Early Modern
Newton-Leibniz Calculus Controversy: Who Invented Calculus?
Historians now agree that Newton and Leibniz invented calculus independently; Newton first, Leibniz first to publish, with Leibniz's notation prevailing.
All Articles
Every Chronicle article on world history, newest first: battles, empires, disasters, discoveries and revolutions.
Early Modern
Wyatt's Rebellion (1554): Revolt Against Mary I's Spanish Match
The rising collapsed at Ludgate on 7 February 1554; Wyatt, Lady Jane Grey and about a hundred others were executed, and Mary married Philip in July.
Early Modern
Smallpox Epidemic in Mexico (1520): Disease and the Conquest
Smallpox killed a large share of central Mexico's population, including the Mexica ruler Cuitláhuac, and weakened resistance to the Spanish conquest.
Contemporary
Mount Pinatubo Eruption (1991): The Philippines' Great Eruption
Timely forecasts and evacuations saved thousands of lives, but around 850 people died, lahars buried towns for years and the eruption cooled global temperatures by about 0.5 °C.
Contemporary
Monday Demonstrations in Leipzig (1989): East Germany's Protests
Peaceful mass protests forced the East German leadership onto the defensive, contributing to Honecker's fall, the opening of the Berlin Wall and reunification.
Contemporary
Notting Hill Carnival: Origins of a London Street Festival
A small neighbourhood fayre with a steel band procession grew into one of the largest street festivals in Europe and a celebration of Caribbean British culture.
Contemporary
Apollo 13 (1970): The Successful Failure in Space
The Moon landing was abandoned after an oxygen tank explosion, but all three astronauts returned safely to Earth on 17 April 1970.
Contemporary
1959 Tibetan Uprising: Revolt in Lhasa and the Dalai Lama's Exile
The uprising was suppressed by the People's Liberation Army; the Dalai Lama fled to India and the traditional Tibetan government was dissolved.
Contemporary
Vietnam War (1955–1975): Causes, Course and Consequences
North Vietnam and the Viet Cong won; Saigon fell on 30 April 1975 and Vietnam was reunified under communist rule in 1976.
Ancient World
Babylonian Exile: Deportation of the Judeans to Babylon
Judah's royal family, elite and craftsmen were deported to Babylonia; after the Persian conquest of Babylon some returned to rebuild the Temple, while a lasting Jewish community remained in Mesopotamia.
Ancient World
Izapa: Carved Stelae of a Preclassic City on the Pacific Coast
Izapa's carvers created a distinctive narrative style that bridged Olmec traditions and later Maya art.
Ancient World
Qin Unification of China (221 BC): The Birth of an Empire
Qin conquered Han, Zhao, Wei, Chu, Yan and Qi and founded China's first centralised empire, whose institutions outlived the dynasty's fall in 207 BC.