1760s

The 1760s refers to the decade from 1760 to 1769, a period marked by the aftermath of the global conflict known as the Seven Years' War and by significant shifts in imperial administration, colonial policy, and intellectual life. The war’s end solidified British supremacy in many overseas territories and redrew continental and colonial maps, while exposing growing frictions between metropolitan governments and distant possessions.

In Europe and the Atlantic world, the war’s conclusion culminated in the 1763 Treaty of Paris. Britain gained Canada and territories east of the Mississippi, while Spain relinquished Florida and France ceded Louisiana west of the Mississippi. The same year, the Royal Proclamation attempted to organize western settlement and relations with Indigenous peoples, foreshadowing later tensions. In Britain, fiscal pressures prompted a series of revenue-raising measures for the colonies, including the Sugar Act (1764), the Stamp Act (1765), and later the Townshend Acts (1767). These measures fostered widespread colonial opposition and contributed to a growing movement toward self-government.

In Asia and South Asia, the British East India Company extended its influence. After military victories such as the Battle of Buxar (1764), the company obtained diwani rights to Bengal, paving the way for deeper administrative control. In the Pacific, Captain James Cook began his first voyage in 1768, and in 1769 observed the transit of Venus, marking a notable moment in the era of global exploration.

Sciences and culture continued to be shaped by the Enlightenment, with ongoing advances in natural philosophy, geography, and navigation. The 1760s thus served as a transitional decade, setting the stage for political upheavals and imperial restructurings that would unfold in the following decade.