September 20 has seen the founding of great universities, revolutionary battles, and artistic achievements.
Ferdinand Magellan departed Spain with five ships, beginning the first voyage to circumnavigate the globe. Though Magellan was killed in the Philippines, his expedition proved the Earth's spherical shape.
Italian forces captured Rome from the Papal States, completing Italian unification. The Eternal City became the capital of the unified Kingdom of Italy, ending the Pope's temporal rule.
Billie Jean King defeated Bobby Riggs in a tennis match watched by 90 million viewers. The 'Battle of the Sexes' was a landmark moment for women's sports and gender equality.
The five-ship fleet departed from Sanlúcar de Barrameda on its historic westward voyage. The expedition would take three years and prove that the world's oceans were interconnected.
British and French forces defeated the Russian army at the Alma River in Crimea, the first major battle of the Crimean War. The victory opened the way to the siege of Sevastopol.
The first Cannes Film Festival opened on the French Riviera, establishing what would become the world's most prestigious film festival. The event celebrates cinematic artistry and has launched countless careers.
Galileo Galilei was tried by the Roman Inquisition for advocating the heliocentric model of the solar system. He was forced to recant but reportedly muttered 'And yet it moves.'