20 Most Important Events in World History - Know the Mind Blowing Events
by Reshwanth A | Updated Mar 27, 2024
20 Most Important Events in World History
World history is shaped by big events that have important outcomes. The start in Mesopotamia around 3500 BCE was the beginning of civilization. The birth of religions like Christianity, Islam, and Buddhism changed societies and cultures.
The revival in Europe made people think and make art again. The Industrial Revolution in the 18th century brought changes in technology. The two World Wars and the Cold War changed the way the world works. The internet changed how we talk to each other. These events made the world and still change the present and future.
List
Unknown
The Holocaust
1939-1945
World War II
1947-1991
Cold War
1989
Fall of the Berlin Wall
1929-1939
Great Depression
1917
October Revolution in Russia
1941
Attack on Pearl Harbor
1945
Atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki
1914-1918
World War I
2001
America under attack (9/11 terrorist attacks)
1347-1351
Black Death pandemic
1775-1783
American Revolution
1963
Assassination of John F. Kennedy
1949
Chinese Communists rise to power
1933
Adolf Hitler becomes Chancellor of Germany
1861-1865
The Civil War in the United States
1950-1953
Korean War
15th-16th century
The Renaissance
1969
Apollo 11 Moon landing
1964
The Civil Rights Act of 1964
Year
Event
The Holocaust
The Holocaust is an important event in history. Its impact has a big effect on our society today, especially in Western countries. It happened in the middle of Europe and there is a lot of information about it. The Holocaust is something that is remembered strongly and it often influences it to think about and understand instances of mass killings.
World War II
World War II, also known as the Second World War, happened from September 3, 1939, to September 2, 1945. It was a big war that involved many countries from all over the world. It was the deadliest war in history, with 85 million military personnel and civilians losing their lives. The war took place in different parts of the world, like Europe, the Pacific, and other places or regions.
Cold War
The Cold War was a long-lasting collision between the United States and the Soviet Union that had a huge effect on worldwide politics. It was noticeable by a strong distrust of communism, incidents between different countries, and the constant fear of a nuclear war.
Fall of the Berlin Wall
The fall of the Berlin Wall was an important event in history. It was held on November 9, 1989, and it ended the separation between East and West Berlin.
The events that led to the fall of the Berlin Wall started with the closing of the border between East and West Berlin on August 13, 1961. After that, the wall was built. Many world leaders, like President John F. Kennedy and President Ronald Reagan, gave speeches for the wall to be taken down.
Great Depression
The Great Depression was a global economic decline event that started in 1929 and continued until around 1939. It was the longest and most severe depression ever seen in the industrialized Western world. It caused big changes in economic systems, policies, and theories that were understood and managed.
October Revolution in Russia
The October Revolution is also known as the Bolshevik Revolution, it was an important event in Russian history that happened in 1917. It was a big part of the Russian Revolution that took place from 1917 to 1923. The revolution was led by a political party called the Bolshevik Party, with Vladimir Lenin as their leader. It's another time that the government in Russia changed in 1917, and it started the Russian Civil War.
Attack on Pearl Harbor
The attack on Pearl Harbor was an event that happened on December 7, 1941. It was a turning point in history, causing changes in the United States and the course of World War II. Nowadays, people can visit the Pearl Harbor National Monument to honor the courageous individuals who fought in this battle.
Atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki
During World War II, the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki were important events. The atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima on August 6, 1945, followed by Nagasaki on August 9, 1945. These events still hold great significance in history because they remind the power and terrible consequences of nuclear weapons.
World War I
The start of World War I happened when Archduke Franz Ferdinand, who was next to rule the Austro-Hungarian Empire, was killed in 1914. This event started a series of events that led to the war. But historians think that World War I was the result of many things that happened over many years, starting in the late 1800s. The path to war had mistakes and actions that had results nobody expected.
America under attack (9/11 terrorist attacks)
The September 11 attacks, also called 9/11, were a group of planned attacks by 19 terrorists who were connected to a group called al-Qaeda. These attacks happened on September 11, 2001.
Black Death pandemic
The Black Death was a bad sickness. It happened a long time ago in the 14th century. It was one of the worst diseases ever, and it caused a lot to die. It also had a huge impact on society, the economy, and culture. The Black Death was caused by a tiny living thing called Yersinia pestis, which is the germ that causes the plague.
American Revolution
The American Revolution was an important time in history that made the United States become its own country. These events, along with others, were really important in deciding what happened during the American Revolution and in making the United States a free and independent nation.
The assassination of John F. Kennedy
The killing of John F. Kennedy was an important event in history. It happened on November 22, 1963, in Dallas, Texas, in the United States.
President John F. Kennedy was killed while riding in a car during a campaign visit to Dallas. Some shots were fired as the car turned past the Texas School Book Depository at Dealey Plaza, and lots of people were watching from the streets.
Lee Harvey Oswald, who used to be in the Marine Corps, was arrested by the Dallas Police Department just an hour after the shooting. They thought he might have been involved in the killing and also in the murder of a police officer.
Chinese Communists rise to power
The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) gained power in the early 20th century through a series of events. It was a significant and complex process affecting politics, society, and economics. The Chinese Civil War, the CCP's policies, and leaders like Mao Zedong played key roles in shaping China's history.
Adolf Hitler becomes Chancellor of Germany
Adolf Hitler became Chancellor of Germany on January 30, 1933. It happened because he became very powerful and popular, and many Germans were unhappy with how things were going. Different people in politics also played a part in making it happen. After becoming Chancellor, Hitler did many things that had a big impact on Germany and the whole world.
The Civil War in the United States
The Civil War was an important event in American history. It started in 1861 and ended in 1865, lasting for four years. The war happened mostly between the Northern states, called the Union, and the Southern states, called the Confederacy. It happened because there were a lot of disagreements about things like slavery, states' rights, and moving west.
Korean War
The Korean War was an event that happened from June 25, 1950, to July 27, 1953. It was a fight between North Korea, helped by China and the Soviet Union, and South Korea, supported by a group of countries called the United Nations (UN).
The Renaissance
The Renaissance was an important time in European history that lasted from the 14th to the 17th century. It was a period of cultural, scholarly, and socio-political change. People during this time focused on rediscovering and using ideas from ancient times. The Renaissance led to new scientific discoveries and advancements in art, like writing and painting. It was a time when people were very interested in learning about classical ideas. It was a time of creativity and thinking.
Apollo 11 Moon landing
The Apollo 11 Moon landing was held on July 20, 1969. It was an important event because it was the first time people went to the Moon and walked on it. The mission was part of a big effort called the Apollo program. The United States wanted to show that they were better than the Soviet Union in space exploration.
The Civil Rights Act of 1964
The Civil Rights Act of 1964 was a very important event in the history of the United States. It had a big effect on civil rights and equality in the country. It is considered a very important law for civil rights and is still remembered and talked about today.