December 12 has seen Marconi bridge oceans with radio, Kenya gain independence, and historic treaties signed.
Guglielmo Marconi received the first transatlantic radio signal at Signal Hill, Newfoundland. The signal, the Morse code letter 'S' sent from Cornwall, England, proved long-range radio communication was possible.
Kenya gained independence from Britain with Jomo Kenyatta as its first prime minister. Kenyatta, who had been imprisoned during the Mau Mau uprising, became the father of the nation.
Representatives from 196 nations adopted the Paris Agreement on climate change, pledging to limit global warming to well below 2°C. The landmark accord represented unprecedented global cooperation on climate.
Byzantine Emperor Heraclius decisively defeated the Sassanid Persian Empire at Nineveh. The victory restored Byzantine territory but left both empires exhausted and vulnerable to Arab conquests.
Pennsylvania became the second state to ratify the US Constitution. The state's large population and central location made its ratification crucial to the new nation's viability.
Construction of the Lincoln Memorial began on the National Mall in Washington DC. The Greek temple-style memorial, completed in 1922, became one of America's most beloved monuments.
The US Supreme Court ruled 5-4 to halt the Florida recount, effectively awarding the presidency to George W. Bush. The controversial decision ended the closest presidential election in modern history.