01score 72
Treaty of Versailles 1919
The Treaty of Versailles on June 28, 1919 formally ended World War I but planted the seeds for decades of resentment, economic collapse, and territorial disputes across Europe.
Reverse trending
Past events still shaping today.
Trending is what people are reading about right now. This is the opposite: events from the archive ranked by how much they still shape the present - through cause-and-effect to later events, the size of the chain they set off, and how recently that chain landed.
Below each entry: the downstream events in this archive that the ranking traces to, and the editorial line on why it’s still in the air.
The three most consequential
02score 64
American Civil War 1861
The American Civil War (1861–1865) killed more than 620,000 soldiers and fundamentally rewrote the nation's constitutional order, abolishing slavery through the 13th Amendment and forcing a violent reckoning over federalism that no political compromise could prevent.
Downstream in this archive
03score 54
Gulf War 1991
Operation Desert Storm in January–February 1991 was the first major U.S.
Downstream in this archive
The rest of the ladder
- 1156
Battle of Thermopylae 480
score 14Thermopylae transformed a military rout into a psychological victory.
- 1157
St. Bartholomew's Day Massacre 1572
score 14The massacre transformed the French Wars of Religion from political struggle into sectarian slaughter.
- 1158
Athenian Democracy Reforms 462
score 14Sits upstream of multiple events in this archive; the present still inherits its choices.
- 1159
Battle of Silk Road Routes Secured 138
score 14Sits upstream of multiple events in this archive; the present still inherits its choices.
- 1160
Concordat of Worms 1122
score 14Sits upstream of multiple events in this archive; the present still inherits its choices.
- 1161
Sack of Magdeburg 1631
score 14Sits upstream of multiple events in this archive; the present still inherits its choices.
- 1162
Battle of the Plains of Abraham 1759
score 14Sits upstream of multiple events in this archive; the present still inherits its choices.
- 1163
Treaty of Hubertusburg 1763
score 14Sits upstream of multiple events in this archive; the present still inherits its choices.
- 1164
Peace of Münster Signed 1648
score 14Sits upstream of multiple events in this archive; the present still inherits its choices.
- 1165
Coronation of Elizabeth I 1559
score 14Sits upstream of multiple events in this archive; the present still inherits its choices.
- 1166
U.S. Presidential Election of 1800 1800
score 14Sits upstream of multiple events in this archive; the present still inherits its choices.
- 1167
Peterloo Massacre 1819
score 14Sits upstream of multiple events in this archive; the present still inherits its choices.
- 1168
First Henley Royal Regatta 1839
score 14Sits upstream of multiple events in this archive; the present still inherits its choices.
- 1169
Battle of the Thames (War of 1812) 1813
score 14Sits upstream of multiple events in this archive; the present still inherits its choices.
- 1170
Grand National Steeplechase Founded 1836
score 14Sits upstream of multiple events in this archive; the present still inherits its choices.
- 1171
Penny Postage System Introduced 1840
score 14Sits upstream of multiple events in this archive; the present still inherits its choices.
- 1172
Carnot Cycle Formulated 1824
score 14Sits upstream of multiple events in this archive; the present still inherits its choices.
- 1173
Women's Suffrage in Australia 1901
score 14Sits upstream of multiple events in this archive; the present still inherits its choices.
- 1174
Modern Summer Games Expansion 1900
score 14Sits upstream of multiple events in this archive; the present still inherits its choices.
- 1175
Radio Act Regulates U.S. Broadcasting 1912
score 14Sits upstream of multiple events in this archive; the present still inherits its choices.
- 1176
Popular Front Victory in France 1936
score 14Sits upstream of multiple events in this archive; the present still inherits its choices.
- 1177
Eurovision Song Contest Inaugural Edition 1956
score 14Sits upstream of multiple events in this archive; the present still inherits its choices.
- 1178
Rosenbergs' Espionage Trial & Conviction 1951
score 14Sits upstream of multiple events in this archive; the present still inherits its choices.
- 1179
Elvis Presley's First Studio Recording 1953
score 14Sits upstream of multiple events in this archive; the present still inherits its choices.
