1879

Key events from 1879

1879

  • The Zulu War begins as Britain invades Zululand, leading to initial defeats before ultimately establishing colonial control over South Africa.
  • Thomas Edison perfects the incandescent light bulb, making electric lighting practical and accelerating urban modernization worldwide.
  • The War of the Pacific starts between Chile and the alliance of Peru and Bolivia over valuable nitrate deposits in the Atacama Desert.

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