Europa
- 1143 – Portugal Recognized as a Kingdom: With the signing of the Treaty of Zamora, King Alfonso VII of León and Castile recognized Portugal as a kingdom, marking a pivotal moment in the nation’s history.
- 1450 – Expulsion of Jews from Bavaria: Louis IX, Duke of Bavaria, expelled Jews from his jurisdiction, reflecting the turbulent history of Jewish communities in medieval Europe.
- 1789 – Women’s March on Versailles (French Revolution): Women in Paris marched to Versailles to confront King Louis XVI, a turning point that forced the royal family to move to Paris and diminished royal authority.
- 1908 – Bulgaria Declares Independence: Bulgaria formally proclaimed its independence from the Ottoman Empire, ending centuries of Ottoman rule and reshaping the Balkan political landscape.
- 1910 – Portugal Becomes a Republic: A successful revolution overthrew King Manuel II, abolishing the monarchy and establishing the Portuguese Republic.
- 1938 – Czech President Edvard Beneš Resigns: Amid growing threats from Nazi Germany and the Munich Agreement’s fallout, President Beneš resigned and fled Czechoslovakia.
- 1964 – Mass Escape from East to West Berlin: Fifty-seven East German refugees tunneled under the Berlin Wall, marking the largest mass escape since the Wall’s construction.
- 1968 – Start of the Troubles in Northern Ireland: Police violence against civil rights demonstrators in Derry is widely considered the beginning of the Troubles, a decades-long conflict in Northern Ireland.
- 1973 – European Patent Convention Signed: The signing of this convention established a unified procedure for granting European patents, impacting innovation and industry across the continent.
- 2000 – Bulldozer Revolution in Yugoslavia: Massive protests in Belgrade led to the overthrow of Slobodan Milošević, marking a turning point in Serbian and Balkan politics.
America
- Battle of the Thames (1813):
During the War of 1812, U.S. forces led by General William Henry Harrison defeated a British-Indian coalition near present-day Chatham, Ontario. The renowned Shawnee leader Tecumseh was killed in this battle, which marked a turning point in the war and weakened Native American resistance in the Northwest Territory. - Surrender of Chief Joseph (1877):
After a 1,700-mile retreat, Chief Joseph of the Nez Perce surrendered to U.S. Cavalry at Bear Paw, Montana, just short of the Canadian border. His surrender marked the end of the Nez Perce War and is remembered for his famous words: “From where the sun now stands, I will fight no more forever”. - First Radio Broadcast of the World Series (1921):
The World Series was broadcast on radio for the first time, with WJZ in Newark relaying a play-by-play account of the opening game, making baseball accessible to fans across the country. - First Televised Presidential Address (1947):
President Harry S. Truman delivered the first televised address from the White House, urging Americans to conserve food to aid postwar Europe. - Earl Warren Sworn in as Chief Justice (1953):
Earl Warren was sworn in as the 14th Chief Justice of the United States, beginning a tenure marked by landmark decisions on civil rights and liberties. - Clinton High School Bombing (1958):
Clinton High School in Tennessee, which had been racially desegregated, was mostly destroyed in a bombing, highlighting the tensions during the Civil Rights Movement. - First Canadian in Space (1984):
Marc Garneau became the first Canadian astronaut, flying aboard the Space Shuttle Challenger on mission STS-41-G. - Iran-Contra Affair Begins (1986):
A U.S. plane carrying arms to Nicaraguan Contras was shot down by Sandinistas, leading to the capture of Eugene Hasenfus and sparking the Iran-Contra scandal that would embroil the Reagan administration.
Asia
- Mekong River Massacre (2011):
Two Chinese cargo ships were attacked in the Golden Triangle region (on the Mekong River bordering Myanmar and Thailand), resulting in the murder of 13 Chinese crew members. This was the deadliest attack on Chinese nationals abroad in modern times and led to increased regional anti-drug cooperation and joint river patrols by China, Myanmar, Thailand, and Laos. - Launch of India’s Aakash Tablet (2011):
India launched the Aakash tablet, billed as the world’s cheapest touch-screen tablet computer, priced at $35. The device was intended to boost e-learning and digital access for Indian students. - World Teachers’ Day:
October 5 is celebrated internationally as World Teachers’ Day, honoring the contributions and importance of teachers in society. The day is widely observed across Asia, including in India, to recognize the vital role educators play in shaping future generations. - Ashgabat Earthquake (1948):
One of the world’s deadliest earthquakes struck Ashgabat, Turkmenistan (then part of the Soviet Union), killing between 10,000 and 110,000 people. The disaster also caused significant damage in neighboring Iran. - 1676: The English King granted the East India Company the right to exchange Indian currency in Mumbai, a significant moment in colonial economic history.
- 1989: Meera Sahib Biwi became the first woman judge of the Supreme Court of India.
- 2011: The world’s cheapest tablet, Aakash, was launched in India.
- 1989: The Dalai Lama was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his advocacy of peaceful solutions and the preservation of Tibetan culture.
- 2011: The death of Steve Jobs, though a global event, had a significant impact on Asia’s technology and business sectors.
Africa
- Unveiling of the Ugandan Independence Day Monument (1962)
On October 5, 1962, the Ugandan Independence Day monument was unveiled in Kampala. This event symbolized Uganda’s imminent independence from British colonial rule, which was officially declared just days later, on October 9, 1962. - World Teachers’ Day
October 5 is observed as World Teachers’ Day, celebrated across Africa to honor the vital contributions of educators to society and national development.
This day in history: 5 october