This list includes 39 Historical events that start with H, from “Hague Conventions of 1899 and 1907” to “Hōgen Rebellion”. Many entries cover diplomacy, wars, uprisings, and cultural turning points from different regions and eras.
Historical events that start with H are notable incidents, movements, battles, treaties, or cultural moments beginning with the letter H. The Hague Conventions and the Hōgen Rebellion illustrate how H-named events range from international law to medieval conflict.
Below you’ll find the table with Year, Location and Significance.
Year: You see the event’s date or range so you can place it in chronological context and compare timelines.
Location: You get a concise place for quick geographic orientation and to connect events with regional history and sources.
Significance: You read a brief 15–25 word summary explaining why the event matters and its main consequences.
Historical events that start with H
| Event | Year(s) | Location | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hammurabi’s Code established | c. 1754 BCE | Babylon (Iraq) | Legal code |
| Hittite Empire’s collapse | c. 1178 BCE | Anatolia (Turkey) | Societal collapse |
| Homeric Age begins | c. 1100 BCE | Ancient Greece | Historical period |
| Helots’ Revolt | c. 464 BCE | Sparta (Greece) | Slave uprising |
| Hellenistic Period begins | 323 BCE | Mediterranean & Middle East | Cultural and political era |
| Hasmonean Dynasty founded | c. 140 BCE | Judea (Israel/Palestine) | Political founding |
| Herod’s Temple construction begins | c. 20 BCE | Jerusalem (Israel/Palestine) | Religious construction |
| Hijra (The Migration) | 622 | Mecca to Medina (Saudi Arabia) | Religious event |
| Hōgen Rebellion | 1156 | Kyoto, Japan | Civil war |
| Heiji Rebellion | 1160 | Kyoto, Japan | Civil war |
| Hundred Years’ War | 1337–1453 | Western Europe | Dynastic war |
| Hussite Wars | 1419–1434 | Bohemia (Czech Republic) | Religious war |
| Hon’nō-ji Incident | 1582 | Kyoto, Japan | Coup d’état |
| Huguenot Rebellions | 1621–1629 | France | Religious conflict |
| Hudson’s Bay Company founded | 1670 | North America | Economic founding |
| Hanoverian Succession | 1714 | Great Britain | Royal succession |
| Highland Clearances | 1750–1860 | Scottish Highlands, UK | Forced displacement |
| Haitian Revolution | 1791–1804 | Saint-Domingue (Haiti) | Slave rebellion and revolution |
| Hungarian Revolution of 1848 | 1848–1849 | Hungary | Nationalist revolution |
| Haymarket Affair | 1886 | Chicago, USA | Labor protest and bombing |
| Homestead Strike | 1892 | Homestead, Pennsylvania, USA | Labor strike |
| Hague Conventions of 1899 and 1907 | 1899 & 1907 | The Hague, Netherlands | International treaties |
| Hindenburg Programme | 1916 | Germany | Wartime economic mobilization |
| Halifax Explosion | 1917 | Halifax, Canada | Man-made disaster |
| Harlem Renaissance | 1918–1930s | New York City, USA | Cultural movement |
| Hyperinflation in the Weimar Republic | 1921–1923 | Germany | Economic crisis |
| Hawley-Smoot Tariff Act | 1930 | United States | Economic legislation |
| Holodomor | 1932–1933 | Soviet Ukraine | Man-made famine |
| Hindenburg Disaster | 1937 | Lakehurst, New Jersey, USA | Aviation disaster |
| Holocaust | 1941–1945 | Nazi-occupied Europe | Genocide |
| Hollywood Blacklist | 1947–1960 | United States | Political persecution |
| Huaihai Campaign | 1948–1949 | Eastern China | Military campaign |
| Hundred Flowers Campaign | 1956 | China | Political movement |
| Hungarian Revolution of 1956 | 1956 | Hungary | Anti-Soviet uprising |
| Helsinki Accords | 1975 | Helsinki, Finland | International treaty |
| Hubble Space Telescope launched | 1990 | Earth Orbit | Scientific achievement |
| Hong Kong Handover | 1997 | Hong Kong | Political transition |
| Human Genome Project completed | 2003 | International | Scientific discovery |
| Hurricane Katrina | 2005 | New Orleans, USA | Natural disaster |
Descriptions
Hammurabi’s Code established
One of the earliest and most complete written legal codes, proclaimed by Babylonian King Hammurabi. It provided a model for later legal systems with its “an eye for an eye” principle.
Hittite Empire’s collapse
The rapid fall of a major Bronze Age power, contributing to the widespread turmoil known as the Late Bronze Age collapse. This event reshaped the political map of the ancient Near East.
Homeric Age begins
The era following the Bronze Age collapse in Greece, characterized by depopulation and loss of writing. It is the historical backdrop for the epic poems of Homer, like the Iliad and Odyssey.
Helots’ Revolt
A massive uprising of the helot (serf) population against their Spartan masters. The revolt lasted for years, severely testing Spartan military dominance and societal structure.
Hellenistic Period begins
Started with the death of Alexander the Great, this era saw Greek culture and politics spread across his vast empire, blending with local traditions to create a new cosmopolitan civilization.
Hasmonean Dynasty founded
A ruling dynasty established in Judea following the Maccabean Revolt against the Seleucid Empire. It reasserted Jewish political independence for about a century before the Roman conquest.
Herod’s Temple construction begins
King Herod the Great began a massive renovation and expansion of the Second Jewish Temple in Jerusalem. This grand structure was the center of Jewish religious life until its destruction by the Romans.
Hijra (The Migration)
The migration of the Islamic prophet Muhammad and his followers from Mecca to Medina. This pivotal event marks the beginning of the Islamic calendar and the founding of the first Muslim community.
Hōgen Rebellion
A short but significant civil war in Japan over imperial succession. It established the dominance of the samurai warrior class, paving the way for the rise of the first shogunate.
Heiji Rebellion
A brief civil war that followed the Hōgen Rebellion, further solidifying the power of the Taira clan and samurai leadership, leading directly to the Genpei War and the Kamakura shogunate.
Hundred Years’ War
A 116-year conflict between England and France over control of the French throne. It spurred nationalism, revolutionized warfare with the longbow, and effectively ended England’s medieval continental ambitions.
Hussite Wars
A series of wars fought between the followers of reformer Jan Hus and the Holy Roman Empire. The Hussites’ innovative military tactics allowed them to resist several crusades sent against them.
Hon’nō-ji Incident
The forced suicide of Oda Nobunaga, a powerful daimyo on the verge of unifying Japan, at the hands of his vassal. The event dramatically altered the course of Japanese unification.
Huguenot Rebellions
A series of uprisings by French Protestants (Huguenots) against royal authority. Their defeat consolidated the power of the French monarchy and reduced the political and military autonomy of the Huguenots.
Hudson’s Bay Company founded
The establishment by English royal charter of a company to control the fur trade in the Hudson Bay drainage basin. It acted as a de facto government in parts of North America for centuries.
Hanoverian Succession
The transfer of the British crown from the Stuart dynasty to George I of the House of Hanover. This secured a Protestant succession and led to the development of the Prime Minister’s role.
Highland Clearances
The forced eviction of a significant number of tenants in the Scottish Highlands to make way for large-scale sheep farming. It resulted in mass migration and a fundamental change to Highland culture.
Haitian Revolution
The only slave uprising in history that led to the founding of a sovereign state. It was a defining moment in the history of the Americas, challenging slavery and colonialism across the globe.
Hungarian Revolution of 1848
A major uprising within the Austrian Empire, part of the wider “Spring of Nations.” Though ultimately suppressed, it was a cornerstone of modern Hungarian national identity and led to eventual autonomy.
Haymarket Affair
A labor protest that turned into a riot after someone threw a bomb at police. It became a symbol of the international struggle for workers’ rights and led to the establishment of May Day.
Homestead Strike
A bloody industrial lockout and strike at the Carnegie Steel Company that became a major defeat for the union. It highlighted the intense and often violent labor struggles of the Gilded Age.
Hague Conventions of 1899 and 1907
Two international conferences that established some of the first formal statements of the laws of war and war crimes. They were foundational steps in the development of international humanitarian law.
Hindenburg Programme
A German high command program during World War I to dramatically increase arms production by placing the entire economy under military control. It aimed to achieve victory through total industrial mobilization.
Halifax Explosion
A massive explosion caused by the collision of two ships in Halifax harbour, one laden with explosives. It was the largest artificial explosion before the atomic bomb, killing around 2,000 people.
Harlem Renaissance
A flourishing of African American art, literature, music, and intellectual thought centered in Harlem. It was a key moment in defining modern Black culture and challenging racial stereotypes.
Hyperinflation in the Weimar Republic
A period of extreme monetary inflation that devastated the German economy and wiped out savings. The crisis destabilized the Weimar Republic, contributing to the political climate that allowed for the rise of Nazism.
Hawley-Smoot Tariff Act
An act that raised U.S. tariffs on over 20,000 imported goods to record levels. It prompted retaliatory tariffs from other countries, worsening the Great Depression by reducing international trade.
Holodomor
A catastrophic famine that killed millions of Ukrainians. It is widely considered a genocide, orchestrated by the Soviet government under Joseph Stalin to crush Ukrainian resistance to collectivization.
Hindenburg Disaster
The dramatic crash and fire of the German passenger airship LZ 129 Hindenburg. The widely reported event shattered public confidence in airship travel, marking the end of that era.
Holocaust
The systematic, state-sponsored murder of six million Jews by Nazi Germany and its collaborators. This unprecedented genocide also targeted millions of other victims, becoming a symbol of ultimate evil.
Hollywood Blacklist
The practice of denying employment to entertainment professionals believed to be associated with communism. A dark chapter of the Cold War’s Red Scare, it ruined hundreds of careers in Hollywood.
Huaihai Campaign
One of the decisive battles of the Chinese Civil War. The Communist victory against the Nationalists was crucial in securing control of central and eastern China, paving the way for the PRC’s founding.
Hundred Flowers Campaign
A period where the Chinese Communist Party under Mao Zedong encouraged citizens to openly express their opinions. It was quickly followed by an anti-rightist campaign to punish the outspoken critics.
Hungarian Revolution of 1956
A nationwide revolt against the Soviet-backed government of Hungary. Though brutally crushed by Soviet forces, it was a major crack in the Iron Curtain and exposed the nature of Soviet rule.
Helsinki Accords
A major diplomatic agreement signed by 35 nations, including the US and USSR, during the Cold War. It aimed to improve East-West relations and included important clauses on human rights.
Hubble Space Telescope launched
The deployment of a large space telescope into low Earth orbit. The Hubble has provided some of the most detailed and breathtaking images of the universe, transforming our understanding of cosmology.
Hong Kong Handover
The transfer of sovereignty over Hong Kong from the United Kingdom to China. It marked the end of 156 years of British rule under the “one country, two systems” principle.
Human Genome Project completed
The successful completion of a 13-year international project to map the entire human genetic code. This monumental achievement revolutionized biology and medicine, opening doors to new treatments.
Hurricane Katrina
An extremely destructive hurricane that caused catastrophic flooding in New Orleans after its levee system failed. The disaster killed over 1,800 people and highlighted issues of poverty and government response.