Battle of Salamis (480 BC): The Greek fleet defeated the Persians.

Battle of Pharsalus (48 AD): Caesar defeated Pompey

The Crusades (11^th – 13^th Centuries): Military expeditions of the Christians in Western Europe to get back the Holy lands from Muslims; result; the Holy city remained with Turks.

Hundred Years War (1338-1453): Fought between France and England; came to an end by the heroism of Joan of Arc who was burnt Alive.

Anglo – Spanish War of the Defeat of Spanish Armada (1588): The British fleet under Howard and Drake defeated the Spanish fleet Armada.

Battle of Gibralter Bay (1606-37): The Dutch defeated the Spaniards and the Portuguese.

Read Also: 18 Wars of Medieval India Battles that changed destiny of India

Thirty Years War (1618-48): A politico-religious struggle; included Bohemian War; Danish War and Swedish War; result; Calvinism was finally granted recognition.

Seven Years of Anglo-French War III (1756-63): Fought by Britain and Prussia against Austria, France, and later Russia; the Treaty of Paris brought an end to it.

Battle of Bunker Hill: The first battle of the War of American Independence; fought at Charlestown, Boston.

American War of Independence (1776-83): George Washington defeated the British forces; America became independent; independence of British colonies recognised at the Peace of Paris (1783).

Battle of Pyramids (July 1798): Napoleon emerged victorious over the Mameluke rulers of Egypt.

Battle of Nile (August 1798): The British fleet under Lord Nelson defeated the French fleet and established their supremacy over the Mediterranean Sea.

Battle of Austerlitz (1805): Napoleon defeated Austria and Russia.

Battle of Trafalgar (October 1805): The British fleet under Lord Nelson defeated the combined French and Spanish fleet under Villeneuve; Britain won but Nelson was killed; Napoleon’s scheme of invading England failed.

Battle of Leipzig or Battle of Nations (1813): Napoleon was defeated by the English and the Allies; he abdicated in the following year.

Battle of Waterloo (1815): The British under Duke of Wellington (Sir Arthur Wellesley) defeated the French under Napoleon; Napoleon was captured and exiled to St. Helena where he died.

Opium War (1839Opium War (183-42): Fought between Britain and China; immediate cause: Chinese protest over opium import into China by the British.

Crimean War (1853-56): War declared against Russia by Turkey in 1853, Britain and France in 1854 and Sardina in 1855; Russia defeated.

Must Read: The Revolt 1857: the First War of Independence

American Civil War (1861-65): Northern states of America under Abraham Lincoln defeated the Southern states and established a Federal-State; cause: Antagonism between the agricultural, slave-owing South and the industrial North.

Spanish-American War (1898): The war fought by the USA and Cuban revolutionaries against Spain to free Cuba from Spanish rule; result: Cuba came under the US forces.

Battle of Omdurman (1898): The British and Egyptian forces defeated the forces of Khalifa (Mehdists.)

Russo-Japanese War (1904-05): Russia defeated; Treaty of Portsmouth (1905) brought an end to the war; also known as the Battle of the Sea of Japan.

Balkan Wars I and II (1912-13): In the Balkan War I, the Balkan countries defeated Turkey; while in Balkan War II, Romania defeated Bulgaria.

World War I (1914-18): Root Causes: Austria-Serbia rivalry and Franco-German rivalry; immediate cause: assassination of the heir to the Austrian throne by a Serb; the warring sides were: Austria, Bulgaria, Germany, Hungary and Turkey (Central Powers) against Belgium, England, and France, and later Italy, Russia and USA (Allied Powers); Result: Central or Axis Powers were defeated; the Treaty of Versailles (1919) brought an end to the War.

Spanish Civil War (1936-39): Fought between Fascist and republican forces; rebels were helped by Germany and Italy, while the government was aided by Russia and Mexico.

World War II (1939-45): Resulted due to the unjust Treaty of Versailles as both Germany and Italy were dissatisfied with it; rise of fascist forces, such as Nazis in Germany; imperialism of England and France; and Japan’s expansionist ambitions; warring factions; Germany, Italy and Japan (Axis Powers) against Britain, France, Russia, USA, Poland etc. (Allied Powers); Result: Allied Powers emerged victorious; Germany divided, emergence of Russia as a big Power.

Algerian War of Independence (1947-62): The war was fought against French with which Algeria had been politically unified.

Six-Day War (1967): Israel defeated the combined powers of Egypt, Syria and Jordan and occupied Gaza Strip, Syria’s Golan Heights and the West Bank.

Iran-Iraq War (1980-88): Occurred due to boundary disputes between two countries; heavy losses on both sides; a ceasefire in August 1988.

Falklands War (1982): The war was fought between the British and Argentine forces over the claim on the Falklands Islands in the South Atlantic Ocean; British regained control of the Islands.

Gulf War (1991): Followed the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait; a coalition of about 40 countries, including the UK and the USA, defeated Iraq

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Important Battles Fought In India

Important Battles in the Indian History

Battle of Berlin

The Maurya Empire (322 BCE – 185 BCE) was an Iron Age power in ancient India ruled by the Maurya Dynasty. With its origins in the Magadha kingdom, it was one of the world’s largest empires in its time and the largest ever in the Indian subcontinent. The Maurya Empire was known for a consistent and effective system of administration and finance that allowed for a thriving economy.

Timeline of Maurya Empire

Chandragupta Maurya seizes the Nanda Empire.(c. 322 BCE)

Though his reasoning is unclear, Chanakya, a Brahmin teacher, decides to destroy the Nanda Dynasty and guides a young man named Chandragupta Maurya in leading a guerilla campaign against the rulers. They spark a civil war, eventually forcing the current ruler into exile. The Nanda’s prime minister transfers power to Chandragupta, thereby beginning the Maurya Dynasty.

Read Also: Social Conditions in the Era of Mauryan Imperialism

Chandragupta defeats Seleucus.(c. 305 BCE)

The Macedonians, under Seleucus I Nicator, attempt to expand their empire into India. Chandragupta defeats them and claims a large swath of their territory in the peace negotiations, thereby expanding his empire westward.

The Maurya expand into the Deccan Plateau.(c. 300 BCE)

Led by Chandragupta’s son, Bindusara, the Maurya expand east into the Deccan Plateau.

Bindusara inherits the throne.(298 BCE)

At just 22 years old, Bindusara inherits rule over the empire. He expands the empire southward, conquering sixteen states and nearly all of the Indian peninsula. Only four kingdoms resist him, including the Kalinga Kingdom.

Asoka the Great inherits the throne.(273 BCE)

Asoka, Bindusara’s son, inherits the throne following the death of his father. He proves himself to be a brilliant military commander and quickly crushes multiple revolts against his rule.

Asoka completes his conquest of Kalinga.(262 BCE)

Asoka goes on to defeat the Kalinga kingdom. Although successful, over 100,000 soldiers and civilians are killed in the conquest, including many of Asoka’s own forces. Asoka personally witnesses the consequences of his aggression and decides to renounce war. He converts to Buddhism and sends missionaries to spread Buddhism throughout Asia.

Must Read: Centralized Administration of Mauryan Empire

The Edicts of Asoka spread.(c. 260 BCE)

The Edicts of Asoka are spread throughout the empire. They outline the moral teachings of the emperor, including banning slavery, equal punishment under the law, and the fair treatment of animals.

The Lion Capital of Asoka is built.(c. 250 BCE)

Asoka builds the Lion Capital of Asoka, a sculpture of four Indian lions back to back, at the important Buddhist site of Sarnath. This eventually becomes the emblem of India.

Dasaratha Maurya inherits the throne.(232 BCE)

Due a misunderstanding, Asoka disinherits and blinds his original heir, his son, Kunal. Asoka eventually realizes the manipulation and has Kunal restored to court. However, upon his death, rule instead passes to Kunal’s grandson, Dasaratha Maurya. Under Dasaratha’s rule, much of Asoka’s territory is lost to the empire.

Samprati inherits the throne.(c. 224 BCE)

Samprati succeeds Dasaratha, though sources are unclear as to whether he is Dasaratha’s son or brother. He is known for spreading Jainism and sponsoring Jain scholars.

Don’t Miss: Who were the Mauryas?

Salisuka inherits the throne.(215 BCE)

Salisuka succeeds Samprati and is known as a quarrelsome, unrighteous ruler.

Satadhanvan inherits the throne.(195 BCE)

Satadhanvan succeeds Salisuka, and, under his rule, the empire continues to lose territory to outside invaders.

Brihadratha Maurya comes to power.(c. 187 BCE)

Brihadratha Maurya comes to power in the Maurya Empire, but by this point, the empire’s territory has greatly been reduced. He is still loyal to Buddhism.

Brihadratha is assassinated.(c. 185 BCE)

During a military parade, Brihadratha is assassinated by the commander-in-chief of his guard, a Brahmin general. The general takes over the throne and starts the Sunga Dynasty. Under his leadership, he brings about a wave of religious persecution against Buddhists and a resurgence of Hinduism. This marks the end of the Maurya Empire.

The Indo-Greek Kingdom is established.(c. 180 BCE)

The fall of the Maurya Empire leaves the strategic Khyber Pass vulnerable, which allows Demetrius, a Greek king, to conquer parts of Afghanistan and northwestern India. Demetrius forms the Indo-Greek Kingdom.

Have a look at: Administrative Structure under the Mughals