1640s

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Centuries: 16th century - 17th century - 18th century
Decades: 1610s 1620s 1630s - 1640s - 1650s 1660s 1670s
Years: 1640 1641 1642 1643 1644 1645 1646 1647 1648 1649

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Events and Trends

1644 - The invading Manchu army, with the help of Ming general Wu Sangui, captures Beijing, China. This marks the beginning of the Qing Dynasty (also known as the Manchu Dynasty), the last imperial dynasty of China.
The personal union of the crowns of Spain and Portugal ends due to a revolution in the latter (1640). Philip IV of Spain is succeeded in the throne of Portugal by King John IV, previously Duke of Braganza
Growing conflict between King Charles I of England, Scotland and Ireland and the Long Parliament results in the outbreak of the English civil war (1642 - 1649). Supporters are respectively called Royalists and Roundheads. The Parliament eventually emerges victorious. The captive King is put on trial (January 19 - January 27, 1649) and then executed by decapitation (January 30, 1649). The monarchy is abolished and briefly replaced by the Commonwealth of England (1649 -1653).
Anthony van Diemen, colonial governor of the Dutch East India Company, assigns Abel Tasman with the mission to explore the Terra Australis (Oceania). During his two years' expedition (1642 - 1644), the later becomes the first European to reach Van Diemen's Land (Tasmania) and New Zealand.
Evangelista Torricelli constructs the first Mercury barometer (1643/ 1644).
A series of treaties, known collectively as the Peace of Westphalia (October 24, 1648) put an end to:
- The Eighty Years' War (1568 - 1648) between Spain and the Dutch Republic. The latter is recognized as being fully independent.
- The Thirty Years' War (1618 - 1648) between the various Catholic and Protestant forces of Europe. Each of the about 360 German Princes of the Holy Roman Empire gains almost complete sovereignty over his/her respective territory/ territories. Switzerland is recognized as being independent from the Empire.