1700

1700 was a calendar year in the Gregorian era that marked the transition from the late 17th century into the 18th century in many European contexts. The year sits within a period of dynastic rivalries, colonial expansion, and scientific development that helped shape political borders, trade networks, and cultural life across Europe, its overseas empires, and beyond.

Calendar and leap year status varied by region. In the Gregorian calendar, which would become the predominant system in much of the world, 1700 was not a leap year; February had 28 days. Some states still used the Julian calendar, for which 1700 was a leap year with 29 February. Differences in dating persisted in cross-border records until later reforms, notably Britain’s 1752 calendar adjustment that eliminated 11 days and aligned dating with the rest of Europe.

In early 1700, the Great Northern War began, a decade-long conflict that redrew northern and eastern Europe. Sweden, under Charles XII, scored a major victory against a larger Russian army at the Battle of Narva in November 1700, demonstrating military prowess but foreshadowing a protracted struggle that would involve neighboring polities and alter regional power balances for years to come. Colonial powers continued to contest territories in the Americas and Asia, shaping subsequent imperial alignments and trade networks.

Culturally and scientifically, 1700 sits within the broader Baroque era and the ongoing scientific revolution. European art, music, and philosophy reflected a climate of innovation and exchange that would continue to influence the 18th century, even as political and religious developments produced enduring regional differences.