The First Geneva Convention is signed by 12 nations
The 1864 Geneva Convention was the world’s first codified international treaty that covered the sick and wounded soldiers on the battlefield.
World leaders
Abraham Lincoln delivers Emancipation Proclamation, freeing American slaves
On September 22, soon after the Union victory at Antietam, he issued a preliminary Emancipation Proclamation, declaring that as of January 1, 1863, all slaves in the rebellious states shall be then, thenceforward, and forever free.
Alexander II of Russia signs the Emancipation Manifesto, granting serfs the full rights of free citizens
The Emancipation Reform of 1861 in Russia was the first and most important of the liberal reforms enacted during the reign of Emperor Alexander II of Russia. he reform effectively abolished serfdom throughout the Russian Empire.
The Qianlong Emperor orders the creation of the Siku Quanshu
The Siku Quanshu ended up surpassing the Ming dynasty’s 1403 Yongle Encyclopedia in size, which was China’s largest encyclopedia prior to the creation of the Siku Quanshu.
Queen Salamasina comes to power in Samoa
Salamasina drew together all the great aristocratic bloodlines and links to supernatural power in a period of political transformation, to create a basis of legitimacy for the new power-brokers of Samoa.
Sejong the Great creates Hangul, the Korean alphabet
Known as Hangul in South Korea or Chosŏn’gŭl in North Korea, it is still the official writing system of Korea, both South Korea and North Korea.
Genghis Khan establishes the Mongol code of ethics, the Yassa
The Yassa aimed at three things: obedience to Genghis Khan, a binding together of the nomad clans, and the merciless punishment of wrongdoing.
Genghis Khan unites the Mongols, creating the Mongol Empire
The Mongol Empire emerged from the unification of several nomadic tribes in the Mongol homeland under the leadership of Genghis Khan, whom a council proclaimed ruler of all the Mongols in 1206.
Charlemagne is crowned Holy Roman Emperor
With his crowning, Charlemagne’s kingdom is officially recognized by the Papacy as the largest in Europe since the fall of the Roman Empire.
Wu Zetian becomes first female emperor of China
She reigned during the Tang Dynasty (618-907 CE) and was one of the most effective and controversial monarchs in China’s history.