Prehistory
Great American Biotic Interchange: When Two Continents Met
The land bridge allowed hundreds of species to spread between the Americas, reshaping the wildlife of both continents, especially South America.
All Articles
Every Chronicle article on world history, newest first: battles, empires, disasters, discoveries and revolutions.
Prehistory
Isua Greenstone Belt: Greenland's Ancient Rocks and Early Life
One of the oldest well-preserved sequences of volcanic and sedimentary rock on Earth, central to debates over the earliest traces of life.
Modern Era
Sultana Disaster (1865): Deadliest Shipwreck in US History
Boiler explosion and fire destroyed the steamboat, killing an estimated 1,100–1,200 or more of roughly 2,100–2,500 people aboard.
Modern Era
Battle of Britain (1940): The RAF Against the Luftwaffe
British defensive victory; the Luftwaffe failed to gain air superiority and the German invasion of Britain was postponed indefinitely.
Modern Era
Siege of Przemysl (1914-1915): The Fall of a Habsburg Fortress
The fortress surrendered to Russia on 22 March 1915 with around 117,000 men; it was retaken by the Central Powers on 3 June 1915.
Modern Era
Great Trek (1835-1840s): The Boer Migration from the Cape
Some 12,000-15,000 Boers settled beyond British rule, displacing African kingdoms and founding republics that became the Transvaal and the Orange Free State.
Modern Era
Battle of Baltimore (1814): Fort McHenry and the Anthem
American victory; the British army and fleet withdrew after failing to break Baltimore's defences.
Modern Era
Faraday's Electromagnetic Induction (1831): Birth of the Dynamo
Faraday discovered electromagnetic induction and built the first electric generator, laying the scientific basis for dynamos, transformers and electric power.
Modern Era
Battle of Austerlitz (1805): Napoleon's Greatest Victory
Decisive French victory; Austria made peace at Pressburg and the Third Coalition collapsed.
Middle Ages
Jasaw Chan K'awiil and Tikal's Victory Over Calakmul (695)
Tikal defeated Calakmul, broke the Snake dynasty's dominance over the central Maya lowlands and began a century of renewed power and building.
Middle Ages
Koumbi Saleh: Archaeology of the Ghana Empire's Capital
Excavations revealed a large stone-built Muslim trading town, widely but not universally accepted as part of Ghana's capital.
Middle Ages
Battle of Takkolam (949): Rashtrakutas Defeat the Cholas
Rashtrakuta victory; the Chola crown prince Rajaditya was killed and the Rashtrakutas occupied the northern Chola lands for about two decades.