Throughout the rich tapestry of human history, historical events have significantly influenced the modern world.
From the fall of empires to revolutionary developments, the course of history has been significantly altered by cataclysmic occurrences and powerful figures. Without the influential moments in history, the world would not look how it does today. Catalysts and lynchpins were needed to set the mold of modern societal structure.
10 Historical Events That Rewrote History
These ten events influenced humanity’s path and shaped the world as we know it.
1. The Fall of the Roman Empire
The fall of the Western Roman Empire at the hands of the Germanic king Odoacer in 476 AD changed the political landscape of Europe forever. By that point in history, the Romans had ruled most of the continent. The most famous empire in history fell for several reasons such as unstable leadership (especially after the East and West divide), economic decline, a military spread too thin, and lack of popular support.
The fall of Rome allowed the world to come to manifest. The geopolitical landscape was moving away from the empirical system of rule, leaning into ideas like feudalism. The rise of Christianity also played a major role, as the influence of the Papacy filled the power vacuum left behind by Rome’s fall, which would subsequently influence the world following the empire’s collapse.
2. The Signing of the Magna Carta
Often considered the birth of modern democracy, the signing of the Magna Carta in 1215 would serve as one of the original blueprints for the powers that be today. Before the famous document, monarchs did basically whatever they pleased. Magna Carta is the first document to put into writing the principle that the king and his government was not above the law.
During this era in England, the people, and most importantly the powerful barons had enough. They were taxed heavily and the military was weak. Through the Baron’s Rebellion, they forced the reigning King John to relinquish some of his powers and change the ruling system to a more feudalistic model. The medieval agreement would serve as the bedrock of the US Constitution, giving the founding fathers ideas such as a right to a fair trial and the rule of law.
3. The Discovery of the Americas by Christopher Columbus
The expedition connected the western and eastern hemispheres forevermore, Christopher Columbus’ accidental voyage to the Americas in 1492 was the lynchpin that would set the world on a new, globalized path.
Found with the help of the deep pockets of the Spanish monarchy and a desire to find more efficient trade routes, Columbus’ discovery would result in a cultural, linguistic, and goods exchange unlike anything that came before. However, it would also have negative impacts such as the colonization and murder of native people, as well as the trans-Atlantic slave trade.
4. The Invention of the Printing Press by Johannes Gutenberg
When Johann Gutenberg successfully printed the bible in 1440 for the first time in his revolutionary printing press, he could never have imagined the impact his invention would have on the world. Books were copied by hand before the Gutenberg press. It made them incredibly rare items. Knowledge became more widespread with this miraculous invention, making the general populace more intelligent. This would lead to massive societal events such as the protestant reformation and language standardization.
5. The Industrial Revolution
The Industrial Revolution of the 18th and 19th centuries was an event that would usher man into new eras with never-before-seen technology. This period spurred technological development to such a degree that humanity’s population exploded thanks to more food and items that would have been made slowly by hand. The Industrial Revolution would make industrialization the global standard, setting the stage for significant advancements in tech and society.
6. The American Declaration of Independence
July 4th, 1776 is the day the United States of America was born. The arrival of the US on the global scene would have an unprecedented influence on the world today such as the creation of the United Nations. The American Revolutionary War would also be the driver that would lead to the French Revolution and many other revolutions all over. The Declaration would spread ideals such as equality, individual rights, and government by consent of the governed.
7. The French Revolution
Inspired by the American revolt against the British, the French decided it was time to topple the powers that ruled their nation. The French Revolution of 1789 sought to change a country economically and socially crippled by its ruling monarchs. Coinciding just in time with the radically new ideals of the Enlightenment, the French ended their monarchy, instituting more rights for the people and starting a chain reaction of revolutions throughout the European continent.
8. The Two World Wars
World War I (1914-1918) and World War II (1939-1945) drastically altered the course of history. Millions of lives were lost, global power shifted, major advancements were made, and people’s perspectives across the world shifted in these two surreal wars. The United States and the Soviet Union cemented themselves as global superpowers, moving power away from Europe for the first time. The aftermath’s effects are still seen today.
9. The Fall of the Berlin Wall
When the Berlin Wall fell in 1989 at the end of the decades-long Cold War. The end of the division of East and West Germany was one of history’s most powerful events, carrying heavy symbolic weight. The toppling of the wall signified the end of the Soviet Union, and Communist rule over Eastern Europe. Families who had not seen each other in years reunited, making a beautiful moment for the afflicted people.
10. The Creation of the Internet
The birth of the Internet would revolutionize the world on a scale no one could have ever thought possible. Information is now available at the click of a button. People across the globe can communicate. Banking was digitized, and so much more happened because of the Internet. The modern world of globalization and readily available information would never have been possible without this fundamental invention. But it never would have happened without the other events that preceded it.
While the previous ten events were pivotal, the eleventh stands as the most transformative moment, advancing human rights and steering the world toward a more just and equitable future.
*The Abolition of Slavery
Throughout the 18th and 19th centuries, the world slowly shifted away from slavery. Enlightenment ideals influenced opponents and industrialization reduced economic reliance on the practice, finally showing the immorality of slavery. However, action towards abolishing the institution of slavery didn’t happen until the Haitian Revolution.
The revolution lasted from 1791 to 1804 and consisted of multiple slave revolts demanding that the same freedoms given in the American and French revolutions be given to the people of color on the island. The Haitian Revolution started a wildfire of slave revolts around the world. Abolishing this awful practice remains a significant human rights advancement, forever changing the standard by which people are treated.
