12 Historical Events That Happened at the Same Time
From the fall of empires to groundbreaking scientific discoveries, these 12 historical events all unfolded simultaneously, reshaping the world in ways that still echo today.
- Alyana Aguja
- 6 min read
At turning points in history, the world experienced a coincidence of revolutionary events that remade cultures and charted future courses. From the downfall of monarchies to the coming of revolutionary philosophies, these coincident occurrences bridged continents and ideologies and connected seemingly unconnected acts into a larger canvas of history.
1. The Collapse of the Berlin Wall (1989) and the Tiananmen Square Demonstrations (1989)
Image from Britannica
East Germany’s border opened in November 1989, precipitating the famous collapse of the Berlin Wall, representing the fall of Soviet-supported communist governments in Eastern Europe. As this was happening, in Beijing, China, the Tiananmen Square demonstrations were underway, with demonstrators seeking political change and more freedoms. Whereas the fall of the Berlin Wall announced the culmination of the Cold War in Europe, the Chinese government brutally suppressed the nonviolent demonstrations, leading to a horrific massacre.
2. The Apollo 11 Moon Landing (1969) and the Woodstock Festival (1969)
Image from Wikipedia
In July 1969, Apollo 11 landed Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin on the Moon with great success, a landmark in human exploration. Meanwhile, 50 miles from the space mission in Bethel, New York, more than 400,000 gathered to attend the Woodstock Festival, celebrating peace, music, and counterculture. One event represented man’s technological victory, and the other the social revolution of the ’60s, bringing art and activism together.
3. The American Civil War (1861-1865) and the South African Discovery of the Diamond Fields (1867)
Image from HISTORY
As the United States fought its bloody Civil War, another revolutionary event took place far over the Atlantic: the discovery of huge diamond fields in South Africa in 1867. The rush for diamonds precipitated economic and social upheaval in the region, resulting in the imposition of British colonial rule over the territory. As the Union and Confederacy clashed over slavery, the African continent witnessed the emergence of European imperialism fueled by new wealth.
4. The French Revolution (1789) and the Execution of King Louis XVI (1793)
Image from Wikipedia
In 1789, the French Revolution started with the storming of the Bastille, a potent symbol of the repressive monarchy. In 1793, King Louis XVI was guillotined, symbolizing the revolutionary transition from monarchy to republicanism. The collapse of the French monarchy resonated throughout Europe, igniting similar movements for liberty and equality.
5. The Sinking of the Titanic (1912) and the Establishment of the Federal Reserve (1913)
Image from Wikipedia
It was in April 1912 that the RMS Titanic sank after colliding with an iceberg, one of the most fatal maritime accidents in history. Only a year had passed when the Federal Reserve System came into being in America, revolutionizing the financial world with a central banking system. One highlighted the limitations of the technology devised by humans, while the other reformed the economy of a fast-industrializing country.
6. The Black Death in Europe (1347-1351) and the Rise of the Ottoman Empire (14th Century)
Image from History.com
While the Black Death swept through Europe, killing close to a third of the population, the Ottoman Empire was rising in the East, taking over large tracts of land. The plague began in Asia and spread throughout Europe, penetrating deeply into society, religion, and the economy. In the meantime, the Ottomans were expanding their empire, which ultimately culminated in the capture of Constantinople in 1453.
7. The Signing of the Magna Carta (1215) and the Crusades (1095-1291)
Image from History.com
King John of England was compelled to sign the Magna Carta, a document of foundations that placed limitations on the power of the monarchy and established the principles of constitutional law, in 1215. Concurrently, at roughly the same time, there were the Crusades, a series of holy wars between Muslims and Christians that fought over the possession of the Holy Land. Although the Magna Carta was a major move toward democracy, the Crusades aimed to win back Jerusalem and show the religious and political tensions that existed at this time.
8. The Renaissance in Europe (14th–17th Century) and the Mongol Invasion of Japan (1274 & 1281)
Image from Egypt Today
While Europe was undergoing a cultural revival through the Renaissance, East Asia had a similar occurrence: the Mongol Empire, led by Kublai Khan, sent two failed invasions of Japan in 1274 and 1281. The Renaissance ignited works of art and science, and the likes of Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo took history by storm. On the other hand, the Mongols’ invasions would be foiled by typhoons, and the Japanese felt God blessed them.
9. The Beginning of World War I (1914) and the Start of the Mexican Revolution (1910-1920)
Image from Britannica
In 1914, the First World War started, rewriting the world power balance with a fatal war that would define the 20th century. Coincidentally, in Mexico, the Mexican Revolution had already kicked off in 1910 as a series of social and political uprisings to end dictatorship and implement fairer land reform. Both happened with the focus on the competition for power and transformation, one through international conflict and the other through revolution.
10. The Discovery of Penicillin (1928) and the Launch of the Great Depression (1929)
Image from Britannica
In 1928, Alexander Fleming discovered penicillin, the world’s first antibiotic, which would go on to save millions of lives. Just a year later, the stock market crashed, marking the beginning of the Great Depression, one of the worst economic crises in history. These two events were deeply interconnected in terms of their long-term effects: while penicillin revolutionized medicine, the Depression profoundly altered global economies.
11. The Congress of Vienna (1814-1815) and the Battle of Waterloo (1815)
Image from Politico.eu
In 1815, Napoleon Bonaparte was defeated for the last time in the Battle of Waterloo, putting an end to his rule and rearranging European politics. At the same time, the Congress of Vienna took place to recreate the map of Europe to restore the power balance disrupted by Napoleon’s victories. The result of all this laid the groundwork for the 19th-century political order with enduring implications for international diplomacy.
12. The Sputnik Launch (1957) and Beginning of the Civil Rights Movement (1950s)
Image from National Geographic Education
In 1957, the Soviet Union successfully launched Sputnik, an artificial satellite that initiated the space race and heightened Cold War tensions. Around the same period, the United States experienced the rise of the Civil Rights Movement, when African Americans started questioning segregation and insisting on equal rights. One of these events represented the superpowers’ technological competition, while the other represented a domestic fight for justice and equality.