Ancient World
Fall of Sardis (547 BC): Cyrus the Great Defeats Croesus
Persian victory; the Lydian kingdom ended and western Anatolia passed under Achaemenid rule.
All Articles
Every Chronicle article on world history, newest first: battles, empires, disasters, discoveries and revolutions.
Prehistory
Helicoprion: The Permian Fish With a Spiral Buzzsaw Tooth Whorl
CT scans in 2013 showed the tooth whorl sat inside the lower jaw and that Helicoprion was related to ratfishes rather than true sharks.
Modern Era
Operation Torch (1942): The Allied Landings in North Africa
Allied success: Vichy French forces in Morocco and Algeria ceased resistance within days, but Germany occupied the rest of France and rushed troops into Tunisia.
Modern Era
Treaty of Versailles (1919): The Peace That Ended World War I
Germany accepted territorial losses, disarmament, reparations and responsibility for the war; the treaty came into force on 10 January 1920.
Modern Era
First Sino-Japanese War (1894-1895): Japan's Rise Over Qing China
Japan defeated Qing China; under the Treaty of Shimonoseki China recognised Korean independence, ceded Taiwan and the Pescadores and paid a large indemnity.
Modern Era
Sand Creek Massacre (1864): Attack on the Cheyenne and Arapaho
Colorado volunteer troops destroyed a peaceful Cheyenne and Arapaho camp; federal inquiries condemned the attack, but no one was punished.
Modern Era
Forth Bridge (1890): Scotland's Great Cantilever Railway Bridge
The bridge opened a direct rail route between Edinburgh and the north-east of Scotland and became one of the world's most famous engineering landmarks.
Modern Era
Young Ireland Rebellion (1848): Rising During the Famine
The rising collapsed after a brief exchange of fire with police; its leaders were convicted of high treason and transported to Van Diemen's Land.
Middle Ages
Topa Inca Yupanqui: The Inca Conqueror of Chimor and Chile
Topa Inca Yupanqui more than doubled the territory of the Inca Empire and strengthened its administration before his death around 1493.
Middle Ages
Genpei War (1180-1185): Taira and Minamoto Clash for Japan
Minamoto victory; the Taira were destroyed and Minamoto no Yoritomo built the Kamakura warrior government.
Middle Ages
Order of Assassins: Hasan-i Sabbah and Alamut Castle
The Nizari Ismailis held a state of mountain fortresses in Iran and Syria for over 160 years until the Mongols and Mamluks destroyed it.
Middle Ages
Federal Charter of 1291: The Founding of the Swiss Confederacy
A defensive alliance of three Alpine valley communities, later celebrated as the founding document of the Swiss Confederation.