Belgian illustrator
Scottish physician, author
English singer-songwriter, pianist
German composer, director
American lieutenant, politician, activist
French author, poet, playwright
French composer
Roman Emperor
American linguist
American poet, author
In 334 BC, the Macedonian army of Alexander the Great defeated Darius III of Persia in the Battle of the Granicus. This victory allowed Alexander to gain control over western Asia Minor and opened up the possibility of further conquests into the Persian Empire.
In 1570, Abraham Ortelius published the first atlas, "Theatrum Orbis Terrarum" (Theatre of the World), in Antwerp. The atlas contained 70 maps and was considered a major achievement in cartography.
In 1843, the first wagon train with 700-1000 migrants departed Independence, Missouri for Oregon. This event marked the beginning of the westward expansion of the United States and the settling of the American West.
In 1906, the Wright Brothers' flying machine was patented. This invention revolutionized transportation and paved the way for the development of the aviation industry.
In 1939, Adolf Hitler and Benito Mussolini signed the "Pact of Steel" in Berlin, Germany. The pact formed a military alliance between Germany and Italy and paved the way for the Axis powers to wage war in Europe during World War II.
In 1946, the first US rocket, WAC Corporal, to reach the edge of space was fired from White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico. This marked an important milestone in space exploration and paved the way for future developments in rocket technology.
In 1960, the most violent earthquake in recorded history hit Chile, with a rating of 9.5 on the moment magnitude scale. The earthquake caused widespread destruction and resulted in the deaths of between 2230 and 6000 people.
In 1980, Namco released the arcade game Pac-Man, featuring a dot-munching, round yellow figure moving through a maze. The game became one of the best-known video games in history and a pop culture icon.
In 2010, Air India Express Flight 812 overshot the runway on landing at Mangalore International Airport and fell over a cliff, killing 158 people. The incident marked the worst air crash involving a Boeing 737, which is the world's most widely flown aircraft.
In 2012, the Tokyo Skytree, standing at 643 meters (2080 feet), opened to the public. The tower is the second tallest structure in the world after the Burj Khalifa in Dubai and its main purpose is to relay TV and radio signals.