.
1808 - 1814 Tunisia Cities And Urban Spaces
The construction of the Yussef Sahib al-Taba‘a Mosque is the last great architectural ensemble overseen by the Husaynid Regency of Tunis. The mosque is the main unit of this integrated complex, known as a kulliye, which also includes a mosque and two madrasas (schools), two mausoleums, a funduq (inn), hammam (steamroom), sabil (public fountain) and a suq (market).
1808 - 1813 Spain Political Context
Guerra de la Independencia (Peninsular War) during the French occupation of the Iberian Peninsula and the rule of King Joseph-Napoleon Bonaparte.
1808 United Kingdom Rediscovering The Past
Claudius Rich is appointed East India Company Resident at Baghdad. His work at Babylon and Nineveh stimulates European interest in the archaeology of Iraq. East Date Country Theme India Company men play a major role in the exploration and mapping of the Middle East.
1809 Italy Music, Literature, Dance And Fashion
Giacomo Leopardi (1798–1837), philosopher, scholar and one of the greatest Italian poets of all times, writes his first poem.
1809 - 1810 United Arab Emirates (Sharjah) Political Context
Repeated skirmishes between British and Qawasim vessels are labelled “piracy” by the former and taken as justification to plot the final destruction of the Qawasim by the latter. The British launch naval attacks against the Qawasim strongholds at Ras al-Khaimah along the Gulf and on the Persian littoral. However, the Qawasim succeed in rebuilding their fleet and positions to resume their defensive trade-war against the British and their Omani allies.
1809 Germany Reforms And Social Changes
Establishment of Berlin’s first university, the Humboldt-Universität.
1810 - 1862 Republic of Macedonia Music, Literature, Dance And Fashion (FYROM)
One of the most prominent Macedonian poets, folklorists and educators, Dimitar Miladinov(1810–62) is born in Struga. He spends most of his life teaching in the Ohrid region. His greatest achievement is the collection of folk songs between 1854 and 1860.
1811 Austria Reforms And Social Changes
A commission under the chairmanship of Franz von Zeiller drafts the General Civil Code.
1811 Egypt Political Context
On 1 March, Muhammad ‘Ali invites some 470 Mamluk beys to the Citadel for a feast to celebrate his son’s imminent departure for Mecca. When the feasting is over the Mamluks mount their lavishly decorated horses and are led in procession down the narrow, high-sided defile, below what is now the Police Museum. As they approach Bab al-Azab, the great gates swing closed and gunfire rains down on them from above. After the fusillades, Muhammad ‘Ali’s soldiers wade in with swords and axes to finish the job. Legend relates that only one Mamluk escaped alive, leaping over the wall on his horse.
1812 Romania Political Context
After the Russian–Ottoman war of 1806–12 Russia annexes the eastern part of Moldavia (Bessarabia).
1812 Spain Political Context
Spain's first Constitution of 1812, influenced by the French Revolution, is revolutionary because it declares the Spanish American colonies to be provinces Date Country Theme and all their inhabitants citizens. The constitution reduces some of the powers and privileges of the monarchy, aristocracy and church and will influence future post- independence South American constitutions. Up to 1876 Spain will change its constitution four times (1837, 1845, 1869, 1876).
1812 - 1817 Germany Travelling
John Lewis Burckhardt from Switzerland journeyed to the “Orient”, especially to Aleppo in Syria, to study the Near East and Islam. While there, under the pseudonym Sheikh Ibrahim ibn ‘Abd-Allah and living as a Muslim businessman, he not only translated from English to Arabic Daniel Defoe’s Robinson Crusoe, but also rediscovered the city of Petra (Jordan) in 1812.
1813 Romania Fine And Applied Arts
Gheorghe Asachi teaches a class of drawing and history of art at the School for Surveying Engineers (Moldavia).
1813 - 1815 Germany Political Context
The Liberation Wars (and the decisive Battle of Leipzig in 1913) were between Napoleon Bonaparte’s French troops and Central Europe; Napoleon is overthrown.
1813 Spain Political Context
The Valençay Treaty ends the war between Spain and France. Return of King Fernando VII and absolutist restoration.
1814 United Arab Emirates (Sharjah) Cities And Urban Spaces
Sharjah becomes the main seat of the ruling Sheikh, Sultan bin Saqr al-Qasimi I, and the centre of the government of the Sharjah Emirate.
1814 Greece Political Context
Foundation of the secret organisation Filiki Etaireia (Friendly Society) prepares the ground for the Greek Revolution.
1814 Republic of Macedonia Music, Literature, Dance And Fashion (FYROM)
The first book in Macedonian, History of the Frightening and Second Communion of Jesus, written by Joakim Krchovski (c.1750–1820) is published in Budim. Krchovski was a herald of the Macedonian cultural revival and went on to publish more books on religious matters. In the early 19th century in Macedonia only priests and other Christian dignitaries were educated enough to enlighten Macedonian people through literature in their mother tongue.
1814 - 1815 Germany Reforms And Social Changes
The Wiener Kongress (Congress of Vienna) decides on territorial realignment and the constitutional restoration of Europe. Date Country Theme
1814 France Political Context
Abdication of Napoleon I on 6 April sees the end of the First French Empire (1804– 14).
1814 - 1815 Germany Political Context
The Wiener Kongress (Congress of Vienna) saw the restoration of the political state (the 1792 Ancien Régime), realignment of the borders, and creation of a loosely arranged German Bund (Federation).
1814 Tunisia Cities And Urban Spaces
The reign of Hammuda Pasha Bey, known as the “Founder” of modern Tunisia, comes to an end.
1814 - 1815 France Political Context
First Restoration: the return of the monarchy, referred to as the Bourbon Restoration. Louis XVIII (brother of Louis XVI) facilitated this by accepting a return to the monarchy by means of the Charter of 1814. This Charter combined the more moderate ideas of the Revolution with certain monarchist traditions.
1814 - 1815 Austria Political Context
The Great Peace Congress is held in Vienna from 18 September 1814 to 9 June 1815. Clemens Wenzel Duke of Metternich organises the Austrian predominance in Italy. Austria exchanges the Austrian Netherlands for the territory of the Venetian Republic and creates the Kingdom of Lombardy-Venetia.
1815 France Political Context
March–July, the Cent Jours (Hundred Days) between which Napoleon I returns to power and then finally abdicates after defeat at Waterloo.
1815 Serbia Political Context
The Second Serbian Uprising – the Takovo Uprising – represents the second stage of the Serbian revolt against the Ottoman Empire, which breaks out soon after. The revolt leads to recognition of Serbian autonomy within the Ottoman Empire and establishment of the Kneževina (Principality) of Serbia, which obtained its own Assembly, Constitution and ruling dynasty.
1815 - 1816 Tunisia Political Context
The English Admiral Edward Pellow, 1st Viscount Exmouth imposes on the regencies of Algiers, Tunis and Tripoli new recommendations to slow the race at sea. He inaugurates the so-called Gunboat diplomacy, which involves the threat of military force.
1815 Italy Political Context Date Country Theme
The Congress of Vienna decides the restoration of pre-Napoleonic monarchies: Kingdom of Sardinia (Piedmont, Genoa, Sardinia); Kingdom of Two Sicilies (Southern Italy and Sicily), the Papal States (part of Central Italy), Grand Duchy of Tuscany and other smaller states. Much of northern Italy (Milan, Venice, Trieste etc.) is under the Austrian empire.
1815 - 1816 Italy Rediscovering The Past
Antonio Canova, acting on behalf of Pope Pio VII, recovers from France several pieces of art belonging to the Papal States, which had been brought to Paris by Napoleon, including the Villa Borghese’s archaeological collection.
1815 Turkey Reforms And Social Changes
Mahmud II leaves Topkap# Palace to live in Be#ikta# Palace.
1816 Italy Music, Literature, Dance And Fashion
Gioachino Rossini (1795–1868), the young director of the San Carlo Theatre of Naples, the most important opera house at the time, puts on stage in Rome the Barber of Seville. The opera, thanks to its easy and passionate pacing, sets a new benchmark for the light operatic style, namely, the opera buffa (comic opera).
1816 France Reforms And Social Changes
The stethoscope is invented by Dr René Laennec.
1816 Tunisia Travelling
Queen Caroline of Brunswick visits the Regency of Tunis as a guest of the Bey. She is hosted at the Palais de la Rose in Manouba.
1816 Egypt Political Context
Ibrahim Pasha leads Egypt’s expedition to Hijaz and crushes the Wahhabi Revolution.
1816 Italy Rediscovering The Past
In Naples, inauguration of the Royal Bourbon Museum, whose holdings include the rich collection of archaeological items belonged to Elisabetta Farnese and the pieces excavated in Pompei during the 18th century. All such holdings are personal properties of the king.
1816 Egypt Reforms And Social Changes
Modern education in Egypt starts with the School of Engineering, which is established by Muhammad ‘Ali in the Castle during 1816, to train and prepare specialists in that area.
1816 Republic of Macedonia Music, Literature, Dance And Fashion (FYROM) Date Country Theme
The book titled Mirror by Kiril Pejchinovic (1771–1845) is published in Budim. This great Macedonian educator was born in Tearce near Tetovo. The first books in Macedonian published in the early 19th century were on religious subjects, which was understandable given that they were written by people of the Church.
1817 Romania Travelling
August–September: Habsburg Emperor Francis I and his wife Carolina visit the cities of Transylvania and are very well received by the population.
1817 Spain Reforms And Social Changes
Slave trade (trata de negros) abolished by the Spanish Parliament at Cádiz. Following the influence of the French Revolution the anti-slavery movement grew in Europe. In 1837 slavery was abolished in Spain but not in the colonies. The government later freed the slaves of Puerto Rico (1873) and Cuba (1878).
1817 Germany Reforms And Social Changes
Rise of the Wartburgfest, an assembly of radical students who want to implement the idea of a German National State.
1818 - 1819 Italy Great Inventions Of The 19th Century
Construction of the first steamboats. The first steamboat lines in the Mediterranean: Naples shipyards build the steamboat Ferdinando I (for the line Naples–Genoa–Marseille); Genoa shipyards build the steamboat Eridano (to be used in the Adriatic Sea).
1818 Germany Reforms And Social Changes
Arthur Schopenhauer publishes Die Welt als Wille und Vorstellung (The World as Will and Representation is the title of the latest, 2008, English translation; the first was published in 1883).The second, expanded German edition appeared in 1944.
1819 France Fine And Applied Arts
The Raft of the Medusa, by the Romantic painter Théodore Géricault.
1819 United Arab Emirates (Sharjah) Political Context
The British put a stop to Qawasim hegemony in the Lower Gulf region by destroying their ports, strongholds, and fleets on both shores of the Arab Gulf.
1819 Germany Political Context
The Karlsbader Beschlüsse (Carlsbad Decrees) was intended to suppress liberal and national movements through censorship of the press and political persecution.
1819 Spain Fine And Applied Arts
Founding of the Museo Nacional del Prado with the Royal collection of paintings as one the first museums in Spain. Date Country Theme
After 1820 United Arab Emirates (Sharjah) Economy And Trade
Pearling becomes the major industry of the Qawasim and other sheikhdoms of the Arab littoral of the Gulf; exports provide the most important revenues.
1820 Portugal Great Inventions Of The 19th Century
14 October: The steamship Conde de Palmela arrives on the Tagus River. Built in Liverpool by Mottershead and Hays, it was commissioned by the Portuguese consul there. It is said to be the first ship to cross the Biscay, a journey of 1,000 miles, and the first steamship to be seen in Portugal.
1820 France Migrations
The first German immigrants enter France.
1820 France Music, Literature, Dance And Fashion
Les Méditations Poétiques by the Romantic poet Alphonse de Lamartine.
1820 Egypt Reforms And Social Changes
Muhammad ‘Ali sends the first educational “mission” of Egyptian students to Europe.
1820 United Arab Emirates (Sharjah) Political Context
The British impose a Peace Treaty on the Qawasim and other sheikhs of the Arab littoral of the Gulf. The signing is preceded by a preliminary agreement forcing the sheikhs to turn over all remaining vessels, fortifications and weapons in exchange for the restoration of their fishing and pearling vessels. The Treaty enjoins all signatories to fly a specific red-and-white flag.
1820 United Arab Emirates (Sharjah) Cities And Urban Spaces
British Royal Navy surveyors visit Sharjah.
1820s United Kingdom Music, Literature, Dance And Fashion
British interest in classical Arabic culture including literature sometimes originates in India where the first printed Arabic version of One Thousand and One Nights is published.
1820 Italy Rediscovering The Past
Edict by Cardinal Bartolomeo Pacca (1756–1844) dictating a comprehensive set of measures for the protection of cultural heritage in the Papal States: it is the first comprehensive law on the protection of cultural heritage issued in Italy and it will become a model for the other Italian states.