Essays

History of Magic

While the main timeline gives names and dates for specific events, this chronology indicates broad eras in the history of the wizarding world and traces the development of the ever-widening gap between the Muggle and wizarding communities.

Ancient Egypt - 
Egyptian wizards put curses on tombs; nowadays curse-breakers for Gringotts try to regain the treasure locked in those tombs, one pyramid has mutant skeletons of Muggles who'd broken in and "grown extra heads and stuff." Magic is integrated into society and Wizards are held in high esteem.

about 1000 AD -
Growing distrust on the part of Muggles for wizards and witches compels the four greatest witches and wizards of the age to found Hogwarts. Salazar Slytherin builds the Chamber of Secrets after his point of view that only pure-blood wizards should be allowed into Hogwarts was dismissed. The wizarding world begins to withdraw and hide itself from the Muggle world.

Fourteenth Century -
Witch burnings; Muggles were particularly afraid of magic but not very good at recognizing it, Wendelin the Weird burned at the stake 47 times in various disguises (Flame-Freezing Charm)

1400's -
With the coming of the Renaissance and the increasing reliance among Muggles on scientific reasoning, the break between the Wizarding and Muggle worlds is becoming more and more complete. Each culture goes on to create their own civilization: social structures, economies, governments, etc. Each borrows a little from the other as the years go by but it becomes apparent that the Muggles must be kept ignorant of the existence of their magical kin for their own good. Some Muggles persecute their magical neighbors, others try to exploit magical power for their own gain and for quick fixes to their problems.

1600's -
Goblin rebellions in Britain.
Muggle persecution reaches an all-time high. These are dark times for the Magical Community. The governments of the Wizarding World meets to consider solutions to the crisis and create the International Statute of Wizarding Secrecy of 1692. This not only completes the separation of the two cultures but also lays the responsibility on the various Wizarding governments in each country for maintaining the secrecy of everything from Quidditch games to dragons. Over the years, for Muggles, magic becomes the stuff of fairy tales and legend.

1800's -
Giants warred amongst themselves, bringing their species to the brink of extinction

1970's -
Voldemort's rise to power, culminating in his battle with James and Lily Potter and his defeat by Harry Potter (10/31/81). The Giants, most of whom fought for Voldemort, retreat to northern Europe.

1990's -
Voldemort rises again (1994)