| 1805–1849 | Muhammad Ali modernizes Egypt | |
| 1808–1839 | Mahmud II rules Ottoman state and enacts reforms |
| 1809 | Uthman dan Fodio founds Sokoto caliphate |
| 1830 | France begins conquest of Algeria |
| 1839–1876 | Western-style reforms (Tanzimat) in Ottoman Empire |
| 1860s | Transatlantic slave trade declines rapidly |
| 1869 | Completion of Suez Canal |
| 1875 | Ottoman state declares partial bankruptcy; European creditors take over |
| 1876 | Europeans take financial control in Egypt |
| 1879–1882 | Ahmed Arabi leads revolt against foreign control of Egypt |
| 1880 | Western and central Sudan unite under Islam |
| 1880–1900 | Most of Africa falls under European rule |
| 1880–1914 | Height of new imperialism in Asia and Africa |
| 1884–1885 | Berlin Conference |
| 1899 | Kipling, “The White Man’s Burden”; Amin, The Liberation of Women |
| 1899–1902 | South African War |
| 1902 | Conrad, Heart of Darkness; Hobson, Imperialism |
| 1908 | Young Turks seize power in Ottoman Empire |