This Day in History: March 21

1349: Between 100 and 3,000 Jews are killed in Black Death riots in Erfurt, Germany

During the Black Death pandemic, Jews were often accused of causing the outbreak by poisoning wells. In Erfurt, this led to a massacre of between 100 and 3,000 Jews.

1804: Napoleonic Code, adopted in France, stresses clearly written and accessible law

The Napoleonic Code was a civil code that aimed to reform French law. It emphasized clarity, accessibility, and equality before the law, and it influenced legal systems in many other countries.

1871: Journalist Henry Morton Stanley begins his famous expedition to Africa

Henry Morton Stanley was a journalist and explorer who is best known for his search for the missing Scottish missionary David Livingstone. His expedition through central Africa brought him fame and made him a hero in Britain and the United States.

1943: A plot to assassinate Adolf Hitler by suicide bomb fails

Rudolf von Gersdorff, a German Wehrmacht officer, attempted to assassinate Hitler by planting a bomb in a museum in Berlin where Hitler was scheduled to make a public appearance. However, Gersdorff was unable to detonate the bomb and avoided suspicion.

1952: The world's first rock and roll concert is held in Cleveland, Ohio

DJ Alan Freed organized the concert, which featured many of the biggest rock and roll artists of the time. However, the event had to be shut down after only one song due to overcrowding.

1970: Earth Day is celebrated for the first time

Earth Day was established as a way to raise awareness about environmental issues. Today, it is celebrated by people in countries all over the world, with events ranging from clean-up campaigns to concerts and festivals.

1975: Ethiopia abolishes its monarchy after 3,000 years

Emperor Haile Selassie, who had ruled Ethiopia since 1930, was overthrown by a military junta known as the Derg. The monarchy was abolished, and a socialist state was established.

1985: South African Police kill at least 21 black people commemorating a similar mass shooting 25 years before

The Sharpeville massacre in 1960 had left 69 unarmed people dead, and it became a symbol of resistance against apartheid. In 1985, the police opened fire on a crowd of protesters who were commemorating the anniversary of the massacre, killing at least 21 people.

2006: Jack Dorsey sends the world's first Twitter message or tweet

Twitter revolutionized the way people communicate and connect with each other online. In 2012, an average of 340 million tweets were posted per day, and Twitter has continued to grow in popularity ever since.

2014: Russia formally annexes Crimea amid international condemnation

Russia's annexation of Crimea from Ukraine was widely criticized by the international community, and it led to a deterioration of relations between Russia and many Western countries.