Soviets Invade Afghanistan: A Decade of Suffering Begins
Soviet forces finally withdrew from Afghanistan in February 1989 after a decade-long quagmire that drained Moscow's finances and shattered its global standing. This military failure accelerated the collapse of the Soviet Union just two years later while simultaneously creating the fertile ground for modern terrorism to rise under figures like Osama bin Laden.
December 24, 1979
47 years ago
Key Figures & Places
What Else Happened on December 24
Emperor Wu of Liang elevated his eldest son, Xiao Tong, to heir designate, cementing the succession of the Liang dynasty. This decision ensured the continuity o…
The dome collapsed. Five years of work, gone in seconds. Justinian's architects had pushed Roman engineering to its limit — a dome 180 feet across, floating on …
A Syrian priest becomes the first pope from the Eastern Church. John IV takes the throne during a theological bloodbath — the Monothelite controversy has bishop…
Several months of vacancy. No pope, no guidance, and Rome's clergy couldn't agree. Then they chose John, a Dalmatian from what's now Croatia — rare for a pontif…
Du Fu fled the chaos of the An Lushan Rebellion, seeking refuge in Chengdu under the hospitality of his friend Pei Di. This relocation sparked a period of immen…
Jawhar's Fatimid forces crush the Qarmatians at the gates of Cairo, ending their first invasion attempt and securing the city for the new dynasty. This decisive…
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