455
Ancient
Vandals Finish Sacking Rome
The Vandals completed their two-week sack of Rome, carrying off immense treasures. The systematic looting gave the English language the word 'vandalism.'
On This Day in History
1487
War & Conflict
Battle of Stoke Field
Henry VII defeated Yorkist forces at the Battle of Stoke Field, the last significant battle of the Wars of the Roses. The victory secured the Tudor dynasty.
1858
Politics
Lincoln's 'House Divided' Speech
Abraham Lincoln delivered his famous 'House Divided' speech upon accepting the Republican nomination for U.S. Senator from Illinois. He warned that the nation could not endure 'half slave and half free.'
1903
Invention
Pepsi-Cola Company Trademarked
The Pepsi-Cola Company was trademarked by Caleb Bradham. The beverage would become Coca-Cola's primary competitor in the global soft drink market.
1904
Culture
Bloomsday: James Joyce's Ulysses Set
June 16, 1904 is the day on which the events of James Joyce's novel 'Ulysses' take place. The date is celebrated worldwide as Bloomsday, named after protagonist Leopold Bloom.
1963
Space
Valentina Tereshkova Becomes First Woman in Space
Soviet cosmonaut Valentina Tereshkova became the first woman to travel to space aboard Vostok 6. She orbited the Earth 48 times in nearly three days.
1976
Civil Rights
Soweto Uprising in South Africa
Black students in Soweto, South Africa, protested against mandatory education in Afrikaans, the language of their oppressors. Police opened fire, killing hundreds and sparking international outrage.