Contemporary
Harvey Milk (1977-1978): His Election and Assassination
Milk became one of the first openly gay elected officials in the US and helped defeat the Briggs Initiative before he and Mayor Moscone were assassinated by Dan White.
All Articles
Every Chronicle article on world history, newest first: battles, empires, disasters, discoveries and revolutions.
Contemporary
Launch of the iPhone (2007): The Smartphone That Changed It All
The iPhone popularised the touchscreen smartphone and, with the App Store from 2008, helped make mobile devices the main way people use the internet.
Contemporary
Iran Hostage Crisis 1979-1981: 444 Days at the US Embassy
The 52 remaining hostages were freed under the Algiers Accords on 20 January 1981; US-Iranian relations were broken and have never been fully restored.
Contemporary
Sino-Soviet Border Conflict (1969): Clash at Zhenbao Island
The fighting stopped short of full-scale war after the Kosygin–Zhou meeting of 11 September 1969, but it pushed China towards rapprochement with the United States.
Ancient World
Armenia Adopts Christianity (301): Tiridates III and Gregory
Christianity became the official religion of the Armenian kingdom, and the Armenian Church was organised under Gregory and his descendants.
Ancient World
Invention of Paper in China: Cai Lun and the Han Papermakers
Cai Lun's improved papermaking process made paper a practical writing material in China, from where the craft spread across Asia, the Islamic world and Europe.
Ancient World
Battle of Thapsus (46 BC): Caesar's Victory in North Africa
Decisive victory for Caesar; most Pompeian leaders in Africa died, Cato killed himself at Utica and Numidia became a Roman province.
Ancient World
Thirty Tyrants (404-403 BC): Oligarchy and Terror in Athens
The oligarchy collapsed after about eight months of rule; democracy was restored in 403 BC under a general amnesty.
Ancient World
Egyptian-Hittite Peace Treaty (1259 BC): The Treaty of Kadesh
Egypt and the Hittites agreed lasting peace, mutual defence and the return of fugitives, ending their long war over Syria.
Ancient World
Death of Cyrus the Great (530 BC) and Queen Tomyris
Cyrus died on campaign; his son Cambyses II succeeded him and the empire remained intact.
Prehistory
Breakup of Pangaea: How the Atlantic Ocean Was Born
Pangaea split into the northern landmass Laurasia and the southern landmass Gondwana, the Central Atlantic Ocean opened, and the continents began moving towards their modern positions.
Modern Era
St Nazaire Raid (1942): Operation Chariot and HMS Campbeltown
British success at heavy cost; the Normandie dock was put out of action for the rest of the war, but about 169 raiders were killed and over 200 captured.