Emperor Gojong proclaims the Korea Empire
The Korean Empire was the last independent unified Korean state. It stood until Japan’s annexation of Korea in August 1910.
Modernity (1500 - 1945 C.E.)
Fritz Haber and Carl Bosch invent the Haber-Bosch Process allowing for mass-scale production of ammonia-based fertilizer
The Haber-Bosch process, is an artificial nitrogen fixation process and is the main industrial procedure for the production of ammonia today.
The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) is founded
The NAACP is a civil rights organization in the United States, formed in 1909 as an interracial endeavor to advance justice for African Americans by a group including W. E. B. Du Bois, Mary White Ovington, Moorfield Storey and Ida B. Wells.
The Ford Company invents the Model T, the first car affordable to the masses
Conceived by Henry Ford as practical, affordable transportation for the common man, it quickly became prized for its low cost, durability, versatility, and ease of maintenance.
Ugyen Wangchuck becomes the first king of Bhutan
Ugyen Wangchuck was the first Druk Gyalpo (King of Bhutan) from 1907–1926. In his lifetime he made great efforts to unite the country and gain the trust of the people.
19 Finnish women become the world’s first female parliamentarians
Lucina Hagman, Miina Sillanpää, Anni Huotari, Hilja Pärssinen, Hedvig Gebhard, Ida Aalle-Teljo, Mimmi Kanervo, Eveliina Ala-Kulju, Hilda Käkikoski, Liisi Kivioja, Sandra Lehtinen, Dagmar Neovius, Maria Raunio, Alexandra Gripenberg, Iida Vemmelpuu, Maria Laine, Jenny Upari and Hilma Räsänen became the first female MPs in the world after the Grand Principality of Finland became the first territory to give women full political rights.
Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsen becomes first to traverse the Arctic’s Northwest Passage
For centuries, European explorers sought a navigable passage as a possible trade route to Asia. An ice-bound northern route was discovered in 1850 by the Irish explorer Robert McClure.
José Batlle y Ordóñez brings a wide array of modern reforms to Uruguay
He was elected to the presidency for two terms, from 1903 until 1907 and from 1911 to 1915. He remains one of the most popular Uruguayan presidents. He is known for introducing unemployment compensation, eight-hour workdays, and universal suffrage, as well as free High School education.
Einstein publishes his special theory of relativity, proposing new concepts of space and time
In 1905, Albert Einstein determined that the laws of physics are the same for all non-accelerating observers, and that the speed of light in a vacuum was independent of the motion of all observers.
Wright Brothers invent first successful airplane
With over a thousand glides from atop Big Kill Devil Hill, the Wrights made themselves the first true pilots.