Contemporary
Gravitational Waves Detected (2015): LIGO Confirms Einstein
The first direct detection of gravitational waves, and the first observation of two black holes merging, opened gravitational-wave astronomy and earned a Nobel Prize in 2017.
All Articles
Every Chronicle article on world history, newest first: battles, empires, disasters, discoveries and revolutions.
Contemporary
Hama Massacre 1982: Hafez al-Assad Crushes a Syrian Revolt
The Syrian army retook Hama after about four weeks of siege and bombardment; an estimated 10,000–40,000 people were killed and the Islamist insurgency in Syria was crushed.
Contemporary
SALT I and the ABM Treaty (1972): First Strategic Arms Limits
The superpowers limited anti-ballistic missile defences and froze their numbers of strategic missile launchers for five years.
Ancient World
Crossing of the Rhine (406): Vandals, Alans and Suebi Enter Gaul
The invaders broke through the Rhine frontier, plundered Gaul for almost three years and crossed into Spain in 409.
Ancient World
Battle of Guandu (200): Cao Cao Defeats Yuan Shao
Decisive victory for Cao Cao, who went on to take Yuan Shao's lands and control all of northern China by 207.
Ancient World
Augustus Becomes First Roman Emperor (27 BC): The Principate
Octavian handed formal control back to the Senate and people but received the name Augustus and command of key provinces, creating the system of one-man rule known as the Principate.
Ancient World
Sacred Band of Thebes (378 BC): The Elite Corps of 150 Pairs
The Sacred Band helped Thebes break Spartan power and was annihilated by the Macedonians at Chaeronea in 338 BC.
Ancient World
Harem Conspiracy: The Plot to Murder Ramesses III
Ramesses III was killed, but the plot failed; Ramesses IV took the throne and the conspirators were tried and punished.
Ancient World
Persepolis: Ceremonial Capital of the Achaemenid Persian Kings
Persepolis served as a ceremonial and administrative centre of the Achaemenid kings for nearly two centuries until Alexander the Great looted and burned it in 330 BC.
Modern Era
Battle of Milne Bay (1942): Japan's First Defeat on Land
Allied victory; the Japanese landing force was defeated and evacuated by sea, ending the attempt to seize the Milne Bay airfields.
Modern Era
League of Nations (1920): The First Attempt at World Government
The first permanent international organisation for keeping the peace was created; it settled several disputes in the 1920s but failed to stop aggression in the 1930s and was dissolved in 1946.
Modern Era
Battle of Omdurman (1898): Kitchener's Conquest of the Sudan
Decisive Anglo-Egyptian victory; the Mahdist state collapsed and Sudan came under joint British and Egyptian rule.