Background,

Financialization (general evolutions in the area of finance which preceded the crisis)
Subprime mortgage crisis
Systemic risk

Events of 2007
August, 2007: Liquidity crisis emerges
September, 2007: Northern Rock seeks and receives a liquidity support facility from the Bank of England
October, 2007: Record high US stock market October 9, 2007 Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) 14,164

Events of 2008
January, 2008: Stock Market Volatility
February, 2008: Nationalisation of Northern Rock
March, 2008: Collapse of Bear Stearns
March, 2008: Federal takeover of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac
June 27, 2008: Bear Market of 2008 declared
September, 2008: Global Financial Crisis
September, 2008: Bankruptcy of Lehman Brothers
September, 2008: Merrill Lynch sold to Bank of America Corporation
September, 2008: partial nationalization of Fortis holding
October, 2008: Large losses in financial markets world wide throughout September and October
October, 2008: Passage of EESA of 2008
October, 2008: Iceland's major banks nationalized
November, 2008: China creates a stimulus plan
November, 2008: Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) touches recent low point of 7,507 points[citation needed]
December, 2008: The Australian Government injects 'economic stimulus package' to avoid the country going into recession, December, 2008
December, 2008: Madoff Ponzi scheme scandal erupts
December, 2008: Belgium government resignes as a result of Fortis nationalization