THESE TIMELINES WERE BEGUN FOR MY OWN PERSONAL USE. THESE TIMELINES SHOULD NOT BE USED AS RESOURCES FOR ANY KIND OF RESEARCH PAPER. THESE TIMELINES SHOULD ONLY BE USED AS AN AID TO GIVE A "JUMPING OFF POINT." THESE TIMELINES ARE NOT PEER-REVIEWED; THEREFORE, THEY ARE SUBJECT TO ANY NUMBER OF UNINTENTIONAL AUTHORIAL TYPING ERRORS AND/OR MISUNDERSTANDINGS. REMEMBER, INTERNET SOURCES (WITH FEW EXCEPTIONS) CANNOT BE RELIED UPON AS DEFINITIVE SOURCES!!
Because I did these timelines initially only for my own personal use, I have paraphrased and quoted without citing as one should for a research paper; therefore, anyone using these timelines should consult the sources listed on the Historical Timelines Page.
DO NOT QUOTE FROM THESE TIMELINES!! ALWAYS DOUBLE-CHECK MY WORK!!!!
Africa:
North Africa/Middle East-
World War II (1939-1945)
1942-German General Rommel ("Desert Fox") is in process of conquering North Africa. British General Montgomery defeats Ramble at El Alamein.
Summer of 1943-U.S. General Eisenhower combines British, American, and Free French and takes back North Africa.
Saudi Arabia-
Muhammad (570?-632 AD) Founder of Islam
Born in Mecca, Vision in 610, hegira to Medina in 622 (Mecca and Medina are in modern-day Saudi Arabia)
Abdul Aziz Ibn Saud (1880?-1953), King of Saudi Arabia (1932-1953)
Saud (1902-1969), King of Saudi Arabia (1953-1964) Eldest son of Abdul Aziz Ibn Saud. Forced to abdicate by his brother, Faisal.
Faisal (1905-1975), King of Saudi Arabia (1964-1975). Assassinated March 25, 1975.
Khalid ibn Abdul Aziz (1913-1982), King of Saudi Arabia (1975-1982) Half-brother of Faisal.
Fahd (1923- ), King of Saudi Arabia (1982- )
Egypt-
Rosetta Stone, key to deciphering Egyptian hieroglyphics, found in Rosetta, Egypt (1799)-originally erected in 195 BC in honor of Ptolemy Epiphanes
Faruk I (1920-1965), King of Egypt and Sudan (1936-1952) Overthrown in a military coup led by General Muhammad Naguib and Lt. Col. Gamal Abdel Nasser
Muhammad Naguib (1901-1984) Egyptian revolutionary, became 1st President of Egyptian Republic in June 1953. Forced out of office and put under house arrest (until 1971) when he supported a return to parliamentary rule.
Gamal Abdel Nasser (1918-1970), President of Egypt (1956-1970)
Anwar al-Sadat (1918-1981), President of Egypt (1970-1981), 1st Arab leader to recognize Israel, assassinated by religious fanatics in the Egyptian army on October 6, 1981.
Camp David Accords (September 17, 1978) Peace Accords signed by Begin of Israel and Sadat of Egypt.
(Muhammad) Hosni Mubarak (1928- ), President of Egypt (1981- )
Syria-
Kahlil Gibran (1883-1931) Syrian writer
Hafez al-Assad (1928- ), President of Syria (1971- )
Iran-
Reza Shah Pahlavi (1879-1944), Shah (King) of Iran (1925-1941)-modernized, emancipated women, abdicated when British and USSR troops occupied in 1941.
Mohammed Reza Pahlavi (1919-1980), Shah (King) of Iran (1941-1979)-Brits and Soviets place him on throne, tries to modernize, lived in exile after Ayatollah overthrew his government.
Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini (1900?-1989), Iranian leader (1979-1989)-Shiite fundamentalist who overthrew the shah's government, instituted a constitutional theocracy in 1979, hated Western influence, supported seizure of U.S. Embassy and Hostage Crisis (November 4, 1979-January 20,1981) which lasted 444 days-these 53 American hostages were taken because U.S. admitted Shah of Iran for medical treatment
Iran-Iraq Wars (1980-1988) Iraq (primarily Sunni Muslims-Sunnis find authority in Sunna, or customary practices of Mohammed) invaded Iran (primarily Shiite Muslims-Shiites are more political and find authority in succession of imamis, or leaders) and Iran didn't like it. The majority of the world's Muslims are Sunnis.
Ali Akbar Hashemi Rajsanjani (1934- ), President of Iran (1989-1997) Elected President in July 1989, after Khomeini died in June (President Khamenei was supreme leader in the interim)
Mohammed Khatami (1943- ), President of Iran (1997- )
Israel-
Arab-Israeli Wars-1948-1949, 1956, 1967, 1973-1974-Tensions since 1920 British mandate for Palestine
Israeli Independence-May 14, 1948 (1945-1948-steady gains against Palestinians)
1948-1949-Arab opposition to Israel independence. Arabs consider land theirs. Egypt, Iraq, Lebanon, Syria, and Transjordan (Jordan) vs. Israel-Arabs made initial gains in invasion of Israel. Cease-fire on January 7, 1949. 1949-1956-Truce enforced by UN
October 1956-Israelis (under Mosha Dayan) attacked Sinai Peninsula (supported by British and French who were alarmed by nationalization of Suez Canal)International opinion forced cease-fire in November 1956, Israel surrendered territorial gains after guarantee of access to Gulf of Aqaba on southern border.
Six-day War of 1967-[Not sure of order--Israel captured Gaza and East bank of Suez-UN Cease fire.] Egypt's Nasser took over Gaza Strip and closed Gulf of Aqaba to Israeli shipping. Israel launched big air attack and captured Sinai peninsula, Golan Heights on Syrian border, and Old City of Jerusalem
Golda Meir (1898-1978), Israeli premier (1969-1974), One of the founders of Israel (immigrated into Palestine as a Zionist in 1921-Meir was born in Russia, but her family came to the U.S. in 1906).
Yasir Arafat (1929- ), Chairman of Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) (1969- ), President of Palestinian Authority (PA) (1996- )
October 6, 1973 (Yom Kippur)-Egyptian and Syrian forces attacked Israel. Israel lost many men but managed to get Egypt and Syria out. Tentative cease-fire on October 25, 1973 but fighting continued until 1974.
Yitzhak Rabin (1922-1995) 1st Native-born Israeli Prime Minister (1974-1977, 1992-1995). Labor party.
Menachem Begin (1913-1992), Israeli Prime Minister of Likud Party (1977-1983). Was co-leader of Likud (Unity) party.
Camp David Accords (September 17, 1978) Peace Accords signed by Begin of Israel and Sadat of Egypt. Began withdrawal from Sinai peninsula.
mid-1982-Israel invaded and forced PLO (Palestinian Liberation Organization) out of Lebanon (PLO had launched guerrilla attacks from S. Lebanon until mid-1982). UN force sent to Lebanon to enforce cease-fire in 1982.
Shimon Peres (1923- ), Israeli prime minister of Labor Party (1984-1986, 1995-1996), Co-Founder of Israel Labor Party (1968).
Yitzhak Shamir (1914- ), Israel prime minister of Likud Party (1986-1992)
Palestinian intifada (uprising) against Israeli occupation in West Bank and Gaza Strip (1987). Shamir took a hard line against the Palestinians.
Yitzhak Rabin (1922-1995) 1st Native-born Israeli Prime Minister (1974-1977, 1992-1995). Assassinated at a Peace Rally in Tel Aviv because he was negotiating a ceding of Israeli-occupied territory. Had fought against Arabs in the Arab-Israeli War of 1948 and the Six-Day War in 1967. He was of the Labor Party.
Yitzhak Rabin and Yasir Arafat sign peace agreement (giving limited self-rule to parts of Gaza Strip and West Bank) at White House (September 13, 1993)
Rabin is assassinated in 1995
Shimon Peres (1923- ), Israeli prime minister of Labor Party (1984-1986, 1995-1996), Co-Founder of Israel Labor Party (1968). Became prime minister upon Rabin's assassination.
Benjamin "Bibi" Netanyahu (1949- ), Israeli prime minister of Likud Party (1996-1999) Stalled the Mid-East peace process
Ehud Barak (1942- ), Israeli prime minister of Labor Party (1999-2001 )
Ariel Sharon (1928- ), Israeli prime minister of Likud Party (2001- )
Jordan-
Abdullah ibn Hussein (1882-1951), King of Jordan (1946-1951). Assassinated by Palestinian Arab on July 20, 1951.
Hussein I (1935-1999), King of Jordan (1952-1999)
Libya-
Libyan independence (January 1, 1952)
Idris I (1890-1983), King of Libya (1951-1969) Overthrown by Qaddafi.
Muammar al-Qaddafi (1938- ), Libyan leader (1969- )
Libya Conflict - 1981-U.S. shot down 2 Libyan planes
Libya Conflict - April 15, 1986-U.S. bombed Tripoli and Benghazi because Qaddafi supported terrorists
Iraq-
Ghazi (1912-1939), King of Iraq (1933-1939)
Faisal II (1935-1958), King of Iraq (1939-1958) Assassinated during a coup d'etat (July 14, 1958) by group led by Kassem.
Abd al-Karim Kassem (1914-1963), Leader of Iraq (1958-1963). Assassinated in coup d'etat (February 9, 1963) by Iraqi air force officers.
Abdul Salam Arif (?-1966), Leader of Iraq (1963-1966).
General Abdul Rahman Arif (?-?), Leader of Iraq (1966-1968) Overthrown in a coup.
Major General Ahmed Hassan al-Bakr (?-?), Leader of Iraq (1968-1979)
Saddam Hussein (1937- ), Iraqi leader (1979- )
Iran-Iraq Wars (1980-1988) Iraq (primarily Sunni Muslims-Sunnis find authority in Sunna, or customary practices of Mohammed) invaded Iran (primarily Shiite Muslims-Shiites are more political and find authority in succession of imamis, or leaders) and Iran didn't like it.
Gulf War (Iraq vs. U.N., mostly U.S.) (1991)
Iraqis under Saddam Hussein invaded Kuwait in the fall of 1990. U.S. made them leave.
Lebanon-
Independence in 1943
Camille Chamoun (?-?), Leader of Lebanon (?-?)
Fouad Chehab (?-?), Leader of Lebanon (?-1964)
Charles Helou (?-?), Leader of Lebanon (1964-1970?)
SulaymanFranjiyah (?-?), Leader of Lebanon (1970?-1982?)
Lebanese Civil War (April 13, 1975-November 1976)
Amin Gemayel (1942- ), President of Lebanon (1982-1988)
Lebanon Conflict Marines sent into Lebanon to support Lebanese Christians (1982-1984). Approximately 250 U.S. Marines killed by bomb in Lebanon (October 1983)
Michel Aoun (1935- ), Prime Minister of Lebanon (1988-1989)
Elias Hrawi (1926- ), President of Lebanon (1989- )
West, East, Central, and Southern Africa-
South African/Boer War (1899-1902) Brits vs. Boers (South Africans of Dutch Descent)-Transvaal and Orange Free State-in South Africa, Brits laid claim to lands in South African, control of commerce and mining which made the Boers nervous. Brits incorporate Boer territories into South Africa.
Haile Selassie I (1892-1975), Last Emperor of Ethiopia (1930-1974)
Chinua Achebe (1930- ) Nigerian Writer
Bishop Desmond Tutu (1931- ), South African clergyman and anti-apartheid leader
Muhammad Siad Barre (1919-1995), Leader of Somalia (1969-1991)
Mengistu Haile Mariam (1937- ), Leader of Ethiopia (1977-1987), President (1987-1991)-Leader of the coup that overthrew Haile Selassie I. During his reign, approximately 100,000 political dissidents were killed or disappeared. Tried for crimes against humanity in absentia in 1994. He is currently in exile in Zimbabwe.
Mohammad Farrah Aidid (1934-1996) Somalia clan warlord, one of the leaders who deposed Barre (he was once Barre's right-hand man, Barre imprisoned him when they argued). Aidid was shot in a street battle.
Somalian Conflict (December 9, 1992-March 1994) Marines were dispatched to restore order and get food to the starving. We pulled out when 30 Marines were slaughtered and about 175 were injured. We returned in February 1995 to help UN's peacekeeping forces leave in March of 1995.
Nelson Mandela (1918- ) South African political leader, imprisoned (1962-1990), elected President of South Africa in 1st Free Election in 1994