This Day In History, July 21st.

Five Historical Events That Happened on July 21st

  • A significant earthquake that caused extensive damage and a wave that wiped out Alexandria, Egypt's harbor city, occurred in 365 AD in the eastern Mediterranean. Over 50,000 individuals are said to have died as a result of this incident.

  • The Battle of Bull Run, commonly referred to as the First Battle of Manassas, took place in 1861, not far from Manassas, Virginia. This was the Confederate side's first significant success in a ground engagement of the conflict.

  • As part of the Apollo 11 mission, American astronaut Neil Armstrong became the first person to step foot on the moon in 1969. When Armstrong first set foot on the moon, he said, "That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind."

  • Turkey's invasion of Cyprus in 1974 led to a protracted battle that lasted for many years. Fears about the safety of the Turkish minority on the island led to the invasion, and Turkey eventually formed a de facto state in the northern portion of Cyprus.

  • 77 people were killed in a terrorist assault that Anders Behring Breivik committed in Norway in 2011. Breivik killed eight people with a bombing in Oslo before killing 69 more people with a shooting spree at a youth camp on the island of Utya.

In 365 AD, a massive earthquake struck the eastern Mediterranean, causing widespread damage and a tsunami that devastated the port city of Alexandria in Egypt. It is estimated that over 50,000 people lost their lives in this event.

One of the worst earthquakes in recorded history occurred in 365 AD. A strong earthquake and associated tsunami are thought to have been brought on by the subduction of the African tectonic plate beneath the Eurasian plate. The earthquake caused substantial damage and fatalities in coastal regions, especially in Alexandria, and was felt throughout the eastern Mediterranean region. Over 50,000 people are said to have died as a result of the earthquake and tsunami.

In 1861, during the American Civil War, the Battle of Bull Run (also known as the First Battle of Manassas) was fought near Manassas, Virginia. This was the first major land battle of the war and resulted in a Confederate victory.

Early in the American Civil War, on July 21, 1861, a battle known as the Battle of Bull Run, commonly referred to as the First Battle of Manassas, took place close to Manassas, Virginia. Confederate forces won the first significant ground combat of the conflict. General Irvin McDowell's Union army suffered a serious setback and was had to flee to Washington, DC. The fight is noteworthy for demonstrating the cruelty and complexity of contemporary warfare and for laying the groundwork for a protracted and violent confrontation that would last for a further four years.

In 1969, American astronaut Neil Armstrong became the first human to set foot on the moon as part of the Apollo 11 mission. Armstrong's famous words upon stepping onto the lunar surface were: "That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind."

The Apollo 11 mission's commander, American astronaut Neil Armstrong, made history on July 21, 1969, when he set foot on the moon for the first time. Armstrong said the now-famous line, "That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind," as he became the first person to set foot on the moon after descending the ladder of the Eagle lunar module. One of the most crucial moments in the history of science and technology, Armstrong's historic accomplishment represented a key turning point for human space exploration.

In 1974, Turkey invaded Cyprus, sparking a conflict that would last for several years. The invasion was prompted by concerns about the safety of the Turkish minority on the island, and Turkey ultimately established a de facto state in the northern part of Cyprus.

Turkey began a military invasion of Cyprus, an island country ruled at the time by Greek Cypriots. Turkey eventually formed a de facto state in the northern half of Cyprus after the invasion was sparked by worries about the safety of the island's Turkish Cypriot minority. Tens of thousands of residents were forced to flee the conflict's aftermath, and the island was split in two, with a UN-managed buffer zone still existing between them. Greece, Turkey, and the Cypriot populations continue to disagree over the conflict, and there have long been efforts to bring the island back together.

In 2011, Anders Behring Breivik carried out a terrorist attack in Norway that resulted in the deaths of 77 people. Breivik detonated a bomb in Oslo, killing eight people, before going on a shooting rampage at a youth camp on the island of Utøya, where he killed 69 more.

Right-wing extremist Anders Behring Breivik committed two terrorist assaults in Norway on July 22, 2011. He initially set off a bomb in Oslo, which resulted in the deaths of eight people and serious damage to many government structures, including the Prime Minister's office. Then, after arriving on the island of Utya, he went on a shooting spree at a youth camp run by the country's ruling Labour Party, murdering 69 people—most of them youths. With its savagery and focus on young people, the assault stunned the whole globe and was the bloodiest in Norway since globe War II. Breivik was detained and subsequently given a 21-year sentence, which may be prolonged forever if it is determined that he still poses a threat to society. In Norway, the incident spurred a national discussion about immigration, right-wing extremism, and how to strike a balance between personal liberties and security.

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This Day In History, July 22nd.

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This Day In History, July 20th.