747
War & Conflict
Abbasid Revolution Begins
Abu Muslim began the Abbasid revolution in the eastern Iranian province of Khorasan. The uprising would overthrow the Umayyad Caliphate and establish the Abbasid dynasty.
On This Day in History
1616
Science
Galileo Warned by Catholic Church
The Catholic Church formally warned Galileo that he must not hold or defend the Copernican theory that the Earth moves around the Sun. This admonition preceded his later trial by the Inquisition.
1815
War & Conflict
Napoleon Escapes from Elba
Napoleon Bonaparte escaped from exile on the island of Elba with about 1,000 supporters. He marched north through France, gathering an army, and reclaimed power for the Hundred Days.
1848
Politics
French Revolution of 1848 Establishes Republic
Revolutionaries in Paris overthrew King Louis-Philippe and proclaimed the Second French Republic. The revolution inspired uprisings across Europe in the 'Spring of Nations.'
1919
Politics
Grand Canyon National Park Established
President Woodrow Wilson signed legislation establishing Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona. Theodore Roosevelt had previously protected the site as a national monument.
1935
Invention
Radar First Demonstrated
Scottish physicist Robert Watson-Watt demonstrated radar for the first time to the British Air Ministry. The technology would prove crucial in defending Britain during World War II.
1993
Crime
World Trade Center Bombed
A truck bomb exploded in the underground parking garage of the World Trade Center in New York City, killing six people and injuring over 1,000. The attack foreshadowed the devastating 9/11 attacks eight years later.