World Events · 1911
Revolutions, Rediscoveries, and the Race to the Pole
The year 1911 witnessed seismic shifts as ancient empires crumbled and modern industrial realities reshaped society. From daring polar expeditions to world-shaking revolutions, nations stood on the precipice of a dramatic new era.
- October 10, 1911 | China
The Xinhai Revolution Begins
The Wuchang Uprising sparked a nationwide revolution that ultimately collapsed the Qing Dynasty and ended over two millennia of imperial rule in China.
- December 14, 1911 | Antarctica
Roald Amundsen Reaches the South Pole
Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsen and his team became the first human beings to reach the Geographic South Pole, beating Robert Falcon Scott's expedition.
- March 25, 1911 | United States
Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire
A tragic blaze in New York City claimed 146 garment workers' lives, exposing horrific working conditions and spurring widespread labor law reforms.
- August 21, 1911 | France
The Theft of the Mona Lisa
Louvre employee Vincenzo Peruggia walked out of the museum with Leonardo da Vinci's masterpiece hidden under his smock, launching a global sensation.
- July 24, 1911 | Peru
Scientific Rediscovery of Machu Picchu
Guided by local Quechua residents, American historian Hiram Bingham brought the spectacular, overgrown Inca citadel of Machu Picchu to world attention.
- July 1, 1911 | Morocco
The Agadir Crisis Escalates European Tensions
Germany dispatched the gunboat SMS Panther to the Moroccan port of Agadir, igniting a dangerous diplomatic confrontation with France and Britain.
- May 15, 1911 | United States
Standard Oil Broken Up by U.S. Supreme Court
In a landmark antitrust ruling, the U.S. Supreme Court ordered John D. Rockefeller's Standard Oil monopoly to be dissolved into 34 independent companies.
- September 29, 1911 | Libya & Italy
Outbreak of the Italo-Turkish War
Italy declared war on the Ottoman Empire to annex Tripoli, marking the first historic conflict to utilize airplanes for military reconnaissance and bombing.
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