Top 30 Moments That Changed the Course of History

#30: The Discovery of Fire (circa 2 Million-780 Thousand Years Ago)

The exact date when humans or our relatives learned how to create fire is much debated. What isnt in question, however, is its importance in our development as a species. Fire kept back not only the cold during nights, but also predators. It created the concept of cooking, giving our ancestors more nutritious meals. Fire led to greater innovations in tool and crafting creation, like pottery or tempering weapons. It may have even led to evolutionary changes to our digestive systems and teeth. Without fire, human civilization simply wouldnt exist as it does today.

#29: Alexander Fleming Discovers Penicillin (1928)

Cultures all over the world have long used mold to treat disease. However, it wasnt until the 20th century that someone figured out why it worked. Scottish scientist Alexander Fleming forgot to clean up his lab before going on vacation. Upon his return, Fleming found that mold had formed on a sample of bacteria. However, the mold had killed the bacteria. Fleming named the substance penicillin. His further research and development led to the worlds first true antibiotic. Before Flemings discovery, deaths from bacterial infections of minor injuries were far more common. Antibiotics have completely revolutionized medicine, and have saved hundreds of millions of lives in the years since penicillins creation.

#28: Copernicus Publishes De Revolutionibus Orbium Coelestium (1543)

For much of history, at least in the Western world, the prevailing view was that the sun and planets orbited the Earth. This concept, popularized by Ptolemy and endorsed by the Catholic church, was called the geocentric view. However, this model was challenged by Nicholaus Copernicus with his publication of De revolutionibus orbium coelestium, or On the Revolutions of the Heavenly Spheres. The book was not the origin of the idea that the Earth orbits the sun. However, it certainly helped popularize heliocentric theory. But perhaps more importantly, it arguably acted as the first spark in the Scientific Revolution. The massive shifts in scientific understanding across multiple disciplines that followed would never have happened without Copernicus.

#27: Fall of Constantinople (1453)

Despite the Western Roman Empire falling centuries earlier, more on that later, the Eastern half survived, becoming the Byzantine Empire. Its capital, Constantinople, remained until 1453. The Ottoman Empire laid siege to the city and with gunpowder cannons managed to breach Constantinoples walls, once thought invincible. Constantinoples fall marked the ending of the Byzantine Empires long history, as well as the conclusion of the medieval period. It also marked the new importance of gunpowder in warfare and the ineffectiveness of castles. But, perhaps most importantly, scholars fleeing the city made their way to Italy, helping reintroduce Classical knowledge from the Greek and Roman eras to Western Europe. Constantinoples fall effectively started the Renaissance and its many cultural and scientific changes.

#26: Civil Rights Act (1964)

The civil rights movement of the 1950s and 60s in the United States proved a turning point for race relations in the country and indeed the world. In 1964, the Civil Rights Act was passed by congress and President Lyndon B. Johnson. The law outlawed discrimination based on race, religion, sex, and nationality, while also overturning racial segregation and discriminatory hiring practices. The Civil Rights Act inspired not only further civil rights legislation later in the U.S.A.s history, such as gay marriage, but also similar civil rights legislation internationally. Although it certainly didnt eliminate prejudice, it was a great step towards a kinder world.

#25: Invention of the Telephone (19th Century)

Who actually invented the telephone is a matter of surprising controversy. Some credit Italian inventor Antonio Meucci or German scientist Johann Philipp Reis. Others point to Americans Alexander Graham Bell or Elisha Gray, whom Bell allegedly stole from. Regardless of its inventor though, the telephone revolutionized communications on a global scale. While telegraphs allowed long distance communication already, it was much easier to just say what you want to say to someone instead of deciphering code. Its difficult to undersell how big an impact phones had on life and society. They revolutionized business, culture, and emergency services, among many other things, in ways that are still relevant today.

#24: Storming of the Bastille (1789)

Every revolution needs a flashpoint, and the French Revolution is generally agreed to begin with this moment. Roughly 1000 Parisians attacked and seized the monarchys political prison, the Bastille. The ensuing revolution had an enormous ripple effect throughout the world, especially in Europe and the Americas. French people displaced by the violence spread French culture to the countries to which they emigrated. The French Revolution also arguably gave rise to the spread of political philosophies, including liberalism, direct democracy, and even nationalism. If not for the takeover of a single prison, the cultural and political climate of the world would look very different.

#23: Edward Jenner Invents the Vaccine (1796)

While inoculation and variolation had existed for some time prior, the first true vaccine was created by Dr. Edward Jenner. It had been previously observed by others that people who were infected with the far less deadly cowpox were immune to smallpox. Jenner theorized that pus from cowpox blisters could be used to immunize people from smallpox. His successful experiment essentially founded immunology and led to further vaccines being developed. Vaccines, named for the Latin word for cow, have saved billions of lives in the years since, while also making smallpox the first (and so far only) human disease to be completely exterminated.

#22: The Moon Landing (1969)

The Apollo 11 mission saw astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin land, walk, and do experiments on the surface of the Moon. The momentousness of the event might feel self-explanatory - after all, its the first time humans visited another celestial object. But our first step into the cosmos had ramifications back on Earth. So many of the devices invented to get Aldrin and Armstrong there led to revolutionary technologies, like microwaves. Perhaps most dramatically, the Apollo missions guidance system led to advances in the miniaturization of computers. If NASA hadnt sent men to the Moon, we wouldnt have computers that fit on our desks or in our pockets. The Moon landing inspired scientists of countless disciplines to imagine what was possible and create new wonders.

#21: The Atomic Bomb (1945)

Theres no getting around the explosive impact, if youll pardon the pun, of the atomic bomb. First developed by the Manhattan Project during WWII and first tested at Los Alamos with the Trinity test, the atomic bomb would shape the rest of the 20th century and beyond. Its use in warfare, and the threat of its use, defined the conclusion of WWII and the Cold War that followed. The nuclear arms race also fueled countless technological innovations. The bombs creation also led to the development and spread of nuclear energy, which currently supplies around 9% of the worlds power as of this writing. For as destructive as the atomic bomb was, it has created an entirely different world after its detonation.

#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 Newtons 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. Newtons 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 treatys 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 Earths 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 Anthropocenes 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 Romes 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 Earths 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 dont believe the Holocaust happened, this statement still rings true. The Holocaust during World War II was Germanys 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 (192941)

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 Britains 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 Americas 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)

Its hard to imagine that the death of a single man could reshape an entire century. Thats 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 ones 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 didnt actually technically discover electricity in 1752. Itd 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.

Is there a dramatically impactful historical moment we forgot? Give us a ring with your picks in the comments!