Centuries: 18th century - 19th century - 20th century

Decades: 1820s 1830s 1840s 1850s 1860s - 1870s - 1880s 1890s 1900s 1910s 1920s

Years: 1870 1871 1872 1873 1874 1875 1876 1877 1878 1879

Events

• The invention of the telephone (1876) by Alexander Graham Bell.
• The light bulb was invented.
• The phonograph is invented in 1877 by Thomas Edison.
• Ludwig Boltzmann's statistical definition of thermodynamic entropy
• Franco-Prussian War (1870–1871) results in the collapse of the Second French Empire and in the formation of both the French Third Republic and the German Empire
• Continuing expansion of the British Empire; beginning of the New Imperialism
• Bulgaria and Romania declare independence following war against Turkey
• In the United States, continuation of post-Civil War reconstruction until its conclusion under President Rutherford B. Hayes in 1877

1870s