Contemporary
Pioneer 10 (1972): The First Spacecraft to Reach Jupiter
Pioneer 10 crossed the asteroid belt safely, returned the first close-up images and measurements of Jupiter and became the first spacecraft set to leave the solar system.
All Articles
Every Chronicle article on world history, newest first: battles, empires, disasters, discoveries and revolutions.
Contemporary
Evian Accords 1962: The Agreement That Ended the Algerian War
France and the FLN agreed a ceasefire and a path to Algerian independence, approved by referendums and achieved on 3–5 July 1962.
Contemporary
U-2 Incident (1960): Francis Gary Powers Shot Down Over USSR
The pilot was captured, the US cover story collapsed and the Paris summit of May 1960 broke down, deepening Cold War tensions.
Ancient World
La Tène Culture: The Art and Society of the Iron Age Celts
La Tène became the name for the later Iron Age of Celtic-speaking Europe, whose art style spread from France to Hungary and from Ireland to Italy.
Ancient World
San Bartolo Murals: Early Maya Paintings of Gods and Kings
The discovery revealed that Maya mythology, kingship and writing were well developed in the Late Preclassic period.
Ancient World
Dazexiang Uprising (209 BC): Chen Sheng and Wu Guang Revolt
The revolt was crushed within about six months, but it set off the wave of rebellions that destroyed the Qin dynasty by 207-206 BC.
Ancient World
Mahabodhi Temple at Bodh Gaya: Site of the Buddha's Awakening
The place of the Buddha's enlightenment became Buddhism's holiest site, crowned by one of the earliest surviving brick temples in India, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Ancient World
Third Punic War (149-146 BC): The Destruction of Carthage
Rome captured and destroyed Carthage, enslaved its survivors and turned its territory into the province of Africa.
Ancient World
Battle of Salamis (480 BC): The Naval Victory That Saved Greece
Decisive Greek victory; the Persian fleet was crippled and Xerxes returned to Asia, leaving an army that was defeated at Plataea in 479 BC.
Ancient World
Hatshepsut's Expedition to Punt: Egypt's Great Trade Voyage
A successful trading voyage that brought myrrh trees, incense, ebony, ivory, gold and animals to Thebes, celebrated in the reliefs of Deir el-Bahari.
Ancient World
Sennacherib's Destruction of Babylon (689 BC) and Its Rebuilding
Babylon was sacked, its temples wrecked and the statue of Marduk taken to Assyria; Esarhaddon began rebuilding the city from 680 BC.
Prehistory
Ġgantija Temples: Megalithic Temples of Gozo in Prehistoric Malta
Two megalithic temples that gave their name to the Ġgantija phase of Maltese prehistory and became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1980.