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1571 - Battle of Lepanto, one of many wars in that era that made Europe a Christian continent instead of an Islamic colony. It was this close ><.

1777 - Second Battle of Saratoga. After this battle, it was all downhill for the American forces, though many brave heroes lost their lives.

1949 - The German Democratic Republic (East Germany) was established.

The Russkies had occupied the eastern part of Germany, including East Berlin, at the end of WW II.
The Russkies had a very valid grudge. Their client state in East Germany had the highest GDP, the highest productivity, and the highest standard of living in the Warsaw Pact countries.

Even so, it was among the cruelist police states in history and an order of magnitude poorer in every respect than West Germany.

East Germany ceased to exist in 1990. RIP, little mourned and probably not long remembered.

1985 - The Italian cruise ship Achille Lauro was hijacked by Palestinian terrorists who later killed a disabled American Jewish passenger, Leon Klinghoffer, and then threw his body overboard.

Few of the perpetrators were met with justice in this life. Maybe they will be surprised at their warm welcome in the next.

- Jim

2001 - U.S. and British forces launched bombing campaign against Taliban government and al-Qaeda terrorist camps in Afghanistan.

seamusTX wrote:1571 - Battle of Lepanto, one of many wars in that era that made Europe a Christian continent instead of an Islamic colony. It was this close ><.

To me, it's wild to think that things like this could have changed the world as we know it today. It's reminds me of the butterfly effect; one flap of a butterfly's wings could change the weather forever. What might seem like "little" things in history actually have an enourmous impact on why things are the way they are or arn't. Just a thought...

Wisewr wrote:To me, it's wild to think that things like this could have changed the world as we know it today. It's reminds me of the butterfly effect;

Yep. There have been of these "horseshoe nail" incidents in history.

There's a fascinating book, The Years of Rice and Salt, by Kim Stanley Robinson, that explores what might have happened if the Black Plague had killed off the European population to the point where it collapsed.

- Jim