Early Modern
Ponce de León in Florida (1513) and the Fountain of Youth Myth
Ponce de León charted much of the Florida coast, named it La Florida and noted the Gulf Stream, but founded no settlement.
All Articles
Every Chronicle article on world history, newest first: battles, empires, disasters, discoveries and revolutions.
Contemporary
Ozone Hole Discovery (1985): CFCs and the Antarctic Ozone Layer
The discovery of springtime ozone loss over Antarctica confirmed the danger of chlorofluorocarbons and led to the Montreal Protocol of 1987, which phased out ozone-depleting chemicals worldwide.
Contemporary
Martial Law in Poland (1981–1983): Jaruzelski's Crackdown
Solidarity was suppressed and driven underground, but the regime failed to solve Poland's crisis and negotiated with the union in 1989.
Contemporary
Civil Rights Act of 1964: The Law That Outlawed Segregation
The act outlawed segregation in public accommodations and discrimination in employment and federally funded programmes, ending legal Jim Crow in public life.
Contemporary
Gemini 6A and Gemini 7 (1965): The First Space Rendezvous
Gemini 6A achieved the first rendezvous between two crewed spacecraft, proving a technique essential for the Apollo Moon landings.
Contemporary
Algerian War of Independence 1954-1962: France Loses Algeria
The Évian Accords ended the war; Algeria became independent on 5 July 1962 and most European settlers left.
Contemporary
Truman Dismisses MacArthur (1951): A Clash Over the Korean War
MacArthur was replaced by General Matthew Ridgway; after a storm of protest and Senate hearings, the principle of civilian control of the military and a limited war in Korea were upheld.
Ancient World
Tel Dan Stele: The 'House of David' Aramaic Inscription
The stele provided the first widely accepted reference to the 'House of David' outside the Bible.
Ancient World
Nuri Pyramids: Royal Tombs of Kush Begun by Taharqa
Nuri served as the main royal cemetery of Kush for about three centuries and is now part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Ancient World
Battle of Maling (342 BC): Sun Bin's Ambush of Pang Juan
Decisive Qi victory; Pang Juan died, the Wei crown prince was captured and Wei lost its position as the leading power.
Ancient World
Siddhartha Gautama: The Life of the Buddha in Ancient India
The Buddha's teaching and the monastic community he founded grew into Buddhism, one of the major world religions.
Ancient World
Battle of the Aegates Islands (241 BC): First Punic War Ends
Decisive Roman victory; Carthage sued for peace, gave up Sicily and paid a heavy indemnity, ending the First Punic War.