Early Modern
Cardinal Richelieu: Louis XIII's Chief Minister (1624–1642)
Richelieu strengthened royal authority, ended Huguenot military power and brought France into the Thirty Years' War against the Habsburgs.
All Articles
Every Chronicle article on world history, newest first: battles, empires, disasters, discoveries and revolutions.
Early Modern
First Dutch Voyage to the East Indies (1595-1597): de Houtman
Three of four ships and fewer than 90 of about 249 men returned with a modest cargo of pepper, but the voyage proved the Dutch could reach the Indies and sparked a rush of expeditions that led to the VOC.
Contemporary
Hurricane Sandy (2012): Superstorm Hits New York and New Jersey
Sandy killed at least 230 people across eight countries and caused about 65-70 billion US dollars of damage in the United States, prompting major coastal resilience programmes.
Contemporary
Halabja Chemical Attack 1988: Iraq's Gas Attack on the Kurds
An estimated 3,200 to 5,000 civilians were killed and thousands injured; the attack became the deadliest chemical weapons attack on civilians in history and was later ruled an act of genocide by an Iraqi court.
Contemporary
Korean Axe Murder Incident (1976): Death in the Panmunjom JSA
Two US Army officers were killed; three days later UN forces cut down the tree in Operation Paul Bunyan, and the Joint Security Area was divided along the demarcation line.
Ancient World
Liu Hui and the Nine Chapters: Mathematics in Ancient China
Liu Hui's commentary turned a book of practical rules into a reasoned mathematical work and gave a rigorous method for approximating pi.
Ancient World
Pont du Gard: The Roman Aqueduct Bridge of Nimes in France
The highest surviving Roman aqueduct bridge, which carried water to Nemausus for several centuries and is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Ancient World
Theatre of Epidaurus (c. 340 BC): Greek Theatre of Perfect Sound
The best-preserved ancient Greek theatre, still used for performances and celebrated for its acoustics.
Ancient World
Ptolemy I Soter: Founder of the Ptolemaic Dynasty of Egypt
Ptolemy turned Egypt into an independent Hellenistic kingdom; his dynasty ruled until the death of Cleopatra VII in 30 BC.
Ancient World
Nisa: The Early Royal City of the Parthian Arsacid Kings
Nisa became one of the earliest royal centres of the Parthian Empire, and its excavated fortress is a key source for Parthian art, language and administration.
Modern Era
Operation Chastise (1943): The Dambusters Raid on the Ruhr
The Möhne and Eder dams were breached and the Sorpe damaged; floods killed an estimated 1,600 people, and 8 of the 19 bombers and 53 aircrew were lost.
Modern Era
Burial of the Unknown Warrior (1920) in Westminster Abbey
An unknown serviceman was buried in the nave of Westminster Abbey as a symbol of all the war dead with no known grave; France buried its own unknown soldier under the Arc de Triomphe.