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

• 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.
• Invention of the telephone (1876) and phonograph (1877). See also the History of Science and Technology.
• Continuing expansion of the British Empire; beginning of the New Imperialism.