This list includes 45 historical events that start with C, ranging from “California Gold Rush” to “Cultural Revolution”. They cover global political, social, and economic moments that shaped modern history. Use this list for research, lesson planning, or quick reference.
Historical events that start with C are notable occurrences or movements whose English names begin with the letter C. Examples like the California Gold Rush and the Cultural Revolution reshaped economies and societies worldwide.
Below you’ll find the table with Year, Location and Significance.
Year: The year or range when the event took place, helping you sort chronologically and identify historical timelines at a glance.
Location: Concise city, region, or country where the event occurred, so you can filter by geography and study regional impacts.
Significance: A concise 15–25 word summary explaining why the event mattered and what lasting consequences it produced.
Historical events that start with C
| Name | Year | Location | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cold War | 1947–1991 | Global | Geopolitical tension and proxy wars |
| Crusades | 1096–1291 CE | Middle East, Europe | Series of religious wars |
| Columbian Exchange | 1492 CE onwards | Global | Biological and cultural exchange |
| Chinese Civil War | 1927–1949 | China | Civil war |
| Cuban Missile Crisis | 1962 CE | Cuba, USA, Soviet Union | Political and military standoff |
| Cultural Revolution | 1966–1976 | China | Sociopolitical movement |
| Congress of Vienna | 1814–1815 CE | Vienna, Austria | Diplomatic conference |
| Chernobyl Disaster | 1986 CE | Pripyat, Ukrainian SSR (now Ukraine) | Nuclear accident |
| California Gold Rush | 1848–1855 | California, USA | Gold rush and mass migration |
| Civil Rights Act of 1964 | 1964 CE | United States | Landmark legislation |
| Crimean War | 1853–1856 | Crimean Peninsula, Black Sea | War |
| Council of Nicaea | 325 CE | Nicaea, Bithynia (now İznik, Turkey) | Ecumenical council |
| Counter-Reformation | c. 1545–1648 | Europe | Catholic religious revival |
| Cuban Revolution | 1953–1959 | Cuba | Revolution |
| Conquest of the Aztec Empire | 1519–1521 | Central Mexico | Military conquest |
| Challenger Disaster | 1986 CE | Cape Canaveral, Florida, USA | Space exploration disaster |
| Christmas Truce | 1914 CE | Western Front, World War I | Unofficial ceasefire |
| Code of Hammurabi | c. 1,754 BCE | Babylon (modern-day Iraq) | Legal code |
| Carnation Revolution | 1974 CE | Portugal | Military coup and revolution |
| Cambodian Genocide | 1975–1979 | Cambodia (then Democratic Kampuchea) | Genocide |
| Council of Trent | 1545–1563 | Trent (Trento), Holy Roman Empire (now Italy) | Ecumenical council |
| Charge of the Light Brigade | 1854 CE | Balaclava, Crimean Peninsula | Failed military charge |
| Concordat of Worms | 1122 CE | Worms, Holy Roman Empire (now Germany) | Agreement |
| Columbia Disaster | 2003 CE | Texas and Louisiana, USA | Space exploration disaster |
| Compromise of 1850 | 1850 CE | United States | Legislative package |
| Children’s Crusade | 1212 CE | France and Germany | Popular religious movement |
| Canadian Confederation | 1867 CE | Canada | Political union |
| Chaco War | 1932–1935 | Gran Chaco region (Bolivia and Paraguay) | War |
| Council of Clermont | 1095 CE | Clermont, France | Ecclesiastical council |
| Caste War of Yucatán | 1847–1901 | Yucatán Peninsula, Mexico | Indigenous uprising |
| Circassian Genocide | 1864 CE | Circassia (North Caucasus) | Genocide and ethnic cleansing |
| Coercive Acts | 1774 CE | Massachusetts, British America | Punitive laws |
| Columbian Exposition | 1893 CE | Chicago, USA | World’s fair |
| Congo Crisis | 1960–1965 | Republic of the Congo | Political crisis and civil war |
| Conquest of Mecca | 630 CE | Mecca, Arabian Peninsula (now Saudi Arabia) | Military conquest |
| Council of Constance | 1414–1418 | Constance, Holy Roman Empire (now Germany) | Ecumenical council |
| Chicago Race Riot of 1919 | 1919 CE | Chicago, USA | Race riot |
| Closing of the Western Frontier | 1890 CE | Western United States | Historical demarcation |
| Cristero War | 1926–1929 | Mexico | Uprising / Civil war |
| Creek War | 1813–1814 | Alabama and Georgia, USA | Regional war |
| Cambrian Explosion | c. 541 million years ago | Global | Evolutionary event |
| Chinese Exclusion Act | 1882 CE | United States | Legislation |
| Commercial Revolution | c. 11th–18th century CE | Europe | Economic expansion |
| Clarendon Code | 1661–1665 | England | Series of laws |
| Conspiracy of the Machetes | 1799 CE | Mexico City, New Spain (now Mexico) | Failed rebellion |
Descriptions
Cold War
A period of intense geopolitical rivalry between the United States and the Soviet Union and their respective allies, shaping global politics for decades without direct large-scale fighting between the two superpowers.
Crusades
A series of religious wars initiated by the Latin Church to recover the Holy Land from Islamic rule. They had a profound and lasting impact on Christian and Islamic relations and European society.
Columbian Exchange
The widespread transfer of plants, animals, culture, human populations, technology, and diseases between the Americas, West Africa, and the Old World following Christopher Columbus’s voyages in 1492.
Chinese Civil War
A conflict fought between the Kuomintang-led Republic of China and the Chinese Communist Party. It resulted in the Communist victory and the establishment of the People’s Republic of China on the mainland.
Cuban Missile Crisis
A 13-day confrontation between the United States and the Soviet Union over Soviet nuclear missiles in Cuba, considered the closest the Cold War came to escalating into a full-scale nuclear war.
Cultural Revolution
A decade-long period of political and social chaos launched by Mao Zedong to purge capitalist and traditional elements from Chinese society, resulting in widespread persecution and economic turmoil.
Congress of Vienna
A conference of European ambassadors that redrew the continent’s political map after the defeat of Napoleon. It aimed to create a balance of power and maintain peace for nearly a century.
Chernobyl Disaster
A catastrophic nuclear accident at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant that released massive amounts of radioactive material, causing widespread, long-term environmental and health effects across Europe.
California Gold Rush
A period of intense migration to California after gold was discovered at Sutter’s Mill. The influx of over 300,000 people dramatically transformed California’s society, economy, and landscape.
Civil Rights Act of 1964
A landmark U.S. federal law that outlawed discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. It ended segregation in public places and banned employment discrimination.
Crimean War
A conflict in which Russia lost to an alliance of France, the Ottoman Empire, the United Kingdom, and Sardinia. It is noted for its logistical failures and the introduction of modern nursing by Florence Nightingale.
Council of Nicaea
The first ecumenical council of the Christian church, convened by Emperor Constantine I. It established the Nicene Creed, a foundational statement of Christian belief, to unify the faith.
Counter-Reformation
The period of Catholic resurgence initiated in response to the Protestant Reformation. It involved reforms, new religious orders like the Jesuits, and efforts to reclaim spiritual and political authority.
Cuban Revolution
An armed revolt led by Fidel Castro’s 26th of July Movement against the U.S.-backed government of President Fulgencio Batista, leading to the establishment of a communist state in Cuba.
Conquest of the Aztec Empire
The Spanish campaign led by Hernán Cortés that resulted in the fall of the Aztec Empire and the capture of its capital, Tenochtitlan, marking a pivotal moment in the Spanish colonization of the Americas.
Challenger Disaster
The fatal accident where the NASA Space Shuttle Challenger broke apart 73 seconds into its flight, killing all seven crew members. The disaster led to a major re-evaluation of NASA’s safety culture.
Christmas Truce
A series of widespread but unofficial ceasefires along the Western Front during World War I around Christmas 1914. Soldiers from opposing sides ventured into “no man’s land” to mingle and exchange greetings.
Code of Hammurabi
A well-preserved Babylonian code of law from ancient Mesopotamia. It is one of the oldest deciphered writings of significant length and established the principle of “an eye for an eye” justice.
Carnation Revolution
A near-bloodless military coup in Lisbon that overthrew the authoritarian Estado Novo regime. The name comes from civilians placing carnations in soldiers’ rifle barrels, symbolizing its peaceful nature.
Cambodian Genocide
The systematic persecution and killing of Cambodians by the Khmer Rouge regime led by Pol Pot. An estimated 1.5 to 2 million people, nearly a quarter of the population, were murdered.
Council of Trent
A pivotal council of the Catholic Church and a key part of the Counter-Reformation. It condemned Protestant doctrines and issued decrees on self-reform, clarifying Catholic teachings for centuries.
Charge of the Light Brigade
A disastrous cavalry charge during the Battle of Balaclava in the Crimean War. It became a famous symbol of military bravery and catastrophic leadership, immortalized in a poem by Tennyson.
Concordat of Worms
An agreement between the Pope and the Holy Roman Emperor that ended the Investiture Controversy, a major power struggle over the appointment of church officials, and defined the separation of church and state.
Columbia Disaster
The fatal incident in which the Space Shuttle Columbia disintegrated upon re-entering Earth’s atmosphere, killing all seven crew members. The accident was caused by damage sustained during launch.
Compromise of 1850
A package of five bills passed by the U.S. Congress to defuse a political confrontation between slave and free states over territories acquired in the Mexican–American War, delaying the Civil War.
Children’s Crusade
A popular movement of children in France and Germany who set out to peacefully convert Muslims in the Holy Land. The ill-fated venture resulted in many participants dying or being sold into slavery.
Canadian Confederation
The process by which the British colonies of Canada, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick were federally united into one Dominion of Canada, establishing it as a self-governing entity within the British Empire.
Chaco War
A conflict between Bolivia and Paraguay over control of the Gran Chaco region. It was the bloodiest interstate military conflict fought in South America in the 20th century.
Council of Clermont
A synod of the Catholic Church at which Pope Urban II’s speech on November 27 led to the First Crusade, marking a major turning point in the history of relations between Europe and the Middle East.
Caste War of Yucatán
A protracted conflict between the native Maya people and the population of European descent (Yucatecos). It was one of the most successful modern Native American revolts, creating an independent Maya state for a time.
Circassian Genocide
The Russian Empire’s systematic mass murder and forced expulsion of the majority of the Circassian people from their homeland in the aftermath of the Caucasian War, resulting in the death of hundreds of thousands.
Coercive Acts
A series of four punitive laws passed by the British Parliament in response to the Boston Tea Party. Known as the Intolerable Acts by American Patriots, they were a major cause of the American Revolution.
Columbian Exposition
Also known as the Chicago World’s Fair, it celebrated the 400th anniversary of Christopher Columbus’s arrival in the New World. It showcased American ingenuity and the grand “White City” architecture.
Congo Crisis
A period of intense political upheaval in the Congo immediately after independence from Belgium. It involved a secessionist war, Cold War proxy battles, and the assassination of Prime Minister Patrice Lumumba.
Conquest of Mecca
The largely bloodless capture of Mecca by Muslims led by the Islamic prophet Muhammad. This event established Mecca as the holy center of Islam and consolidated Muhammad’s control over Arabia.
Council of Constance
A 15th-century council that ended the Western Schism, a split in the Catholic Church with three competing popes. It deposed the popes and elected Pope Martin V, restoring unity to the papacy.
Chicago Race Riot of 1919
A major racial conflict that began after a black teenager drowned at a segregated beach. Lasting for 13 days, the violence was part of the “Red Summer” of riots across the United States.
Closing of the Western Frontier
A concept from the 1890 U.S. Census, which declared that a discernible frontier line of settlement no longer existed. This marked a symbolic end to the era of westward expansion and Manifest Destiny.
Cristero War
A widespread struggle in central and western Mexico in response to the anti-clerical articles of the 1917 Constitution. The uprising was fought by Catholic rebels against the secularist Mexican government.
Creek War
A conflict between opposing Creek factions, European empires, and the United States. Considered part of the War of 1812, it resulted in a U.S. victory and a massive cession of 23 million acres of Creek land.
Cambrian Explosion
A relatively short evolutionary event during which most major animal phyla first appeared in the fossil record. It led to the divergence of most modern life forms and dramatically changed life on Earth.
Chinese Exclusion Act
A U.S. federal law that prohibited all immigration of Chinese laborers. It was the first, and only, law implemented to prevent all members of a specific ethnic or national group from immigrating.
Commercial Revolution
A period of European economic expansion, colonialism, and mercantilism. It was characterized by an increase in trade, the growth of financial services such as banking, and the rise of a money-based economy.
Clarendon Code
A series of four punitive laws passed in England after the Restoration to re-establish the supremacy of the Church of England and penalize Nonconformists, including Puritans and Quakers.
Conspiracy of the Machetes
An unsuccessful rebellion planned in Mexico City by a small group of creoles. Although quickly suppressed, it was an important precursor to the Mexican War of Independence a decade later.