Here you’ll find 54 Historical events that start with P, organized from “Irish Potato Famine” to “War of the Pacific”. They cover global wars, revolutions, disasters, political reforms, and cultural milestones useful for students, educators, researchers, and curious readers.
Historical events that start with P are named happenings—wars, famines, treaties, or movements—whose common English name begins with P. For example, the “Irish Potato Famine” reshaped migration and politics across the 19th century.
Below you’ll find the table with Year, Location and Significance.
Year: The year or date range shows when the event occurred, helping you place it on a timeline or sequence.
Location: The city, region, or country indicates where the event happened, so you can link events to places quickly.
Significance: A concise 15–25 word summary helps you understand why the event matters and what changes resulted.
Historical events that start with P
| Event | Year | Location | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Peloponnesian War | 431–404 BCE | Ancient Greece | War |
| Persian Wars | 499–449 BCE | Ancient Greece & Persian Empire | War |
| Punic Wars | 264–146 BCE | Mediterranean Sea | War Series |
| Plague of Athens | 430–426 BCE | Athens, Greece | Epidemic |
| Ptolemaic Kingdom Established | 305 BCE | Egypt | Political Founding |
| Pompeii Eruption | 79 CE | Pompeii, Roman Empire | Natural Disaster |
| Plague of Justinian | 541–549 CE | Byzantine Empire | Pandemic |
| Pentecost | c. 33 CE | Jerusalem | Religious Event |
| Peasants’ Revolt | 1381 | England | Uprising |
| Pazzi Conspiracy | 1478 | Florence, Italy | Assassination Plot |
| Protestant Reformation | 1517–1648 | Europe | Religious Movement |
| Peace of Augsburg | 1555 | Augsburg, Holy Roman Empire | Treaty |
| Pilgrims’ Landing at Plymouth | 1620 | Massachusetts, USA | Colonization |
| Pequot War | 1636–1638 | New England, USA | War |
| Peace of Westphalia | 1648 | Westphalia, Holy Roman Empire | Treaty Series |
| Popish Plot | 1678–1681 | England | Political Conspiracy |
| Pueblo Revolt | 1680 | New Mexico, USA | Uprising |
| Pontiac’s War | 1763–1766 | Great Lakes Region, North America | War |
| Pragmatic Sanction of 1713 | 1713 | Habsburg Monarchy, Austria | Imperial Decree |
| Partitions of Poland | 1772, 1793, 1795 | Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth | Political Annexation |
| Powder Alarm | 1774 | Massachusetts Bay, USA | Military Action |
| Peninsular War | 1807–1814 | Iberian Peninsula | War |
| Peterloo Massacre | 1819 | Manchester, England | Massacre |
| Panic of 1837 | 1837–1843 | United States | Financial Crisis |
| Pastry War | 1838–1839 | Mexico | Conflict |
| Irish Potato Famine | 1845–1852 | Ireland | Famine & Genocide |
| Perry Expedition | 1853–1854 | Japan | Diplomatic Mission |
| Pig War | 1859 | San Juan Islands, North America | Military Standoff |
| Paris Commune | 1871 | Paris, France | Uprising |
| Proclamation of the German Empire | 1871 | Versailles, France | Political Founding |
| War of the Pacific | 1879–1884 | South America | War |
| Philippine-American War | 1899–1902 | Philippines | War |
| Panama Canal Opening | 1914 | Panama | Engineering Achievement |
| Polish-Soviet War | 1919–1921 | Eastern Europe | War |
| Prohibition in the United States | 1920–1933 | United States | Social Reform |
| Penicillin Discovery | 1928 | London, England | Scientific Discovery |
| Pluto Discovered | 1930 | Arizona, USA | Astronomical Discovery |
| Pact of Steel | 1939 | Berlin, Germany | Military Alliance |
| Phony War | 1939–1940 | Western Europe | Military Phase |
| Pearl Harbor Attack | 1941 | Hawaii, USA | Military Attack |
| Project Manhattan | 1942–1946 | United States | Military Research Project |
| Pacific War | 1941–1945 | Pacific Ocean, East Asia | WWII Theater |
| Potsdam Conference | 1945 | Potsdam, Germany | Diplomatic Summit |
| Partition of India | 1947 | British India | Political Division |
| Prague Coup d’état | 1948 | Czechoslovakia | Political Coup |
| Polio Vaccine Development | 1955 | United States | Medical Breakthrough |
| Prague Spring | 1968 | Czechoslovakia | Political Liberalization |
| Pulsars Discovered | 1967 | Cambridge, England | Astronomical Discovery |
| Project Apollo | 1961–1972 | United States & The Moon | Space Program |
| Paris Peace Accords | 1973 | Paris, France | Treaty |
| Pentagon Papers Leak | 1971 | United States | Political Scandal |
| People Power Revolution | 1986 | Philippines | Revolution |
| Perestroika | 1985–1991 | Soviet Union | Political Reform |
| Pan Am Flight 103 Bombing | 1988 | Lockerbie, Scotland | Terrorist Attack |
Descriptions
Peloponnesian War
A devastating conflict fought between the Athenian Empire and the Peloponnesian League, led by Sparta. Sparta’s victory ended the golden age of Athens and dramatically reshaped the ancient Greek world.
Persian Wars
A series of conflicts between the Achaemenid Empire of Persia and Greek city-states. The unlikely Greek victory ensured the survival of Greek culture and political structures, influencing the course of Western civilization.
Punic Wars
Three major wars fought between Rome and Carthage for dominance of the Mediterranean. Rome’s final victory resulted in the destruction of Carthage and the expansion of the Roman Republic.
Plague of Athens
A devastating epidemic that hit Athens during the Peloponnesian War, killing an estimated 75,000 to 100,000 people. It severely weakened Athens and was a major factor in its eventual defeat by Sparta.
Ptolemaic Kingdom Established
The founding of a Hellenistic kingdom in Egypt by Ptolemy I Soter, a general of Alexander the Great. The dynasty ruled for nearly 300 years, ending with the death of Cleopatra VII in 30 BCE.
Pompeii Eruption
The cataclysmic eruption of Mount Vesuvius which buried the Roman cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum under volcanic ash. The preserved ruins provide a unique snapshot of Roman life.
Plague of Justinian
One of the deadliest pandemics in history, devastating the Byzantine Empire and other parts of Europe, Asia, and Africa. It is estimated to have killed tens of millions of people and weakened the empire.
Pentecost
A foundational event in Christianity where the Holy Spirit is said to have descended upon the apostles. It marks the birth of the Christian church and the start of its missionary work.
Peasants’ Revolt
A major uprising across large parts of England led by Wat Tyler. The rebels sought an end to serfdom and protested high taxes, marking a significant moment in the history of popular rebellion.
Pazzi Conspiracy
A failed plot by the Pazzi family and other conspirators to assassinate Lorenzo de’ Medici and his brother Giuliano. The event consolidated the Medici family’s power over Florence.
Protestant Reformation
A major schism within Western Christianity initiated by Martin Luther’s Ninety-five Theses. It led to the creation of Protestantism and fundamentally altered Europe’s religious and political landscape.
Peace of Augsburg
A treaty between Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor, and an alliance of Lutheran princes. It officially ended the religious struggle between the two groups and allowed rulers to choose either Lutheranism or Roman Catholicism.
Pilgrims’ Landing at Plymouth
The arrival of the Pilgrims aboard the Mayflower and the establishment of Plymouth Colony. This event is a cornerstone of American national identity, symbolizing the quest for religious freedom.
Pequot War
A brutal armed conflict between the Pequot tribe and an alliance of English colonists and their Native American allies. The war resulted in the decisive defeat and slaughter of the Pequot people.
Peace of Westphalia
A series of peace treaties that ended the Thirty Years’ War in the Holy Roman Empire and the Eighty Years’ War between Spain and the Dutch Republic. It established principles of state sovereignty.
Popish Plot
A fictitious conspiracy fabricated by Titus Oates that alleged a Catholic plot to assassinate King Charles II. The resulting anti-Catholic hysteria led to the execution of at least 22 innocent men.
Pueblo Revolt
An uprising of most of the indigenous Pueblo people against the Spanish colonizers in present-day New Mexico. The rebels drove the Spanish out and maintained control for 12 years.
Pontiac’s War
A widespread conflict initiated by a loose confederation of Native American tribes dissatisfied with British postwar policies after the French and Indian War. It led to a shift in British colonial policy.
Pragmatic Sanction of 1713
An edict issued by Emperor Charles VI to ensure that the Habsburg hereditary possessions could be inherited by a daughter. It secured the throne for his daughter, Maria Theresa.
Partitions of Poland
Three separate annexations of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth’s territory by the Russian Empire, the Kingdom of Prussia, and Habsburg Austria. The partitions ultimately ended the existence of the sovereign Polish state.
Powder Alarm
A major popular reaction to a surprise British military action to seize gunpowder from a magazine. The alarm spread rapidly, marking a key rehearsal for the Battles of Lexington and Concord.
Peninsular War
A military conflict between Napoleon’s empire and the allied powers of Spain, Britain, and Portugal for control of the Iberian Peninsula. The war’s guerrilla tactics and Napoleon’s ultimate defeat were significant.
Peterloo Massacre
An event where cavalry charged into a crowd of over 60,000 people gathered to demand parliamentary reform. The massacre led to a crackdown on reform movements but also fueled public anger.
Panic of 1837
A severe financial crisis that triggered a major depression in the United States until the mid-1840s. It was caused by speculative fever and led to widespread bank failures and unemployment.
Pastry War
A brief but influential conflict between Mexico and France. It began after a French pastry chef in Mexico City claimed his shop had been looted by Mexican officers, giving France a pretext for intervention.
Irish Potato Famine
A period of mass starvation and disease in Ireland caused by a potato blight. The famine led to the death of about one million people and the emigration of a million more, drastically changing Ireland’s demographics.
Perry Expedition
A diplomatic and military expedition by the United States Navy to Japan. Commodore Matthew C. Perry’s arrival forced the end of Japan’s 220-year-old policy of national seclusion (sakoku).
Pig War
A border confrontation between the United States and the British Empire over the San Juan Islands. The dispute, triggered by the shooting of a pig, was resolved peacefully without any human casualties.
Paris Commune
A radical socialist and revolutionary government that ruled Paris for two months following the Franco-Prussian War. It was brutally suppressed by the French army in an event known as “The Bloody Week.”
Proclamation of the German Empire
The official unification of Germany into a politically and administratively integrated nation-state. Wilhelm I of Prussia was proclaimed German Emperor in the Hall of Mirrors at the Palace of Versailles.
War of the Pacific
A conflict between Chile and a Bolivian-Peruvian alliance over control of coastal territories rich in mineral resources. Chile’s victory resulted in its annexation of valuable land, leaving Bolivia landlocked.
Philippine-American War
An armed conflict between the First Philippine Republic and the United States following the Spanish-American War. The war resulted in U.S. annexation of the Philippines and immense Filipino casualties.
Panama Canal Opening
The official opening of the Panama Canal, a man-made waterway connecting the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. It revolutionized international maritime trade by drastically shortening shipping routes.
Polish-Soviet War
A conflict between the Second Polish Republic and Soviet Russia. The war ended with a Polish victory that secured Poland’s independence and eastern borders for two decades.
Prohibition in the United States
A nationwide constitutional ban on the production, importation, transportation, and sale of alcoholic beverages. The era was marked by the rise of organized crime and speakeasies.
Penicillin Discovery
The accidental discovery of the antibiotic properties of the Penicillium mold by Scottish scientist Alexander Fleming. This breakthrough revolutionized medicine and has saved countless millions of lives.
Pluto Discovered
The discovery of Pluto by American astronomer Clyde Tombaugh at the Lowell Observatory. For over 75 years, it was considered the ninth planet in our solar system before its reclassification.
Pact of Steel
A formal military and political alliance between Fascist Italy and Nazi Germany. The pact obligated the two powers to aid each other in the event of war, formalizing the Axis alliance.
Phony War
An eight-month period at the start of World War II during which there were no major military land operations on the Western Front. The relative quiet ended abruptly with the German invasion of France.
Pearl Harbor Attack
A surprise military strike by the Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service on the U.S. naval base at Pearl Harbor. The attack was the direct cause of the United States’ entry into World War II.
Project Manhattan
A top-secret research and development undertaking during World War II that produced the first nuclear weapons. The project culminated in the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
Pacific War
The theater of World War II fought in the Pacific and East Asia. It pitted the Allies, including the U.S., against the Empire of Japan, ending with Japan’s surrender in 1945.
Potsdam Conference
A post-WWII summit held by the Allied leaders Truman, Stalin, and Churchill (later Attlee) to negotiate terms for the end of the war and the future of Europe. It exposed growing rifts between the USSR and the West.
Partition of India
The division of British India into two independent dominions: Hindu-majority India and Muslim-majority Pakistan. The partition displaced up to 20 million people and resulted in catastrophic violence.
Prague Coup d’état
An event in which the Communist Party of Czechoslovakia, with Soviet backing, assumed undisputed control over the government. It marked a clear step in the consolidation of the Eastern Bloc.
Polio Vaccine Development
The creation of the first effective polio vaccine by Jonas Salk and his team. The vaccine’s widespread use led to a dramatic decrease in poliomyelitis cases, nearly eradicating the devastating disease.
Prague Spring
A period of political liberalization and mass protest in Czechoslovakia. The reforms, led by Alexander Dubček, were brutally suppressed when the Soviet Union and other Warsaw Pact nations invaded the country.
Pulsars Discovered
The first detection of a pulsar, a highly magnetized rotating neutron star, by astronomers Jocelyn Bell Burnell and Antony Hewish. The discovery opened a new branch of astrophysics.
Project Apollo
A NASA human spaceflight program that culminated in the first crewed lunar landings. The Apollo 11 mission in 1969, when Neil Armstrong walked on the Moon, was a defining moment of the 20th century.
Paris Peace Accords
A peace treaty signed to establish peace in Vietnam and end the Vietnam War. Although it led to the withdrawal of U.S. forces, it failed to stop the fighting, which concluded in 1975.
Pentagon Papers Leak
The leak of a top-secret Department of Defense history of U.S. political and military involvement in Vietnam. Published by major newspapers, it exposed government deceptions and intensified opposition to the war.
People Power Revolution
A series of popular, nonviolent demonstrations in the Philippines that led to the downfall of President Ferdinand Marcos and the restoration of democracy. It became a model for nonviolent resistance worldwide.
Perestroika
A political movement for reform within the Communist Party of the Soviet Union, led by Mikhail Gorbachev. Its policies of “restructuring” are often cited as a cause of the dissolution of the Soviet Union.
Pan Am Flight 103 Bombing
The bombing of a transatlantic flight from London to New York City, which killed all 259 people on board and 11 people on the ground. A Libyan intelligence officer was later convicted of the attack.