Look back in time and examine the amazing events that happened on this day in history and which helped shape the world as we know it.

1: January 11, 49 BC: Julius Caesar Crosses the Rubicon

• Julius Caesar was known as a decisive general. When he chose to step forward, cross the Rubicon, and march on Rome with nothing but a single legion, this was one of the riskiest decisions in military history. Ultimately it resulted in the end of the Republic and the rise of the Roman Empire.

2: January 15, 1929: Martin Luther King Jr. Is Born

• January 15, 1929: Martin Luther King Jr. is born. From this tiny beginning came huge change. Follow his footsteps through his involvement with the NAACP and the tremendous impact Ida B. Wells had on his leadership within the civil rights movement.

3: February 11, 1990: Nelson Mandela Freed from Prison

• February 11, 1990, may have felt like an ordinary day for many of us, but it marks an extraordinary and often overlooked event in world history. On this date, South African revolutionary Nelson Mandela was freed from prison after 27 years of captivity. Join Professor Douglas Linder, the Elmer Powell Peer Professor of Law at the University of Missouri–Kansas City School of Law, as he walks you through the astounding—and not too distant—story of blatant racism and apartheid, persistence and courage, and how this day in history marked the emergence of a real-life hero who changed our world for the better.

4: February 23, 1945: Raising the Flag on Iwo Jima

• Join a four-star general to dig into the details and historical context around of the one of the most iconic images in American military history: “Raising the Flag on Iwo Jima” (Feb. 23, 1945).

5: March 17, 461: St. Patrick Dies

• On March 17, people all around the world hold religious and secular celebrations in honor of St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland. Find out how his small acts of evangelism changed the face of religion in Ireland.

6: April 2, 1805: Hans Christian Andersen Is Born

• Join professional storyteller Hannah B. Harvey as she reveals a bit of history about Hans Christian Andersen and performs a truly delightful re-telling of “Thumbelina."

7: April 9, 1865: Robert E. Lee Surrenders

• Award-winning professor Gary Gallagher reveals some astounding details about Confederate General Robert E. Lee’s surrender of the Army of Northern Virginia to Lt. General Ulysses S. Grant, who led the Union Army. Look at the factors that went into making the decision of surrender, the fallout for the Confederates after the surrender, and the ramifications this one day had on the future of American democracy.

8: April 22, 1509: King Henry VIII Begins His Reign

• Unpack the impact of King Henry VIII’s first day in power and the widespread political and religious ramifications of his desire for an annulment.

9: April 24, 1479 BC: Queen Hatshepsut Seizes Power

• Follow a truly fascinating tale of the king who was a woman as you delve into the story of Hatshepsut, who ruled Egypt for 22 years and then was erased from history. Follow an Egyptologist as he sorts through history, hieroglyphs, and hearsay to bring you the story of this amazing figure.

10: May 4, 2008: Star Wars Day Is Born

• There’s no denying Star Wars is a powerful, enduring phenomena that resonates with audiences, but it also explores a number of important philosophical issues. Join Dr. David Kyle Johnson to unpack the deeper concepts behind this epic space opera.

11: May 14, 1607: Jamestown Colony Founded

• Join a renowned anthropology professor to uncover the lost settlement of Jamestown and discover just how brutal life was for the early colonists during the inception of the first permanent British settlement in North America.

12: May 18, 1980: Mount Saint Helens Erupts

• Join the Director of Programming for National Geographic Expeditions to relive the most destructive volcanic eruption in the continental United States—Mount St. Helens—from the perspective of a geologist.

13: June 10, 323 BC: Alexander the Great Dies

• Professor Garland introduces you to Alexander, the king of Macedonia in 336 and examines the political and social culture of the time. Look into the strange circumstances of his death and how his short reign had long-effecting impact on the world.

14: June 15, 1215: King John Signs the Magna Carta

• Although the signing of the Magna Carta went practically unnoticed by the entire rest of the world, it had political and social impacts that affect how we live, even today. Join Professor Dorsey Armstrong to learn about this monumental event.

15: June 16, 1904: Bloomsday

• Join English Professor Marc Conner for an illuminating look through the lens of history at the context and circumstances that contributed to James Joyce’s Ulysses, revealing the true-life people, places, and events that inspired the epic novel.

16: July 19, 1799: Rosetta Stone Discovered

• The Rosetta Stone—a rock inscribed with parallel passages of ancient Greek writing, Egyptian hieroglyphs, and Demotic script—has had quite a history. Follow this chapter of its transient story involving Napoleon and what the black basalt slab meant to him.

17: July 27, 1953: The Korean War Ends

• Examine how the Korean War Veterans Memorial came into being and how its different elements pay tribute to the troops and civilians who were involved in the conflict.

18: August 6, 1945: The United States Drops the First Atomic Bomb

• Join an award-winning professor of history to take an in-depth look at the options around and decision to deploy a uranium atomic bomb to be detonated over Hiroshima.

19: August 18, 1920: American Women Gain Voting Rights

• The ratification of the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution occurred on August 18, 1920. It took three years in the making and was the result of decades of work to ensure that women’s roles and rights in American society would dramatically change. Join an esteemed professor of history to walk through the activities and actions of the women’s suffrage movement.

20: August 24, AD 79: Mount Vesuvius Destroys Pompeii

• Join a historian and trace the timeline of events, and the path of destruction, caused by Mount Vesuvius on August 24, 79 A.D.

21: August 30, 1797: Mary Shelley Is Born

• Celebrate the author of the beloved novel Frankenstein and discover how, at just 18 years old, Mary Shelley is often credited with starting the modern science fiction tradition, while giving a poignant commentary on the dangers of unbridled scientific education.

22: September 12, 490 BC: Athens Wins the Battle of Marathon

• One of the most famous military matchups of ancient history was that of the Battle of Marathon, where a vastly outnumbered Athenian army managed to emerge victorious. Join a noted historian to understand how this happened.

23: September 22, 1862: Lincoln Issues the Emancipation Proclamation

• Discover how President Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation reflected not only his desire to ensure a Union victory in the Civil War, but also his deepening conviction that the end of American slavery was the very will of God.

24: September 28, 1928: Alexander Fleming Discovers Penicillin

• Dig into the history of penicillin and see how a dirty petri dish changed the face of modern pharmaceuticals.

25: October 4, 1957: The USSR Launches Sputnik 1

• See how the launch of Sputnik 1 impacted America’s role in the space race and quickly furthered our research and technology in a way nothing else has since then.

26: October 14, 1066: William Conquers England

• Examine how Duke William the Bastard of Normandy led the Normans to victory, created a strong feudal government, and fortified England as a powerful and influential nation—and, in doing so, shaped the history of Europe and the world.

27: November 9, 1989: The Berlin Wall Falls

• More than just symbolizing the beginning of the end to the Cold War, when the Berlin Wall came down on November 9, 1989, it changed the world profoundly. And the most amazing part? It was due to an accident. Join Professor Vejas Gabriel Liulevicius to trace the circumstances and oversights that led to the downfall of the Iron Curtain.

28: November 21, 1887: Sherlock Holmes Makes His Debut

• Travel back through the century to see why Sherlock Holmes has had such an impact on the mystery and suspense genre from the first moment of his unveiling in Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s A Study in Scarlet.

29: November 25, 1491: The Treaty of Granada Ends the Spanish Reconquista

• Join an esteemed history professor to discover how the signing of the Treaty of Granada came to be and how it shaped forthcoming events.

30: December 7, 1941: Japan Bombs Pearl Harbor

• Take a unique look at one of the most well-known events in military history to better understand how the bombing of Pearl Harbor ultimately marked the beginning of the end for the Japanese empire. Professor Mark J. Ravina examines the reasons why Japan embarked on a war they were not prepared to finish—let alone, win—and the plethora of disastrous miscalculations based on flawed assumptions made under the guidance of a leader with no military experience.

31: December 15, 1832: Gustave Eiffel Is Born

• Join Professor Stephen Ressler to uncover the inner workings of the most recognizable structure in the world: the Eiffel Tower.

32: January 15, 1559: Elizabeth I Is Crowned Queen of England

• Get to know Queen Elizabeth I, who turned a country ripe with religious and political turmoil into a golden age of English history.

33: January 19, 1809: Edgar Allan Poe Is Born

• Get to know Edgar Allen Poe and discover how his writing influenced a wide range of writers and literary genres.

34: February 6, 1895: Babe Ruth Is Born

• George Herman “Babe” Ruth Jr. is one of the most famous names in baseball. Discover why his athletic achievements helped him obtain this notoriety and how he helped create the game as we know it today.

35: February 24, 1868: Andrew Johnson Impeached

• Look at this day in history to reveal the details, the speeches, the high and low points, and the impactful aftermath of the impeachment trial of President Andrew Johnson.