March 9 has seen armored giants clash, cities burn, and revolutionary technologies emerge.
Fatimid Caliph Al-Hakim bi-Amr Allah ordered the destruction of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem. The event was later cited as a justification for the First Crusade.
Scottish economist Adam Smith published 'An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations.' The work became the foundation of modern economics and free-market capitalism.
The Supreme Court ruled that the Africans who had seized the slave ship La Amistad were free people who had the right to resist slavery. The case became a landmark in the abolitionist movement.
The CSS Virginia and USS Monitor continued their historic clash, the first battle between ironclad warships. The engagement ended in a draw but rendered wooden warships obsolete.
Mexican revolutionary Pancho Villa led a cross-border attack on Columbus, New Mexico, killing 18 Americans. The raid prompted a U.S. military expedition into Mexico led by General Pershing.
American B-29 bombers conducted a massive firebombing raid on Tokyo, killing an estimated 100,000 civilians. It was the single deadliest air raid in history, more destructive than either atomic bombing.
The Barbie doll made her debut at the American International Toy Fair in New York. Created by Ruth Handler for Mattel, Barbie became the best-selling toy in history.