1740s
| Centuries: 17th century - 18th century - 19th century | |
| Decades: 1710s 1720s 1730s - 1740s - 1750s 1760s 1770s | |
| Years: 1740 1741 1742 1743 1744 1745 1746 1747 1748 1749 | |
- The War of Austrian Succession (1740-1748) rages. This war between Prussia and Austria evolves into a colonial war between France and Great Britain. This war brings little territorial change, only Silesia remains Prussian. The peace of Aachen makes an end to the war. Battlefields are North America, The Indies and the Austrian Netherlands (present-day Belgium). The war is also a European coalition war involving the Dutch Republic, Savoy and Great Britain on the side of Austria. On the Prussian side France, Spain, Modena and Genoa were involved. These alliances were, however, quite loose.
- Louis XV King of France (king from 1715 to 1774)