Africa is a large and diverse continent that extends from South Africa northward to the Mediterranean Sea. The continent makes up one-fifth of the total land surface of Earth. Widely recognized as the birthplace of humankind, Africa saw the rise of great kingdoms, faced the trans-Atlantic slave trade, colonization and Apartheid.

U.S. Presidents

JFK becomes first president to hold live television news conference

1961

Sports

First Winter Olympics

1924

Asian History

Chairman Mao’s widow sentenced to death

1981

Cold War

Russia activates its nuclear command systems for the first time

1995

Crime

Charles Manson and his followers convicted of murder

1971

Italian auto baron Gianni Agnelli dies

2003

World War II

Thailand declares war on the United States and United Kingdom

1942

World War I

Montenegro capitulates to Austro-Hungarian forces

1916

Nixon reveals information about secret negotiations

1972

First plenary session of the formal Paris Peace talks is held

1969

First Winter Olympics begin in Chamonix, France

Pat Garrett leaves Louisiana

1869

Arts &amp; Entertainment

Paul McCartney is released from a Tokyo jail and deported from Japan

1980

Scottish poet Robert Burns is born

1759

First Emmy Awards ceremony

1949

1960s

Food

Julia Child’s “The French Chef” debuts

1963

First US cycling club formed

1878

21st Century

World Health Organization officially names novel coronavirus disease COVID-19

2020

Pop superstar Whitney Houston dies at age 48

2012

Space Exploration

Japan launches its first satellite

1970

Religion

St. Bernadette claims to see the Virgin Mary

1858

African History

Nelson Mandela released from prison

1990

Yalta Conference ends

1945

The “Channel Dash”

Russia’s General Kaledin dies by suicide

1918

Farm Gate aircraft crashes

1962

Underdog Buster Douglas knocks out Mike Tyson

FDR and daughter Anna leave Yalta Conference

Native American History

Sacagawea gives birth to her first child

1805

Voltaire returns to Paris from exile

1778

Africa is a large and diverse continent that is widely recognized as the birthplace of humankind. Africa saw the rise of great kingdoms, faced the trans-Atlantic slave trade, colonization and Apartheid.

Africa: Countries and Sub-Saharan Africa | HISTORY

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Discover what happened on February 16 with HISTORY's summaries of major events, anniversaries, famous births and notable deaths.

February 16

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History.com Editors

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February 11

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January 25

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November 6

African History ‑ Videos

This Day in History Video: What Happened on January 25

This Day in History Video: What Happened on February 11

This Day in History Video: What Happened on November 6

This Day in History Video: What Happened on February 16

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