Time Line

1638

• Rene Descartes proposed the idea of one all-pervasive ether.

  1667

• Robert Hooke writes that color may be explained as differences in the rate of vibration of light in the ether.

  1675

• Observations of the eclipses of Jupiter's moons show that light transmission is not instantaneous.

  1700s

• Newton's particle interpretation of light is disproven. The theory that light is a wave moving through the ether gains ground.

  1856

• James Maxwell demonstrates that all electromagnetic and optical phenomenon were explainable in terms of stresses in the one ether.

  1860

• Etienne Moreau theorized on the properties and distribution of ether. Edison begins research on a prototype Ether Propeller.

  1868

• First working ether flyer mechanism demonstrated by Thomas A. Edison.

  1870

• Edison's Martian Expedition pilots primitive Ether Flyer to Mars, and returns.
• Earth discovers that Mars is inhabited.
• Discovery of liftwood on Mars revolutionizes flight.
• Franco-Prussian War between France and Germany begins.
• Education Act of 1870 passed in England.

  1871

• Franco-Prussian war ends in German victory.
• Wilhelm I crowned Emperor of Germany at the Hall of Mirrors in Versailles.

  1872

• First British foothold on Mars with the establishment of the Permanent British Quarter in Parhoon.
• France passes law of Universal Service. (Draft)

  1873

• Edison loses patent suit against Armstrong Ether Flyer Company. Both firms compete vigorously in design and construction of spacecraft.

  1874

• Armstrong expedition to Venus fails to return.
• Belgians and French establish enclaves on Mars.

  1875

• Collingswood Expedition to Venus fails to return.
• France establishes the "Ecole Superieure de Guerre", The War College.

  1876

• Victoria proclaimed Emperess of India.

  1877

• London Times Venus rescue expedition fails to return.

  1878

• German Ether Dirigible lands on Venus and discovers fate of the first three expeditions.

  1879

• British Fight Zulu War in South Africa; occupy Khyber Pass.
• British defeat Zulus at Ulundi.
• British legation in Kabul massacred.
• Germany declares Alsace-Lorraine to be an integral part of the German Empire.
• Dual Alliance is struck between Germany and Austria-Hungary.
• Alexander of Battenburg elected Prince Alexander I of Bulgaria.
• Radical Egyptian elements depose Ismail, the Khedive of Egypt. He is succeeded by Tewfik.
• The French Panama Canal Company is organized and headed by Ferdinand de Lesseps.
• Ute Indian Uprising in the United States.

  1880

• Germany establishes first colony on Venus.
• Disraeli steps down as British Prime minister, succeeded by Gladstone.
• Second War of the Parhoon Succession results in establishment of a British crown colony on Mars.
• Princess Christina Station established on Mercury
• France annexes Tahiti
• Pacific War breaks out: Chile vs. Peru and Bolivia. Drags on into 1884
• Boers of Transvaal declare their independence from Britain. A republic is established with Krueger as president.
• Garfield elected President of the United States.
• Carnegie develops the first large steel furnance.
• Electricity replaces gaslights on New York streets.
• Heidelberg expedition returns from Venus.
• First Russian expedition lands on Venus.
• First Italian expedition lands on Venus.
• Canned fruits and meats widely available for the first time in stores.

  1881

• The Boers of the Transvaal repulse the British at Laing's Nek and inflict a stunning defeat on them at Majuba Hill. In the Treaty of Pretoria, Britain recognizes the independent Transvaal Republic.
• HMS Aphid launched at Syrtis Major.
• Flogging abolished in the British Army and Navy.
• Garfield Assassinated. Chester Arthur succeeds him.
• The Bey of Tunis accepts status as a French protectorate.
• The first political parties are formed in Japan.
• Serbia forms an alliance with Austria to strengthen the government's hand against internal unrest.
• The Three Emperor's League is formed.

  1882

• Prince Milan Obrenovich of Serbia proclaims himself king.
• Triple Alliance formed between Germany, Italy, and Austria-Hungary.
• First German colonial governor takes residence at Venusstadt.
• British troops occupy Cairo, Egypt.
• Meepsoor and Moeris Lacus accept status as British protectorates.
• Belgian legion involved in frequent fighting in the Coprates Valley on Mars.
• Bank of Japan founded.
• The Russian Reinsurance Treaty is signed.

  1883

• Paul Krueger elected president of the South African Republic.
• French troops control Tunis.
• Russian intervention in Hecates Lacus civil war leads to Treaty of Cebrenia recognizing Russia's "special interests" in the region.
• British fight aerial campaign against pirates in the Aerian Hills.
• Rebellion in the Sudan grows.
• The "Orient Express" (Paris to Istanbul railroad) makes its first run.

  1884

• General Gordon reaches Khartoum as governor of the Sudan. The Mahdi refuses to negotiate and brings Khartoum under seige.
• Gold is discovered in the Transvaal.
• Liam O'Connor in the Fenian Ram makes first attack on British shipping on Mars.
• British aerial squadron bombards Shastapash
• The first "deep tube" opens in London (subway).
• Germany occupies Southwest Africa.
• Grover Cleveland is elected President of the United States.
• The Berlin conference of 14 colonial powers partitions Africa
• Japanese make their first landing on Mars.

  1885

• The Dervish Army captures Khartoum and massacres the garrison. Two days later it destroys the desert column. British evacuate the Sudan. Later in the year the Mahdi dies.
• The Congo and the Upper Coprates become the personal possesions of King Leopold II of Belgium.
• Germany annexes Tanganyika and Zanzibar, renaming them East Africa.
• Great Britain establishes a protectorate over Northern Bechuanaland, the Niger River Region ("Nigeria"), and southern New Guinea.
• British troops occupy Port Hamilton, Korea.
• King Alfonso XII of Spain dies. Queen Maria Christina becomes regent for her unborn child.
• Japan establishes Unebi Station near Euxinus Lacus.
• Bulgaria seizes Eastern Rumelia.
• Serbia and Trans-Balkania declare war on Bulgaria and Ruritania, but are quickly beaten and withdrawn to prewar boundaries.
• Posthumous publication of Karl Marx's Das Kaptial.
• Russian-Afghan border incident damages Russian Empires image with the Crown.

  1886

• Queen Maria Christina gives birth to the future Alfonso XIII
• Geronimo surrenders.
• General George Boulanger becomes French war minister.
• British Prime Minister Gladstone introduces bill for home rule in Ireland. The bill fails, and Salisbury becomes prime minister. Chamberlain becomes colonial secretary.
• HMS Locust, first armored aerial gunboat built on Earth, launched at Portsmouth.
• "Mylarkt Incident" (exchange of gunfire between German and British aerial vessels on Mars) begins steady deterioration in Anglo-German relations.
• Alexander of Bulgaria abdicates after coup. Stephan Stambulov becomes regent.
• First meeting of the Indian National Congress.

  1887

• Queen Victoria celebrates her Golden Jubilee.
• British besiege and capture the city of Shastapsh.
• "Avenel Incident" brings Britain and Oenotria to the brink of war.
• Fenian Ram destroyed by British aerial gunboats in the Meroe Highlands, but O'Connor survives and escapes.
• Successful aerial campaign waged against High Martian pirates of the Astusapes Highlands, culminating in near-total destruction of Barro-vaangian fleet.
• Prince Ferdinand of Saxe-Coburg elected king of Bulgaria, with Stambulov as prime minister.
• General Boulanger attempts coup in Paris, but fails.
• France organizes the Union Indo-Chinoise.
• Leopold II declares the Lower Coprates a Belgian protectorate.
• Construction begins on Tehuantepec Ship Railroad.
• L.L. Zameenhoff devises the language "Esperanto."

  1888

• Royal Geographic Society awards this year's gold medals to Clements Robert Markham for his polar work and Leutnant von Wissmann for his exploration in Central Africa.
• "Ripper" murders take place in Whitechapel district of London.
• The Financial Times first published in London.
• King Lobenfula of the Matabele accepts British protectorate status and grants Cecil Rhodes mining rights.
• Kaiser (emperor) Wilhelm I of Germany dies in March and is succeeded by his son Fredrick III, who dies in June and is succeeded by his son Wilhelm II.
• Sarawak accepts status of British protectorate.
• General Boulanger is retired from the French Army and elected to the Chamber of Deputies.
• Anarchist Ravachol escapes from Prison.
• Benjamin Harrison elected president of the United States.
• Johnstown flood takes place.
• Sidney Boynton, United States Ambassador to the Oenotrian Court, is kidnapped by Barrovaangian King Hattabranx, but he is later rescued by British gunboats. First recorded successful assault on a large kraag.
• Pedro II, emperor of Brazil, abolishes slavery.

  1889

• Butch Cassidy robs a bank in Telluride Colorado and escapes into Utah.
• Japan adopts modern constitution.
• Tehuantepec Ship Railroad begins operation.
• French Panama Canal Company declares bankruptcy.
• Pedro II, emperor of Brazil, overthrown by military coup backed by planters. Brazilian expansionist move north checked by the United States Navy in the Battle of Mona Passage.
• First confirmation of existence of Selenite civilization beneath the surface of Luna.
• General Boulanger flees from France.
• Milan Obrenovich abdicates from Serbian throne in favor of his son, Alexander. Bulgaria and Ruritania mobilize.
• John IV, emperor of Abyssinia, dies and is succeeded by Menelik II.
• Italian troops mass on the Abyssinian borders in Eritrea and Somaliland.
• Belgians complete conquest of the Coprates. Columns begin raiding outside the Coprates in pursuit of rebels. Anti-human riots break out in many cities on Mars.
• Oenotrian Empire declares war on Britain.
• Emperor Franz Josef's son Rudolph commits suicide after killing his 16 year old mistress.

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