Destination: SWITZERLAND
Time Line


Wetterhorn Mountain


Timeline

3,000 BC Evidence of earliest neolithic settlers by Lake Neuchâtel.

circa 100 BC Romans invade from the south, incorporating Helvetic tribes.

circa AD 400 Romans expelled southward; Burgundians occupy western areas (modern French-speaking Switzerland) and Alemans the north and east (German-speaking Switzerland).

1032 Existing country incorporated into Holy Roman Empire, followed by gradual emergence of powerful independent nobles.

1515 Defeat at Battle of Marignano inaugurates neutrality.

1526 Zwingli's Reformation takes hold in Zurich, continued by John Calvin in Geneva beginning in 1532.

1648 Treaty of Westphalia recognizes Swiss neutrality and independence of 13 cantons.

1798 French invasion and rule under Napoleon, who establishes Helvetic Republic.

1815 Congress of Vienna guarantees Swiss independence.

1848 Adoption of Swiss Constitution, which defines political organization of the country.

1864 First Convention of Geneva is accepted and signed by 16 nations; the Red Cross is founded.

1914-18 Switzerland remains neutral during World War I.

1919 President Woodrow Wilson chooses Geneva as headquarters of the League of Nations.

1939-45 Switzerland remains neutral during World War II, but image is tarnished by pro-Nazi activities.

1946 United Nations takes over role of League of Nations; Geneva retained as European headquarters.

1990 Population votes to freeze nuclear power development.

1999 Ruth Dreifuss becomes Switzerland's first woman president.

2002 Switzerland becomes the 190th member of the United Nations.

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