History in Today
August 12th Major cultural decisions and global events shaped modern history.
First Crusade: Christian soldiers take the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem after the city is captured from the Fatimid Caliphate. AI analysis
Wars of Scottish Independence: Battle of Dupplin Moor - Scots loyal to David Bruce defeat the English forces supporting senior Scottish claimant to the throne Edward Balliol. AI analysis
Publication of the Mainz Psalter: The Gutenberg Bible is published, the first major book produced on a printing press (in Mainz, Germany). AI analysis
The president of the Dutch colony of New Netherland - Peter Minuit - buys the island of Manhattan from the Lenape (the indigenous inhabitants) for "the value of 60 guilders". AI analysis
American Revolutionary War: "Declaration of Independence" - The Continental Congress declares the 13 North American colonies' independence from Britain and forms the United States. AI analysis
Santiago de Liniers, 1st Count of Buenos Aires re-takes the city of Buenos Aires from British forces deployed during the British invasions of the Río de la Plata. AI analysis
University of Toronto is founded as King's College. AI analysis
American Civil War: Confederate forces enter Kentucky, thus controlling a critical border state. AI analysis
The last quagmire, a large species of wattle-necked zebra, dies. AI analysis
The Boy Scout movement begins in England with the publication of Robert Baden-Powell's Scouting for Boys. AI analysis
World War I: The United Kingdom declares war on Austria-Hungary; the countries of the British Empire follow suit. AI analysis
World War I: Oskar Kanehl, a German fighter ace, is shot down and killed over France, shortly before the war ends. AI analysis
The first meeting of the Chinese Communist Party congress takes place in Shanghai. AI analysis
Michael Wittmann, the legendary German tank commander, is killed. AI analysis
The first atomic bomb is dropped on the Japanese city of Hiroshima. AI analysis
Echo I, the first successful communications satellite, is launched. AI analysis
South Africa is banned from the Olympic Games due to the country's racist policies, notably apartheid. AI analysis
Violence erupts after the Apprentice Boys of Derry march through the Bogside and Fountain areas of Derry, resulting in the first death (with many more to follow) of the Troubles. AI analysis
The first free flight of the Space Shuttle Enterprise. AI analysis
The IBM PC is released. AI analysis
Japan Airlines Flight 123 crashes into Osutaka ridge near Tokyo, killing all 15 crew members and 505 of the 509 passengers on board. AI analysis
The agreement creating the European Union is signed in Maastricht. AI analysis
The Russian Navy submarine Kursk explodes and sinks in the Barents Sea during a military exercise. AI analysis
Sri Lanka's foreign minister, Lakshman Kadirgamar, is assassinated outside his home. AI analysis
At least 50 people are killed and several injured after a stampede broke out at a haj pilgrimage in Mecca, Saudi Arabia. AI analysis