The Hagia Sophia is completed.

Hagia Sophia

The Spanish Crown issues the Laws of Burgos, governing the conduct of settlers with regard to native Indians in the New World.

Laws of BurgosIndigenous peoples of the AmericasNew World

The Zwickau prophets arrive in Wittenberg disturbing the peace and preaching the Apocalypse. Philip Melanchthon cannot silence them. Martin Luther is being held in protective custody at the Wartburg castle at this time. He is later released and is able, by his preaching, to regain the peace.

Zwickau prophetsWittenbergPhilip MelanchthonMartin LutherWartburg

Second Northern War/the Deluge: Monks at the Jasna Góra Monastery in Częstochowa are successful in fending off a month-long siege.

Second Northern WarDeluge (history)Jasna Góra MonasteryCzęstochowaSiege of Jasna Góra

The Flushing Remonstrance is signed.

Flushing Remonstrance

Portugal and England sign the Methuen Treaty which gives preference to Portuguese imported wines into England.

Methuen TreatyWine

War of 1812: The American schooner USS Carolina is destroyed. It was the last of Commodore Daniel Patterson's makeshift fleet that fought a series of delaying actions that contributed to Andrew Jackson's victory at the Battle of New Orleans.

War of 1812USS Carolina (1812)Daniel Patterson (naval officer)Andrew JacksonBattle of New Orleans

Charles Darwin embarks on his journey aboard the HMS Beagle, during which he will begin to formulate his theory of evolution.

Charles DarwinSecond voyage of HMS BeagleHMS BeagleEvolution

The worst ever avalanche in England occurs at Lewes, Sussex, killing eight people.

Lewes avalancheLewesSussex

Ether anesthetic is used for childbirth for the first time by Dr. Crawford Long in Jefferson, Georgia.

Diethyl etherAnestheticCrawford LongJefferson, Georgia

Journalist John L. O'Sullivan, writing in his newspaper the New York Morning News, argues that the United States had the right to claim the entire Oregon Country "by the right of our manifest destiny".

John L. O'SullivanOregon CountryManifest destiny

"Jana Gana Mana", the national anthem of India, is first sung in the Calcutta Session of the Indian National Congress.

Jana Gana ManaNational anthemIndian National Congress

The Great Poland Uprising against the Germans begins.

Greater Poland Uprising (1918-19)

Japanese aircraft carrier Hōshō becomes the first purpose built aircraft carrier to be commissioned in the world.

Japanese aircraft carrier Hōshō

Show Boat, considered to be the first true American musical play, opens at the Ziegfeld Theatre on Broadway.

Show BoatZiegfeld Theatre (1927)Broadway theatre

Soviet General Secretary Joseph Stalin orders the "liquidation of the kulaks as a class".

General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet UnionJoseph StalinDekulakization

Radio City Music Hall, "Showplace of the Nation", opens in New York City.

Radio City Music Hall

Regina Jonas is ordained as the first female rabbi in the history of Judaism.

Regina JonasRabbiJudaism

The 7.8 Mw Erzincan earthquake shakes eastern Turkey with a maximum Mercalli intensity of XI (Extreme). At least 32,700 people were killed.

1939 Erzincan earthquakeTurkeyMercalli intensity scale

Winter War: Finland holds off a Soviet attack in the Battle of Kelja.

Winter WarSoviet UnionBattle of Kelja

The International Monetary Fund is created with the signing of an agreement by 29 nations.

International Monetary Fund

Indonesian National Revolution: The Netherlands officially recognizes Indonesian independence. End of the Dutch East Indies.

Indonesian National RevolutionIndonesiaDutch East Indies

The Cave of Swallows, the largest known cave shaft in the world, is discovered in Aquismón, San Luis Potosí, Mexico.

Cave of SwallowsAquismónSan Luis Potosí

Apollo program: Apollo 8 splashes down in the Pacific Ocean, ending the first orbital manned mission to the Moon.

Apollo programApollo 8

Spain becomes a democracy after 40 years of fascist dictatorship.

Spanish transition to democracyDictatorship

The Soviet Union invades the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan.

Soviet-Afghan WarDemocratic Republic of Afghanistan

Pope John Paul II visits Mehmet Ali Ağca in Rebibbia's prison and personally forgives him for the 1981 attack on him in St. Peter's Square.

Pope John Paul IIMehmet Ali AğcaRebibbiaSt. Peter's Square

Palestinian guerrillas kill eighteen people inside the airports of Rome, Italy, and Vienna, Austria.

PalestiniansRome and Vienna airport attacksRomeVienna

The Romanian Revolution concludes, as the last minor street confrontations and stray shootings abruptly end in the country's capital, Bucharest.

Romanian RevolutionBucharest

Taliban forces retake the strategic Bagram Airfield which solidifies their buffer zone around Kabul, Afghanistan.

TalibanBagram AirfieldKabulAfghanistan