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The 1870s: 1870–1879
1870–1879 · worldwide, all places
Moving through time
Prussia besieged Paris in 1870-71, and the city's radicals held the Paris Commune for seventy-two days before the army massacred them. Japan's samurai made their last stand in the Satsuma Rebellion of 1877, and the telephone and light bulb were patented before the decade ended.
The Commune of 1871 and Satsuma in 1877 were both last stands of old orders. The Last Samurai dramatizes Saigo's rebellion of 1877, and the animated Ballerina chases a Breton orphan's dancing dream in the Paris of 1879. Open the 1870s on the StoryTerra map and explore its stories by place.
10 famous stories set in the 1870s
Live snapshot of the top 10 most popular catalogue items (2026-09-05). Click any card to open this entry on the live map.
Browse 117 books, 144 movies, 1 TV show and 3 games set in the 1870s (1870–1879).
For a Few Dollars More
Two bounty hunters are in pursuit of "El Indio" one of the most wanted fugitives in the western territories and his gang.
The Last Samurai
Nathan Algren is an American hired to instruct the Japanese army in the ways of modern warfare which finds him learning to respect the samurai and the honorable principles that rule them. Pressed to destroy the…
A Fistful of Dollars
The Man With No Name enters the Mexican village of San Miguel in the midst of a power struggle among the three Rojo brothers and sheriff John Baxter. When a regiment of Mexican soldiers bearing gold intended to pay for…
Ballerina
Set in 1879 Paris. An orphan girl dreams of becoming a ballerina and flees her rural Brittany for Paris where she passes for someone else and accedes to the position of pupil at the Grand Opera house.
The Magnificent Seven
Looking to mine for gold greedy industrialist Bartholomew Bogue seizes control of the Old West town of Rose Creek. With their lives in jeopardy Emma Cullen and other desperate residents turn to bounty hunter Sam Chisolm…
They Call Me Trinity
The simple story has the pair coming to the rescue of peace-loving Mormons when land-hungry Major Harriman sends his bullies to harass them into giving up their fertile valley. Trinity and Bambino manage to save the…
High Plains Drifter
A gunfighting stranger comes to the small settlement of Lago. After gunning down three gunmen who tried to kill him the townsfolk decide to hire the Stranger to hold off three outlaws who are on their way.
Blazing Saddles
A town—where everyone seems to be named Johnson—stands in the way of the railroad. In order to grab their land robber baron Hedley Lamarr sends his henchmen to make life in the town unbearable. After the sheriff is…
Rurouni Kenshin: The Final
In 1879 Kenshin and his allies face their strongest enemy yet: his former brother-in-law Enishi Yukishiro and his minions who've vowed their revenge.
Trinity Is Still My Name
The two brothers Trinity and Bambino are exchanged by two federal agents and take advantage of the situation to steal a huge booty hidden in a monastery by a gang of outlaws.
The 10 stories above are just a sample of the 265 in the catalogue for this entry. For the live 1870–1879 catalogue, use the button above — or browse the whole 19th century. On the live map you can also filter by the exact time the stories take place — any year, decade or century, from BCE to the future.
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1860s · 19th century · Time hub · All places · 1880s