| ca. 1540–1700 | Scientific Revolution |
| ca. 1690–1789 | Enlightenment |
| ca. 1700–1800 | Growth of book publishing |
| 1720–1780 | Rococo style in art and decoration |
| 1740–1748 | War of the Austrian Succession |
| 1740–1780 | Reign of the empress Maria Theresa of Austria |
| 1740–1786 | Reign of Frederick the Great of Prussia |
| ca. 1740–1789 | Salons led by Parisian elites |
| 1751–1772 | Philosophes publish Encyclopedia: The Rational Dictionary of the Sciences, the Arts, and the Crafts |
| 1756–1763 | Seven Years’ War |
| 1762–1796 | Reign of Catherine the Great of Russia |
| 1780–1790 | Reign of Joseph II of Austria |
| 1791 | Establishment of the Pale of Settlement |