“Study history, study history. In history lies all the secrets of statecraft.”
Confucius, Chinese teacher and philosopher
1. The world’s first programmable, fully automatic computer was presented
On this day in history in 1941 The world’s first programmable, fully automatic computer was presented. The Z3 was designed by German inventor, Konrad Zuse. The original machine was destroyed in an air raid. A replica can be seen at the Deutsches Museum in Munich.
2. A Spanish priest attempted to assassinate Pope John Paul II
On this day in history in 1982 A Spanish priest attempted to assassinate Pope John Paul II. Juan María Fernández y Krohn opposed the reforms initiated by the Second Vatican Council and believed that the Pope was a Communist agent. John Paul II escaped with minor injuries.
3. The Nagorno-Karabakh conflict ended
On this day in history in 1994 The Nagorno-Karabakh conflict ended
With the signing of the Bishkek Protocol a week earlier, Armenian and Azerbaijani diplomats had formalized the ceasefire that went into effect on May 12. The conflict itself remains unsolved.
4. Violent clashes followed the killing of four protesters in Jakarta, Indonesia
On this day in history in 1998 Violent clashes follow the killing of four protesters in Jakarta, Indonesia. The riots eventually led to the resignation of President Suharto.
5. A massive earthquake rocked China
On this day in history in 2008 A massive earthquake rocked China.
The magnitude 7.9 quake left some 69,000 people dead, 18,000 missing, and 4.8 million homeless. It was the deadliest earthquake in China since 1976 when the Tangshan earthquake killed over 240,000 people.
