50 Exact Moments That Changed the World FOREVER

50 Exact Moments That Changed the World FOREVER

Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re looking at fifty moments that altered the course of history forever.

#50: The Invention of the Magnetic Compass (c. 11th Century)

Before the compass, maritime navigation relied mostly on landmarks, the stars, and the sun. It was a mess, and a simple cloudy day could spell disaster for sailors. And then came the magnetic compass. Originally developed in China during the Han Dynasty for divination purposes, the magnetic compass was eventually adapted for navigation by the 11th century and completely revolutionized global travel. It allowed sailors to maintain a consistent heading regardless of the weather or time of day, and without it, the Age of Discovery would have been virtually impossible. The compass bridged continents, enabled the establishment of global trade routes, and forever connected distant civilizations that didn’t even know the others existed.

#49: The Storming of the Bastille (1789)

When an angry Parisian mob attacked the Bastille armory on July 14, 1789, they weren’t just looking for gunpowder. They were also toppling a symbol of royal tyranny. This violent uprising ignited the French Revolution, signaling the beginning of the end for absolute monarchy in France. The shockwaves of this single afternoon were felt around the world, and it laid the groundwork for the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen, which fundamentally shifted the concept of sovereignty from the crown to the people. The ensuing political upheaval reshaped European borders and established democratic ideals that continue to influence governance to this day.

#48: The Wright Brothers Take Flight (1903)

For millennia, humanity could only look to far away places and think “Dang, if only I could get there in a couple of hours.” But on December 17, 1903, outside the tiny fishing village of Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, Orville and Wilbur Wright turned that dream into reality. Their wood-and-fabric biplane stayed airborne for a mere twelve seconds and covered just 120 feet. Everyone has to start somewhere. Regardless of the primitive distance, the world was quite literally never the same. Within just two decades, we went from 120 feet to thousands of miles, and aircraft were soon crossing oceans. The Wright brothers’ simple flight paved the way for everything from commercial airlines to new dimensions of warfare and even the eventual exploration of space.

#47: The Signing of the Magna Carta (1215)

In an era where kings ruled with absolute power, forcing a monarch to agree to legal limits was simply unthinkable. Yet, facing an uprising from disgruntled barons, England’s King John had no choice but to affix his seal to the Magna Carta. Though it initially failed as a peace treaty, the document’s underlying principle changed history and introduced a new rule - nobody, not even the king, is above the law. The Magna Carta established the bedrock for modern legal concepts like due process and a right to a fair trial. Centuries later, its enduring legacy heavily influenced constitutional democracies around the world, including the drafting of the United States Constitution.

#46: Charles Darwin Publishes “On the Origin of Species” (1859)

Few books have fundamentally shattered humanity’s understanding of our place in the universe quite like Charles Darwin’s seminal work. When published in 1859, his theory of evolution by natural selection challenged centuries of deeply-held scientific and religious beliefs regarding creation. As such, his findings were enormously controversial and even sparked a profound moral panic in Victorian England. But he was always deeply respected by his peers, and his empirical observations became the foundational pillar of modern biology. The concept that species adapt and evolve over time not only revolutionized the life sciences but also profoundly impacted our understanding of human ancestry.

#45: The Invention of the Telephone (1876)

“Mr. Watson, come here, I want to see you.” With those simple words spoken by Alexander Graham Bell, human communication was irreversibly transformed. While the telegraph had already sped up long-distance messaging, it required trained operators and Morse code. The telephone, however, allowed for instant vocal connection across vast distances. The telephone fundamentally accelerated things like global business and news dissemination, and over the next century it evolved from a luxury novelty to an essential household item. We take phones for granted, and we have so for decades, but just think about how mindblowing and revolutionary this must have been just 150 years ago.

#44: Martin Luther Posts the 95 Theses (1517)

In the early 16th century, the Catholic Church wielded unparalleled political and spiritual power across Europe. Enter Martin Luther, a German monk who was fiercely critical of the Church’s practice of selling indulgences. Legend says he nailed his “95 Theses” to the door of the Wittenberg Castle church, and in the process, lit the match of the Protestant Reformation. His defiance fractured Western Christianity, sparked decades of religious wars, and fundamentally shifted the European balance of power. Furthermore, Luther’s belief that individuals should read the Bible themselves championed a rise in literacy, and Protestant regions saw significant bumps in literacy rates and the establishment of schools.

#43: First Successful Polio Vaccine Announced (1955)

For the first half of the 20th century, poliomyelitis was a global terror. The highly infectious disease primarily targeted children, causing irreversible paralysis and, in many cases, death. Summer outbreaks forced swimming pools and theaters to close out of sheer panic. But that terror was largely eradicated when Dr. Jonas Salk developed the first safe and effective polio vaccine. The announcement of its success in 1955 was met with global jubilation and mass immunization campaigns swiftly followed, saving millions of lives and preventing countless disabilities. The triumph of the polio vaccine remains one of the greatest public health victories in human history, proving the immense power of preventative medicine.

#42: The Discovery of the DNA Double Helix (1953)

While scientists knew that DNA played a role in heredity, its exact structure remained a mystery. That changed when James Watson, Francis Crick, Maurice Wilkins, and Rosalind Franklin discovered the molecule’s now-iconic twisted ladder structure. This breakthrough finally explained how genetic information is stored, copied, and passed down from generation to generation. It basically unlocked the very code of life. This discovery birthed the modern field of molecular biology and eventually paved the way for groundbreaking advancements like genetic fingerprinting, targeted disease treatments, and the mapping of the human genome. Medical science as we know it today hinges on this exact moment.

#41: Julius Caesar Crosses the Rubicon (49 BCE)

Sometimes, a single step changes the course of an entire civilization. In 49 BCE, Julius Caesar led his legion across the Rubicon River, deliberately committing treason, violating Roman law, and defying the Senate. And by getting his feet wet, Caesar ignited a massive civil war. His ultimate victory ended the 500-year-old Roman Republic and set the stage for the Roman Empire, which would dominate the Western world for centuries. This single decision radically altered the trajectory of Western politics, governance, and culture, turning the name “Caesar” into a permanent synonym for an emperor.

#40: The Invention of the Microchip (1958)

Before the late 1950s, computers were massive, room-sized behemoths that relied on bulky vacuum tubes. The digital revolution truly began when engineers Jack Kilby and Robert Noyce independently developed the integrated circuit, or what is now known as the microchip. By placing multiple electronic components onto a single piece of semiconducting material, they made electronics exponentially smaller, cheaper, and more reliable. This single invention is the beating heart of modern technology. Without the microchip, there would be no PCs, no smartphones, no medical imaging, and no internet.

#39: Karl Marx Publishes “The Communist Manifesto” (1848)

Written by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels during a time of extreme labor exploitation, “The Communist Manifesto” cast a massive shadow over the next century and a half. The pamphlet critiqued capitalism and called for the working class to rise up and seize the means of production for themselves. While it didn’t spark the global revolution that Marx hoped, its ideas fermented over the following decades and went on to inspire the Russian Revolution and the subsequent rise of communist regimes around the world. The ideological clash between Marx’s communism and Western capitalism ultimately defined the global geopolitics of the entire 20th century.

#38: The First Commercial Birth Control Pill (1960)

Few medical advancements have had a more profound social and cultural impact than the oral contraceptive pill. Approved by the FDA in 1960, The Pill offered women an unprecedented and highly reliable method of controlling their own fertility. This separation of sex from reproduction acted as a massive catalyst for the sexual revolution of the 1960s and the modern feminist movement. By allowing women to delay or even forgo childbirth, it enabled millions to pursue higher education and enter the workforce in record numbers. The economic and social restructuring caused by this small tablet fundamentally altered family dynamics, gender roles, and workforce demographics.

#37: The Discovery of X-Rays (1895)

While working in his lab late one night, German physicist Wilhelm Röntgen noticed a strange fluorescent glow coming from a nearby screen, even though his cathode-ray tube was covered. He had inadvertently discovered a new kind of electromagnetic radiation that could pass through solid objects (including human tissue) while leaving the bones visible as shadows. Of course, we know this now as the x-ray. Röntgen submitted his first paper on the discovery in late December 1895, and by early 1896, doctors around the world were already using rudimentary machines to locate bullets and diagnose bone fractures. Even beyond medicine, x-rays have since been instrumental in fields ranging from airport security to astronomy, completely changing how we view the universe.

#36: Nelson Mandela Is Released from Prison (1990)

Nelson Mandela was imprisoned by the South African government for 27 years, serving as a global symbol of the fight against Apartheid. So when he walked out of Victor Verster Prison on February 11, 1990, the entire world watched in awe. His release was a watershed moment in the fight for global civil rights, marking the beginning of the end for white minority rule in South Africa. Rather than seeking vengeance, Mandela championed truth, reconciliation, and democratic elections, ultimately becoming the nation’s first Black president. His release proved that even the most deeply entrenched systems of oppression can be dismantled through resilience and unity.

#35: The First Telegraph Message (1844)

“What hath God wrought?” These four words, tapped out by Samuel Morse in 1844 and transmitted from Washington to Baltimore, severed the tie between communication and physical transportation. Prior to the telegraph, information could only travel as fast as a horse, a ship, or a train. Suddenly, messages could be sent across vast distances almost instantaneously. This revolutionized journalism, allowed governments to centralize authority over sprawling territories, and permitted businesses to coordinate on a national scale. The phone is cool and all, but the telegraph was the true dawn of the telecommunications age, directly paving the way for all that followed.

#34: The Eruption of Mount Tambora (1815)

When this massive volcano in the Dutch East Indies erupted, it was the most powerful volcanic explosion in recorded human history. Its impact was global, and it was bad. The massive amount of ash and sulfur dioxide blasted into the stratosphere blocked out the sun and lowered global temperatures, leading to 1816 being known as The Year Without a Summer. Without the proper conditions, crops failed across the world, leading to widespread famine, disease outbreaks, and societal unrest. It’s a stark and terrifying reminder of how intimately human survival is tied to the ecological systems of our planet, how volatile those systems can be, and how a single natural event can trigger global disaster.

#33: The Completion of the Panama Canal (1914)

Dubbed one of the seven wonders of the modern world, the Panama Canal was a triumph of engineering and a victory over nature itself. Humans sliced through the Isthmus of Panama, made a huge waterway spanning fifty miles, and in the process, connected the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. It eliminated the perilous and time-consuming need for ships to navigate all the way around the tip of South America. The canal drastically reduced shipping costs and travel times, revolutionizing maritime trade and firmly establishing the United States as a dominant global power in the 20th century.

#32: The First Successful Human Organ Transplant (1954)

The idea of taking an organ from one human being and putting it into another was long considered the stuff of science fiction. That changed at Boston’s Peter Bent Brigham Hospital when Dr. Joseph Murray transplanted a kidney from Ronald Herrick to his twin brother, Richard. Because they were identical twins, Richard’s body didn’t reject the organ. This groundbreaking procedure broke down immense physiological and ethical barriers in medicine. It paved the way for the development of immunosuppressive drugs, which itself allowed for the transplantation of hearts, livers, and lungs between unrelated donors. Millions of lives have been saved thanks to Dr. Murray’s miraculous breakthrough.

#31: The Defeat of the Spanish Armada (1588)

By the late 16th century, Spain was the undisputed superpower of Europe, and King Philip II’s Armada was deemed invincible. Come 1588, the naval fleet’s mission was to overthrow Queen Elizabeth I and restore Catholicism in England. However, a combination of faster English ships, brilliant tactical leadership, and devastating storms decimated the Spanish fleet. This shocking defeat signaled the beginning of Spain’s decline and paved the way for England to become a premier naval and colonial power. Had the Armada succeeded, North America might have been colonized very differently, and English probably wouldn’t be the global language that it is today.

#30: Modern Refrigeration (1834)

With it being such a staple in modern-day life, it’s hard to imagine how impactful it truly was at its onset. Prior to the invention of refrigeration, people relied on various methods of food preservation. This limited not only how much people could eat, but what. All of that changed in 1834, when Jacob Perkins crafted the world’s first vapor-compression refrigerator. Though it wasn’t successful, it set the stage for other models. In the decades that followed, the tactic spread, changing the way the population ate forever. Not only could meat and produce be shipped across countries without fear of it all spoiling, it also led to health improvements in consumers. Without Perkins’ ingenuity, people may not have access to the food they eat today.

#29: The Invention of Gunpowder (c. 1st Millennium AD)

It’s hard to believe that something so mundane could permanently impact history. Yet, from the moment traditional gunpowder was first created in ancient China, warfare was forever changed. It soon led to the creation of enhanced weaponry such as fire arrows and explosives, before guns were invented during the 13th century. Gunpowder spread across the world that century as well, where it had a hand in everything from taking down civilization to aiding workers in their labor. For millennia, new iterations of artillery included the substance, leading to it being used in modern battles as well. While it was eventually phased out for more contemporary combustibles, the original remains one of the most influential inventions in human history.

#28: The Fall of the Soviet Union (1991)

For decades, they controlled the Eastern Bloc with an iron fist (and curtain), with seemingly no way of being stopped. Yet, by the 1990s, cracks within the Soviet Union were beginning to form. They’d become stagnant, and Mikhail Gorbachev’s efforts at reducing centralism encouraged newly-formed republics to declare their independence from the Union. It all came to a head on Christmas Day, 1991, when Gorbachev stepped down. The next day, the USSR was no more. The impact both on the region and the rest of the world was swift. Not only were fifteen sovereign states created from the wreckage, other countries like China and the United States saw their own global power skyrocket. It also proved that even the most seemingly powerful nations weren’t infallible.

#27: Watt Steam Engine (1769)

With how fast technology developed during the Industrial Revolution, it can be hard to remember where it all began. Throughout the 1700s, James Watt expanded upon and perfected the already-existing Newcomen atmospheric engine. By adding on new elements and altering the methods used for condensing water, he was able to create the Watt steam engine. From that point on, the way business was conducted changed forever. They powered factories, replacing the needs for wind and water mills. From there, they were eventually adapted to modes of transportation, ushering in locomotives and steam ships and allowing animal-driven transportation to become obsolete. It serves as a foundation for the tech we use today, and officially ushered us from a primarily rural lifestyle to an urban one.

#26: The United Nations Adopts the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948)

It’s hard to fathom now, but before this document was in place, basic rights for people everywhere weren’t guaranteed. That all changed in 1948, when the United Nations created a list of unalienable liberties that applied to the entire population. The various Articles range from prohibiting slavery to the right to seek asylum during times of extreme political strife. Though it wasn’t required for countries to adopt it, the content has been applied to the treaties and laws of dozens of countries. Many nations that achieved independence in the years following ratification made specific mention of the document in their constitutions, ensuring rights for their citizens for good. Though it isn’t perfect, it has ultimately changed the world for the better.

#25: The Fall of Constantinople (1453)

In just under two months, a 1,500-year-old civilization came crashing down. Constantinople served as the capital of the Eastern Roman Empire, and soon became both the most lucrative city in Europe. Yet, in 1453, the Ottoman Empire successfully sacked the city, tearing down the Byzantine Empire with it. The changes that resulted from this were astronomical. It was the official end of Rome’s reign, and the beginning of the Renaissance. Beyond that, it also marked a shift in how cities were protected. The usage of gunpowder in cannons led to 800-year-old, previously impenetrable walls being destroyed, making it easier for the Ottomans to conquer it. Its fall marks a truly pivotal point in history, whose consequences lasted for centuries afterwards.

#24: The Opening of the Suez Canal (1869)

Throughout history, trade has remained a vital aspect of several countries' economies. In older days, traveling from Europe to Eastern countries was made more difficult by long routes in dangerous waters, which would take months at a time. In the mid-1800s, construction on the Suez Canal began, with the hopes that it would create a shorter route. In 1869, it officially opened– and the world was never the same. Travel time was cut significantly, and ports in the Mediterranean Sea enjoyed a significant economic uptick. It also aided Europe in their continued colonization of Africa, helping them lay claim to over 90% of the continent by 1914. Today, it still remains vital for trade, with over 300 million tons worth of items being charted annually.

#23: The Moon Landing (1969)

While the United States wasn’t the first country to achieve space travel, they still etched out one of the biggest wins in the Space Race. In 1969, they achieved their goal of putting a man on the moon and bringing him safely back. The Apollo 11 mission was a monumental feat of technology and human ingenuity. It opened up the possibility of more complex interplanetary travel, including colonizing Mars. It also provided invaluable information as to when and how the Moon formed. Samples taken from the site are still being studied today, with more answers being provided thanks to continuously advancing technology. Above all else, it proved that humans were capable of more than we had ever thought, permanently broadening our intellectual and physical horizons.

#22: The Discovery of Penicillin (1928)

One man’s accident ended up becoming the population’s savior. In 1928, scientist Alexander Fleming noticed that a culture plate on his desk had begun to grow mold. What intrigued him even further was how the bacteria was hindered from further expanding. He had no idea that he’d stumbled upon the first antibiotic, penicillin. Just over a decade later, it was brought into mass production, effectively changing the medical field forever. It was utilized during World War II to help cure thousands of infantrymen that would’ve otherwise succumbed to bacterial infections. Off the battlefield, it helped mothers and infants survive post-birth complications. It’s been used around the globe since then, and is now rightfully seen as one of the most vital findings in history.

#21: Dropping of Atomic Bombs on Hiroshima (1945)

In the mid-20th century, the United States changed the course of history and warfare itself with one fateful decision. When Japanese forces showed no sign of surrendering during World War II, President Truman went nuclear— literally. After one final warning, he ordered Little Boy, an atomic bomb, to be dropped directly onto Hiroshima. Tens of thousands died within minutes, and even more succumbed to radiation poisoning. Days later, a second bomb was dropped on Nagasaki. Not only did this lead to the end of the global conflict, it altered warfare forever. In the decades that followed, several countries began developing and testing nuclear weapons. The possibility of complete annihilation was suddenly real, leading to increased tensions worldwide and the start of a decades-long Cold War.

#20: Covid-19 Outbreak (2020)

In the fall of 2019, rumors began to bubble up in the U.S. and in Europe about a new flu-like virus in China. No one could have predicted the global devastation that followed. By early 2020, COVID-19 had spread across the planet, leading to widespread lockdowns, crippled economies, and disrupted daily life. Businesses closed, millions lost jobs, and supply chains faltered. Worse was the human suffering. The pandemic claimed over 1 million lives in the U.S. and at least 7 million globally, with some citing 15 million deaths. The psychological impact was also profound - fear, isolation, and uncertainty took a heavy toll on mental health. The world was forever changed, as the virus reshaped how people work, connect, and view public health.

#19: Newton Publishes “Philosophiæ Naturalis Principia Mathematica” (1687)

Isaac Newton’s Philosophiæ Naturalis Principia Mathematica represents one of the greatest leaps forward in the history of human knowledge. The Principia is the foundation of classical mechanics. Newton revolutionized science - all but inventing modern physics - by introducing the laws of motion and universal gravitation. For the first time, we had a comprehensive mathematical framework to describe the natural world. Newton’s work unified the heavens and Earth under the same laws. He could explain planetary motion, tides, and the behavior of physical objects on Earth. It fueled centuries of scientific inquiry in the pursuit of knowledge. From engineering to space exploration, its impact can be found everywhere, even beyond science. Newton championed evidence-based empiricism, further influencing everything from philosophy to finance.

#18: Treaty of Versailles (1919)

The 20th century was the first that, from the very beginning, saw the rise of globalized international relations. The Treaty of Versailles ended WWI, utterly resculpting the world order. That single document would have profound impacts for the next hundred years. The treaty dismantled entire empires, redrawing borders in Europe and the Middle East. It imposed punitively harsh reparations on Germany, leading to decades of economic hardship and political instability. In their desperation, resentment turned to rage and bigotry as they sought comfort in the arms of autocracy under Adolf Hitler. While intended to secure lasting peace, the Treaty instead laid the groundwork for a second, more costly world war. The treaty’s lasting legacy profoundly reshaped the global political landscape well into the 21st century.

#17: The Neolithic Revolution (c. 10,000 BCE)

For thousands of years, the early progenitors of modern humanity were nomadic hunter gatherers. They lived in small tribes, moving with the resources needed to sustain them. All of that changed around 10,000 BCE in the Neolithic Revolution. Our ancestors discovered agriculture, settling for the first time into agrarian farming communities. This change allowed for the domestication of plants and animals. Instead of desperate hungry animals, humans had food surpluses. No longer struggling just to survive, the human population exploded, and people began to establish permanent settlements. Those were the first building blocks to creating systems of language, culture, commerce, and government. In other words, the Neolithic Revolution is what made civilization as we now know it possible.

#16: A (Possible) Anthropocene? (1950-)

Scientists in the late 20th century first began to discuss the possibility that human activity was changing the Earth’s geology and ecosystems in empirically measurable ways. They proposed that the scientific community universally adopt that the earth has entered a new geological era. In 2024, the International Commission on Stratigraphy shot down the idea. Still, its discussion has helped scientists around the world recognize human impact. From altering atmospheric composition through greenhouse gas emissions to widespread biodiversity loss, human actions have changed the planet in ways unprecedented in geological history. The Anthropocene’s acknowledgment has also galvanized global efforts in environmental conservation, sustainability, and climate policy.

#15: Invention of the Assembly Line (1901)

The assembly line was arguably first invented in 1901, but most famously implemented by Henry Ford in 1913. It sparked a global revolution in manufacturing by streamlining production processes. This drastically reduced both the time and cost of making goods. By the middle of the 20th century, the assembly line was the cornerstone of the efficient mass production of standardized products. Prices plummeted, allowing a wider pool of consumers to access goods. It reshaped labor practices, creating specialized roles and repetitive tasks. The assembly line played a crucial role in creating a global marketplace, enabling economies of scale. This shift in production laid the foundation for modern consumer culture. Today, virtually every consumer product, from cars to electronics, was likely created on an assembly line.

#14: The Black Death (1346-53)

The Black Death was a devastating pandemic, laying low large swaths of Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. It began in Central Asia, spreading westward via trade routes and thanks to Mongol conquests. Rats and fleas spread the disease, decimating entire nations. The massive death toll led to severe labor shortages, and ultimately the demise of the feudal system. Peasants now had leverage in negotiations with their lords. Revolts spread, wages increased, and more people had access to land. Internationally, weakened states shifted power dynamics and realigned trade routes and alliances. The collapse of established orders created the conditions for future Renaissance transformations. Globally, the Black Death is estimated to have killed 75 to 200 million people, leaving an indelible mark on history.

#13: The End of the Western Roman Empire (476 CE)

By 476, Rome had been severely weakened by internal decay, economic troubles, and relentless invasions by Germanic tribes like the Visigoths and Vandals. Sustaining the Empire's territory was impossible; it collapsed, marking the end of ancient Rome’s centuries-long dominance over Europe. Rome's fall led to the fragmentation of Western Europe into smaller, warring kingdoms, plunging the region into what is often called the Dark Ages. This power vacuum also gave rise to the feudal system and the increasing influence of the Christian Church. Both were the primary engines driving medieval European politics. The fall of Rome reverberated for centuries, profoundly impacting law, culture, governance, trade, and warfare.

#12: Fall of the Berlin Wall (1989)

In retrospect, the collapse of the Soviet Union was likely all-but-inevitable after the death of Leonid Brezhnev. Still, the fall of the Berlin Wall seven years later was the symbol of that collapse. It represented an end to Cold War divisions between East and West. For nearly three decades, the Wall had stood as a physical and ideological barrier between communist East Berlin and capitalist West Berlin. Its demolition accelerated the inexorable dissolution of the Soviet Union and the collapse of communist regimes across Eastern Europe. In the wake of this change, a new world order was established, dominated by liberal democracies and free-market economies. But later authoritarianism - from China and Russia - also gained footholds in developing nations and economies.

#11: The Asteroid That Changed Everything (circa 65 Million Years Ago)

The multi-million-year reign of the dinosaurs came to a sudden and violent end around 66 million years ago. The consensus theory is that a catastrophic asteroid impacted near modern-day Yucatán, Mexico. It caused massive wildfires, tsunamis, and a “nuclear winter” effect, blocking sunlight and drastically altering the climate. The resulting mass extinction is estimated to have wiped out nearly 75% of Earth’s animal species. This completely changed the nature of life on Earth, triggering a new era of biodiversity. The end of the dinosaurs opened ecological niches that allowed mammals to flourish and eventually dominate. Primates would evolve from those early mammals. Human beings would then ultimately evolve from those early primates, becoming the dominant form of life on earth.

#10: September 11th Attacks (2001)

The September 11th attacks on the World Trade Center and Pentagon radically shifted geopolitics forever. In the wake of the end of the Cold War, the West had shifted into the complacency of a ‘90s boom. One renowned philosopher even called the era “the end of history.” Yeah, not so much. The U.S. and its allies soon invaded Afghanistan. A smaller coalition followed up with another invasion into Iraq, and decades of conflict and turmoil ensued — and are still ongoing. 9/11 had so many repercussions on both individual lives and collective world history.

#9: The Holocaust (1941-45)

Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it. In the modern era, where an estimated one in five young Americans don’t believe the Holocaust happened, this statement still rings true. The Holocaust during World War II was Germany’s monstrous systematic state-sponsored persecution and mass murder of millions of Jewish people, as well as other groups the Nazis targeted. It taught the world that turning a blind eye to human rights abuses has horrific consequences. The UN passed the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948, after the war.

#8: The Great Depression (1929–41)

In 1929, a stock market crash on Wall Street spread economic contagion around the world. The Great Depression was a moment of great change for the world. Widespread economic suffering and hunger led people to rethink the role of government in their lives. Some, like the U.S. with the New Deal, turned to a variety of governmental social welfare systems. Governments were acknowledged to have responsibility to create a social safety net. Other countries turned to the lures of totalitarianism and fascism. They used force and terror to rebuild their empires. This tension between authoritarianism and egalitarianism still defines geopolitics in the 21st century.

#7: American Revolution (1765-83)

When Britain’s colonies in the new world rebelled and achieved independence, it was one of the first instances of a colonial nation defeating their mother country. More importantly, the newly formed United States brought an ancient form of governance back to life. As a democratic republic in a world of empires, the United States represented a major blow to the mystique of aristocrats, emperors, kings, and despots. Though America’s democracy was - and is - deeply flawed, it was one of the first modern instances of government by and for the people. It inspired a similar revolution in France, and represented a beacon of hope for oppressed peoples. Today, civilizations around the world have turned to republican and parliamentary democracies.

#6: Assassination of Archduke Ferdinand II (1914)

It’s hard to imagine that the death of a single man could reshape an entire century. That’s exactly what happened, however, when Serbian nationalists assassinated the heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne. The killing triggered a series of alliances and dragged the world into war. The Great War changed the map of Europe and the world in innumerable ways. The aftermath of World War I, over the decades, also contributed enormously to World War II, which battered the planet and led to tens of millions of deaths. In the aftermath of the second great war, European empires fell apart. For the first time in centuries, the world entered a period of decolonization and self-rule.

#5: Columbus "Discovers" America (1492)

The Age of Exploration began with the invention of ships that could traverse oceans and circumnavigate the globe. In 1492, Christopher Columbus, an Italian commissioned by the Spanish, “discovered” the new world. The European discovery of two new western continents dramatically changed the course of human history. Dozens of indigenous civilizations eventually fell from European diseases, wars of conquest, and persecution. They were replaced by French, English, Spanish, and Portuguese colonies. Wealth was extracted, and over the centuries, countries like Mexico, the United States, Canada, and Brazil formed and grew.

#4: The Launch of Sputnik (1957)

Less than a half century after the Wright Brothers invented the airplane, humanity began sending objects into space. When the Soviet Union launched their Sputnik satellite into orbit, the eyes of the world were lifted upwards to the stars. The space race began, as the U.S. and Russia competed to develop newer and better space-faring technology. More importantly, Sputnik was just the first of thousands of satellites sent into orbit. Global positioning, cell phones, television, and the internet are just a few of the ways satellites are integrated into the 21st century. Satellite surveillance and positioning are key parts of intelligence gathering and military campaigns. Accurate weather forecasting relies on satellite surveillance. Data from satellites are even used for crop management.

#3: The Gutenberg Printing Press (1454)

The printing press was a game changer in the evolution of human technology and thought. For most of human history, the written word was a luxury for the elite. The printing press and mass production leveled the playing field. It spread the availability of knowledge, allowing commoners access to education. The bourgeoisie, a new class of educated tradesmen, came into being. Commerce, knowledge, and talent could - for the first time in human history - be as important as one’s status at birth. It was a necessary precursor to the Age of Enlightenment, which sparked a transition to a modern and relatively more egalitarian world.

#2: The Invention of the Internet (1960s)

Human civilization is now in its second generation of the internet age. Young people today may have difficulty fully understanding just how much the internet has changed the planet. People in India can video chat in real time with someone in London. Students in South Africa can connect with counterparts in China on social media. The world is smaller and faster than it was 50 years ago. International business now happens at the speed of thought. Political movements have become global. Unfortunately dangers have spread like wildfire, too. Misinformation, propaganda, and conspiracies can now circle the world before the truth wakes up in the morning. Love it, hate it, or both, there can be no doubt: the 21st century is the century of the internet.

#1: Understanding Electricity (1752)

As every American student learned as a kid, Ben Franklin was a scientist in addition to being a Founding Father. In 1752, he flew a kite during a storm and proved that lightning was made of electricity. Despite common misconceptions, Franklin didn’t actually technically discover electricity in 1752. It’d already been part of scientific experiments for a thousand years. His experiment, however, was central to understanding the nature of electricity and harnessing its power. By the end of the 19th century, the light bulb and electric power spread throughout everyday life. Today, electricity is the driver of modern society.

What do you think the outcome would have been had the opposite occurred? Let us know in the comments below!