October 7 has seen battles that launched wars, victories at sea, and cultural revolutions unfold.
A coalition of Christian naval forces defeated the Ottoman Empire's fleet in the Gulf of Patras. The battle was the last major naval engagement using rowing galleys and halted Ottoman expansion in the Mediterranean.
The United States launched Operation Enduring Freedom, beginning military operations against the Taliban and al-Qaeda in Afghanistan. The war would become America's longest military conflict, lasting 20 years.
Chinese forces crossed the Yalu River into North Korea, dramatically expanding the Korean War. The intervention saved the North Korean regime and led to years of bloody fighting.
The master of macabre literature died at age 40 in Baltimore under mysterious circumstances. His works, including 'The Raven' and 'The Tell-Tale Heart,' established the modern horror and detective fiction genres.
The Soviet Luna 3 probe transmitted the first photographs of the far side of the Moon. The images revealed a landscape markedly different from the familiar near side.
Palestinian terrorists hijacked the Italian cruise ship Achille Lauro in the Mediterranean, killing wheelchair-bound American passenger Leon Klinghoffer. The incident drew worldwide condemnation.
According to tradition, the Hebrew calendar begins with the creation of the world on this date in 3761 BCE. The Jewish calendar remains in use for religious observances and in Israel.