AD

Alfonso becomes the first king of Portugal.

John Paul II is elected as the first non-Italian Pope in over 450 years.

Great fire destroys much of Rome.

The Roman Colosseum and the Baths of Titus are completed.

Start of World War I (WWI).

Portugal agrees to return Macao to China in 1999.

Peter is the sole ruler of Russia.

A new Persian empire is founded by Ardashir.

Albert Einstein publishes his theory of special relativity.