20 Most Famous Historical Events That Changed the World

The black texture of the globe. Photo by Pixabay on Pexels

20 Most Famous Historical Events That Changed the World

Originally published by Kennedy on December 18, 2022 updated by Benji M on February 25, 2024

The world has evolved in various aspects over centuries due to some events which opened and sharpened the minds of people. Major historical events such as wars, pandemics, and natural disasters have helped to change the world positively and negatively.

From World War I to the recent Coronavirus pandemic, the world has been impacted by these changes. Below are the 20 Most Famous Historical Events That Changed the World:

1. Assassination of an Austrian Archduke

Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria. Photo by an unknown painter on Wikimedia

The European nation was not on good terms in the early 1900s with various nations wanting to show their superiority in various aspects. By 1914, Europe became a tinderbox for tension and military rivalry between various nations.

A single event was being waited for a war to spark and throw the world in the dark and under the mercies of the superior nation. On 28th June 1914, Archduke Franz Ferdinand who was the heir presumptive to the throne of Austria-Hungary was assassinated alongside his wife.

A 19-year-old Serb provoked widespread declarations of war following the assassination of the Hungarian Archduke. This led to the start of World War I.

2. World War I

The assassination of Austrian Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife led to the first-ever War which involved several countries that formed different alliances. World War I started in 1914 and lasted for four years.

The four years were the darkest moments the world has ever experienced as millions of people from various corners of the world lost their lives. Men, women, children, the young, and the old lost their lives as properties were also destroyed.

World War I led to profound social changes with the increased recognition of the role of women in society became popular. More sophisticated firearms were created after the First World War.

3. The Spanish Flu

The Spanish Influenza. Emergency military hospital during the influenza epidemic, Camp Funston, Kansas, United States. Courtesy of the National Museum of Health and Medicine on Wikimedia

Towards the end of World War I, a major pandemic, the Spanish Flu or the Great Influenza epidemic erupted. The Spanish Flu pandemic which swept across the world from 1918 to 1920 also made a great impact on the world.

The earliest case of Spanish Flu was recorded in Kansas, United States of America, and spread like wildfire across the world. Two years after the pandemic breakout, nearly a third of the world’s population had contracted the disease in four successive waves.

At the end of the pandemic, the estimates of deaths worldwide were 17 million to 50 million. The Spanish Flu affected the young and old majorly. This pandemic led to the development of quick medical responses and preventive measures for another deadly pandemic.

4. Russian Revolution

Sporadic Communist revolutions broke out since the publication of Marx’s Communist Manifesto which never succeeded. In October 1917, the Bolshevik revolution led by Lenin brought up radically new forms of government which spread across the world.

Communist Russia quickly led to the division of the world after Lenin implemented his version of a ‘dictatorship of the Proletariat’. This version was seen as an alternative to the inequities of Capitalism which was characterized by totalitarianism and lack of freedom.

This strategy led to the transformation of the lives of Russians and economic growth but increased political repression. These events led to the prolonged Cold War or Russian Revolution which divided the nation between Western democracy and Soviet Communism.

5. The 1919 Treaty of Versailles

England Objects to the Treaty of Versailles. Photo by The British Government on Wikimedia

After World War I, former American President Woodrow Wilson came up with the idealistic 14 points and created a new ‘League of Nations’ to prevent another war. This was not embraced fully as the American Senate never wanted to join the League of Nations as France and Britain wanted reparations from the defeated allies.

French troops occupied Germany till the mid-1920s with several restrictions being made on this country. The Treaty of Versailles led to the re-drawing of the map of the world. This led to the creation of new countries such as Finland, Poland, Czechoslovakia, and Yugoslavia.

6. 1929 Stock Market Crash

The stock market was booming from the early 1920s until later in that decade. In October 1929, the shares of Wall Street made a sharp drop which was not expected.

The fall of the stock market led to a prolonged fall in share which precipitated the global great depression. The unemployment rate rose to twenty-five percent and trade started falling across the world.

This led to widespread poverty and a sense of alienation which led to the growth of political extremes in the world. The Stock Market fall was dealt with in different ways by various nations. Japan and Germany turned to nationalist movements while America worked on the election of FDR and a quick way to deal with this depression.

7. Germany’s Invasion of Poland

Mercedes-Benz W 31, Sep. 1939 in Poland, Adolf Hitler being located behind the hood, receive the message of an officer. Photo by Josef Gierse on Wikimedia

On the first day of September 1939, Adolf Hitler’s Nazi Germany made a huge military decision of invading Poland. This act was to redress the imbalances of the Treaty of Versailles.

The invasion was to show his military superiority but the allies made up of Great Britain and France were irked. The intention of Hitler to occupy more of Europe made the Allies declare war. This is how World War II started.

8. World War II

World War II lasted from 1939 to 1945 with a lot of incidents happening across the world which led to several changes. After the Poland invasion by Hitler’s Nazi German armies, World War II led to the formation of great power fronts that included the Allies who fought against Axis powers.

During this world war, several personnel presumably over 100 million were involved which led to losing millions of lives and the destruction of properties. Due to the superiority of firearms and other special war weapons, World War II was and is ranked as the worst war which involved more than 30 countries. This brought up several changes across the world including starvation, civilization, and more.

9. 1941 Pearl Harbour Attack

Attack on Pearl Harbour Japanese Plane View Colourized by HotPot.ai. Photo by Vanky1123 on Wikimedia

As World War II persisted, the Axis powers held supremacy in Europe and several parts of Asia. However, Great Britain was not defeated but was on the verge of a turnover due to the overpowering enemy.

In 1941, the bombing of Pearl Harbour escalated the world war into the Pacific arena which also brought Americans into the war against Japan and Germany. Three years into the war, the American troops played a huge role in bringing manpower and liberty to Europe.

10. August 1945 Atomic Bombing

World War II escalated and there was the need to end it or there could be more losses than what was being witnessed. On the morning of 9th August 1945, the worst happened in Asia.

The United States dropped the atomic bombs and devastated the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki which were flattened. After the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan surrendered quickly bringing to an end a fierce and costly Pacific war.

World War II was also brought to an end with the Allies getting their win but leaving doubts of a third World War. Though several nuclear treaties were made to cap any threat of another world war.

11. The United Nations Establishment

United Nations Headquarters, Geneva. Photo by John Samuel on Wikimedia

After World War II came to an end, a permanent solution was to be found to avoid another war. On 24th October 1945, the United Nations was officially established.

The main aim of the United Nations was to prevent another war and coordinate humanitarian efforts to reduce poverty, protect the environment and uphold international law. The United Nations has helped in the upholding of basic universal rights and freedom with the Hague being established as the international court of justice.

12. Independence of India

India which was the second-most populous nation in the world was in the crown of the British Empire. Britain has denied the calls for independence from the Indians for several years.

However, on 15th August 1947, Britain finally agreed to give India full independence. This was a painful separation and the birth of a new nation, Pakistan. The painful part was the incidences of sectarian violence and killings which led to the migration of millions of people who found themselves on the wrong borders.

After gaining independence, India claimed allegiance to neither the United States nor the Soviet Union which led to a third way known as Nehru.

13. Establishment of Maoist China

Maoist New Left groups in Japan (considered by China to be part of the Red Guards). Photo by 人民画报 on Wikimedia

The Second World War led to a bitter civil war between the Communists who were led by Mao Tse Tung and the Nationalists by Chiang Kai-shek. On 1st October 1949, the triumphant Communist Party led to the establishment of the People’s Republic of China.

The creation of the People’s Republic of China led to the establishment of the Communist State. The Communist State’s hold on power was Influenced by the lives of the Chinese who suffered during the Great 1960s famine and Cultural Revolution.

14. Assassination of John F Kennedy

One event that shocked the world and led to several changes in the world was the assassination of American President John F Kennedy. Elected in 1960 as a young, Liberal, and Catholic leader, John F Kennedy was an inspiration to many as he had a positive vision for the world.

On 22nd November 1963, John F Kennedy was assassinated and Lyndon Johnson became President leading to American involvement in Vietnam. This led to a bitter division brought about by the conflicts but stability was brought later.

15. The Fall of the Berlin Wall

Juggling of the Berlin Wall in 1989. Photo by Yann Forget on Wikimedia

Since its building, the Berlin Wall stood in place for several decades. The Wall stood as a symbol of the Iron Curtain which split Germany and Europe into West and East, the Communist authoritarians and liberal democracies on the other side. Several Germans trying to flee from the East into West Germany were shot dead.

On 9th November 1989, the Wall of Berlin fell and this brought a new dawn in Germany as well as Europe as a whole.

16. Release of Nelson Mandela from Prison

South Africa was under apartheid rule for several years with racism creating disunity in the country. Several leaders voiced their concerns to the Whites who were suppressing them which led to their arrest and detention.

Nelson Mandela was one of the great South African leaders who fought against the apartheid regime. He was jailed for twenty-seven years until 11th February 1990 when he was released. After his release, change came to South Africa as he became the first black President who redeemed the country.

17. HIV to the World

After the numerous pandemics, one of the most feared diseases attacked people. In the early 1980s, the first strain of HIV/AIDs was found in humans and was initially known as the disease of gays.

It is believed that HIV spread from chimpanzees to humans, but this disease is transmitted to people mostly through unprotected sexual interactions with several people. Since it came, millions of people have been infected with more dying from the disease. HIV led to various interventions to control the spread and death of people.

18. 9/11 Terrorist Attacks on the US

September 11 attacks in New York City: View of the World Trade Center and the Statue of Liberty. (Image: US National Park Service). Photo by National Park Service on Wikimedia

Previously, the United States had experienced several terrorist attacks. On 11th September 2001, the scale of these terrorist attacks shocked the United States as well as the whole world.

An estimated three thousand people lost their lives which led to a major change. The American foreign policy was changed and brought about the motivation for the controversial invasion of Iraq.

19. The 1998 US Embassy Bombings

On 7th August 1998, the United States Embassy bombings attacks occurred. The bombings took place simultaneously in the Embassy in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, and in Nairobi, Kenya where more than 200 people were killed.

In response to these attacks, President Bill Clinton ordered Operation Infinite Reach and launched a series of cruise strikes on targets in Sudan and Afghanistan.

20. Corona Virus Pandemic

A team of doctors, nurses, and physiotherapists take care of critical patients with COVID-19 in the ICU of the Vila Nova Cachoeirinha hospital, north of São Paulo. Photo by Gustavo Basso on Wikimedia

In late 2019 and early 2020, one of the worst pandemics hit the world yet again which originated in China. The Coronavirus which is also known as Covid-19 started ravishing the world.

The virus spread rapidly across the world with millions getting infected with the deadly disease which has no cure. Millions of people across various nations died from the Coronavirus pandemic.

Travel restrictions were made across various borders, strict rules were made to curb the spread, and lockdowns led to economic shutdowns. The World Health Organisation made interventions with various companies creating vaccines to help end the pandemic.

 21. The Invention of Writing (c. 3500 BCE)

When people first learned to write, it changed everything. Before that, we could only pass down stories and information by speaking. But with writing, we could put our thoughts on paper and share them with others, even across long distances and generations. It made it easier to keep track of important things like records, laws, and stories.

Writing helped civilizations grow and develop because knowledge could be preserved and passed down. Imagine a world without writing – we wouldn’t have books, newspapers, or even this article! Writing started around 3500 BCE, and since then, it has evolved into many different forms, like hieroglyphics, cuneiform, and alphabets. It’s amazing how something as simple as putting symbols on paper could change the world so much.

22. The Construction of the Pyramids of Giza (c. 2580–2560 BCE)

Photo by Osama Elsayed on Unsplash

When they built the Pyramids of Giza, it was like nothing anyone had ever seen before. These huge structures, made thousands of years ago, are still standing today! It shows how smart and skilled ancient people were. I can’t imagine how they lifted those giant stones without machines. The pyramids were built in Egypt around 2580–2560 BCE.

They were tombs for pharaohs, who were like kings. People thought they were built by slaves, but now we know it was workers who were paid and respected for their hard work. The pyramids are important because they tell us about ancient Egyptian beliefs and culture.

They also show how people back then could organize and build amazing things without modern technology. Visiting the pyramids would be like traveling back in time to see history up close!

23. The Life of Jesus Christ (c. 4 BCE–c. 30 CE)

The life of Jesus Christ changed everything for me and many others. He lived a long time ago, around 4 BCE to 30 CE. Jesus taught important things about love, kindness, and helping others. His teachings became the foundation of Christianity, a religion followed by billions of people worldwide. I believe Jesus performed miracles and showed people how to live a good life.

He taught about forgiveness and treating everyone with respect, no matter who they are. Even though I wasn’t alive when Jesus lived, his teachings still affect me today. Churches, prayers, and holidays like Christmas all come from his life. Learning about Jesus gives me hope and makes me want to be a better person. Whether or not you follow Christianity, Jesus’s life has had a big impact on the world and how people think about kindness and love.

24. The Fall of the Roman Empire (476 CE)

Photo by iam_os on Unsplash

When the Roman Empire fell in 476 CE, it changed everything for people like me. I wasn’t alive back then, but I learned about it in history class. The Roman Empire was huge and powerful, but it fell apart because of wars, invasions, and problems with leadership. After it fell, Europe entered a time called the Middle Ages, which was very different from the Roman times. There were fewer cities, less trade, and more fighting.

People had to rely on local leaders for protection instead of a big empire. The fall of Rome also changed the way people thought about government and power. Some say it marked the end of ancient times and the beginning of the medieval period. Even though it happened a long time ago, the fall of the Roman Empire still affects the world today, shaping the way countries are ruled and how societies work.

25. The Abolition of Slavery

When slavery ended, it changed everything for me and many others. Back then, some people thought it was okay to own other people and make them work for free. But as time went on, more and more people realized that this was wrong. Movements started to end slavery, and eventually, laws were passed to make it illegal.

This happened in the 19th century, but the effects are still felt today. Without the end of slavery, I might not have the freedoms and opportunities I have now. It was a big step forward for humanity, showing that everyone deserves to be treated with dignity and respect. Even though there’s still discrimination and inequality in the world, ending slavery was an important milestone in the fight for justice and equality.