Explore a timeline of remarkable technological innovations and historical events, from the steam engine to modern-day wonders. Discover how people have rapidly achieved ambitious goals together with more impressive examples of collaboration on Fast.
- 2.6 million years ago: The Pleistocene Epoch (most recent Ice Age)An epoch characterized by repeated glaciations.
- 500: Fall of the Roman EmpireThe decline and fall of the Western Roman Empire.
- 1602: First-ever common stock establishedThe Dutch East India Company introduced the first-ever common stock on the Amsterdam Stock Exchange.
- 1712: Invention of the Steam EngineThomas Newcomen invented the first practical steam engine.
- 1727: Formation of Benjamin Franklin's Junto ClubIn 1727, Benjamin Franklin founded the Junto Club, also known as the Leather Apron Club or the Mutual Improvement Club, in Philadelphia. The Junto was a group of like-minded individuals who gathered weekly to discuss and debate various topics ranging from philosophy and politics to business and community service. Comprised of tradesmen, artisans, and intellectuals, the Junto aimed to promote mutual improvement, civic responsibility, and social betterment. It served as a forum for exchanging ideas, networking, and initiating community projects. The Junto Club played a pivotal role in Franklin's personal and professional development, fostering his lifelong commitment to self-improvement, public service, and civic engagement.
- 1764: Invention of the Spinning JennyJames Hargreaves invented the Spinning Jenny, a multi-spindle spinning frame.
- 1800: Invention of the BatteryAlessandro Volta invented the voltaic pile, the first battery.
- 1804: Invention of the Railway LocomotiveRichard Trevithick built the first full-scale working railway steam locomotive.
- 1838: Invention of Morse CodeSamuel Morse invented Morse Code.
- 1851: White settlers came to Seattle areaEuropean-American settlers established the first permanent European-American settlement in the area that would become Seattle.
- 1867: Invention of DynamiteAlfred Nobel invents dynamite, a high-explosive material used in construction, mining, and warfare, revolutionizing industries worldwide.
- 1869: Goldman Sachs was foundedMarcus Goldman and Samuel Sachs founded Goldman Sachs.
- 1876: Invention of the TelephoneAlexander Graham Bell invented the telephone.
- 1877: Invention of the PhonographThomas Edison invented the phonograph.
- 1889: Seattle’s Great FireA fire destroyed the central business district of Seattle.
- 1890: Madison Square GardenThe first Madison Square Garden opened.
- 1893: The Panic of 1893A serious economic depression in the United States.
- mid-1990: U.S. recessionA period of economic downturn in the United States.
- 1902: Air conditioningWillis Carrier invented modern air conditioning.
- 1903: Invention of the Airplane and the Flatiron BuildingThe Wright brothers achieved the first powered, sustained, and controlled airplane flight. The Flatiron Building in New York City was completed.
- 1906: 1906 San Francisco earthquakeA major earthquake struck San Francisco.
- 1914 - 1918: World War IA global war primarily involving Europe.
- 1915: Invention of the Tracer BulletThe concept of the tracer bullet, a bullet that leaves a visible trace of its trajectory, was invented.
- 1921: The discovery of InsulinFrederick Banting and Charles Best discovered insulin.
- 1923: Electric refrigerationFrigidaire introduced the first electric refrigerator.
- 1925: Chrysler was foundedWalter Chrysler founded the Chrysler Corporation.
- 1929: Start of Empire State Building construction and Great DepressionConstruction of the Empire State Building began. The Great Depression started.
- 1931: Completion of Empire State Building and Invention of VinylThe Empire State Building was completed. Vinyl was invented.
- 1933: Start of the Golden Gate Bridge construction and Adolf Hitler becomes Chancellor of GermanyConstruction of the Golden Gate Bridge began. Adolf Hitler became Chancellor of Germany.
- 1935: Opening of Tsukiji MarketTsukiji Market, one of the largest wholesale fish and seafood markets in the world, opened in Tokyo, Japan.
- 1936: Geico was foundedLeo Goodwin Sr. and his wife Lillian founded the Government Employees Insurance Company (GEICO).
- 1937: Completion of the Golden Gate BridgeThe Golden Gate Bridge was completed.
- 1939 - 1945: World War IIA global war involving most of the world's nations.
- 1941: Start of the Manhattan ProjectThe Manhattan Project, a research and development undertaking during World War II that produced the first nuclear weapons, began.
- 1945: Production of the world’s first Atomic bomb and bombings of Hiroshima and NagasakiThe United States produced the world’s first atomic bomb. Atomic bombs were dropped on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
- 1947: Invention of the TransistorJohn Bardeen, Walter Brattain, and William Shockley invented the transistor.
- 1950: Introduction of the First Credit CardThe Diners Club issued the first credit card.
- 1956: Refrigeration and Start of the Interstate Highway System constructionThe Interstate Highway System construction began. Refrigeration technology improved significantly.
- 1957: Traitorous eight and Launch of Sputnik 1The Traitorous Eight, a group of engineers who left Shockley Semiconductor Laboratory, formed Fairchild Semiconductor. The Soviet Union launched Sputnik 1, the first artificial Earth satellite.
- 1958: Inception of BankAmericard (Predecessor to Visa)Dee Hock was given 90 days to launch the BankAmericard card (which became the Visa card), starting from scratch. He did. In that period, he signed up more than 100,000 customers.
- 1961: Start of NASA’s Apollo ProgramNASA initiated the Apollo Program, which aimed to land humans on the Moon.
- 1964: Launch of the First ShinkansenOn October 1, 1964, the first Shinkansen, known as the 'Bullet Train,' was launched in Japan. This high-speed rail network initially connected Tokyo and Osaka, covering a distance of 515 kilometers. The Shinkansen revolutionized rail travel with its cutting-edge technology, including dedicated tracks, aerodynamically-designed trains, and advanced signaling systems. With maximum speeds reaching up to 210 km/h (130 mph) at the time of its launch, the Shinkansen significantly reduced travel time between major cities and set new standards for speed, efficiency, and safety in rail transportation. The success of the Shinkansen paved the way for the development of high-speed rail networks worldwide.
- 1965: First 20,000 miles of road open for drivingThe first 20,000 miles of the Interstate Highway System were opened for driving.
- 1969: Moon Landing and Invention of Gore-TexThe United States Apollo 11 mission landed the first humans on the Moon. Gore-Tex, a waterproof, breathable fabric, was invented by Wilbert L. Gore.
- 1971: Invention of the Microprocessor, Birth of Email, and US abandonment of the gold standardIntel introduced the first microprocessor. Ray Tomlinson sent the first network email. The United States abandoned the gold standard.
- 1972: First 12 men landed on the moonThe Apollo 17 mission was the last manned lunar landing mission.
- 1973: Introduction of the Xerox GUIXerox introduced the first graphical user interface (GUI).
- 1975: Development of Internet protocol suiteVint Cerf and Bob Kahn developed the TCP/IP protocol suite.
- 1976: Founding of Apple and Coining of the term ‘meme’Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak, and Ronald Wayne founded Apple Inc. Richard Dawkins coined the term ‘meme’ in his book ‘The Selfish Gene’.
- 1978: Invention of the 401(k)The Revenue Act of 1978 included a provision allowing employees to defer compensation into retirement accounts.
- 1979: Development of the Light BulbThomas Edison invented the incandescent light bulb.
- 1980: Latin American debt crisis and Implementation of China’s one-child policyMany Latin American countries faced severe debt crises. China implemented its one-child policy.
- 1981: Accidental Invention of the 401(k) and Release of Hakushu 1981 whiskyTed Benna discovered a loophole in the Revenue Act of 1978, leading to the creation of the 401(k) retirement savings plan. Hakushu 1981 whisky was released by the Suntory distillery.
- 1984: Introduction of the First Model PhoneMotorola introduced the DynaTAC 8000X, the first commercially available handheld mobile phone.
- 1985: Shift in popularity of majors at Stanford and Apple’s internal politicsEconomics became the most popular major at Stanford University. Steve Jobs was ousted from Apple Inc. The Convention between Malaysia and Japan for the Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with respect to Taxes on Income was signed.
- 1989: Fall of the Berlin Wall, Tiananmen Square crackdown, and Loma Prieta earthquakeThe Berlin Wall fell, symbolizing the end of the Cold War. The Chinese government suppressed pro-democracy demonstrations in Tiananmen Square. The Loma Prieta earthquake struck the San Francisco Bay Area.
- 1990s: Japanese debt crisisJapan faced a severe economic downturn due to a debt crisis.
- 1991: Invention of the World Wide WebTim Berners-Lee invented the World Wide Web.
- 1992: End of the Japanese debt crisis recoveryThe Japanese economy emerged from the debt crisis.
- 1993: Release of Mosaic browser and Death of Ferruccio LamborghiniThe Mosaic web browser was officially released. Ferruccio Lamborghini, founder of the luxury sports car brand Lamborghini, passed away.
- 1994: Transformation of Mosaic into Netscape and Release of Navigator appMosaic Communications Corporation was renamed Netscape Communications Corporation. Netscape released its Navigator web browser.
- 1994: Emergence of Internet CafésIn 1994, the concept of internet cafes began to gain popularity, particularly in urban areas and tourist destinations. Internet cafes, also known as cybercafés, offered public access to computers connected to the internet for a fee, allowing individuals without personal computers or internet connections at home to browse the web, send emails, and engage in online activities. Internet cafes played a crucial role in bridging the digital divide and democratizing access to information and online communication. They served as social hubs where people could gather, work, socialize, and access digital resources. Internet cafes experienced a surge in popularity during the late 1990s and early 2000s before declining in prevalence with the widespread adoption of personal computers, home internet connections, and mobile devices.
- 1995: Netscape IPONetscape Communications Corporation went public.
- 1996: Development of Deep Blue and IPO of Yahoo!IBM's Deep Blue defeated Garry Kasparov in a chess match. Yahoo! Inc. went public.
- 1997: Asian financial crisis, Launch of Amazon, and Founding of NetflixSeveral Asian economies faced financial crises. Amazon.com, Inc. went public. Netflix, Inc. was founded.
- 1998: Ruble crisis, Founding of Google, and Introduction of the Roth IRARussia experienced a financial crisis. Larry Page and Sergey Brin founded Google. The Roth IRA was established.
- 1998-2000: Dot-com mania and Silicon Valley gold rushThe dot-com bubble saw rapid growth in internet-based companies and investments. Silicon Valley experienced a surge in technological innovation and investment.
- 2000: Long-Term Capital Management blowup and Bursting of the dot-com bubbleThe collapse of Long-Term Capital Management led to financial instability. The dot-com bubble burst, leading to a sharp decline in stock prices.
- 2001: Aftermath of 9/11 attacks and Introduction of the iPodThe September 11 attacks led to economic and geopolitical consequences. Apple Inc. introduced the iPod portable media player.
- 2002: Bottoming out of NASDAQ and Sale of PayPal to eBayThe NASDAQ Composite index reached its lowest point since its peak during the dot-com bubble. PayPal Holdings, Inc. was acquired by eBay Inc.
- 2003: Founding of Philz CoffeePhil Jaber founded Philz Coffee, a specialty coffee retailer.
- 2004: Launch of FacebookMark Zuckerberg and his college roommates launched Facebook, Inc.
- 2005: Launch of YouTube and Addition of Section 409A to the Internal Revenue CodeYouTube, LLC was founded. Section 409A, a provision of the Internal Revenue Code, was added to regulate deferred compensation.
- 2007: Introduction of the iPhone and Start of the Great RecessionApple Inc. released the iPhone smartphone. The Great Recession began with the subprime mortgage crisis.
- 2008: Financial crisis and Start of Tesla Roadster productionThe financial crisis triggered by the subprime mortgage collapse led to a global recession. Tesla, Inc. began production of the Tesla Roadster, its first electric car model.
- 2009: Collapse of the Madoff Ponzi scheme and End of the Great RecessionBernard Madoff's Ponzi scheme collapsed, causing financial losses for investors. The Great Recession officially ended.
- 2010: Introduction of the iPadApple Inc. released the iPad tablet computer.
- 2012: Launch of the Tesla Model STesla, Inc. released the Model S electric sedan.
- 2013: Twitter goes public and Growth of U.S. retirement accountsTwitter, Inc. went public with its initial public offering (IPO). U.S. retirement accounts reached a total of $27 trillion.
- 2016: Crisis in VenezuelaVenezuela faced a severe economic and political crisis.
- 2019: Retirement of Lee SedolLee Sedol, a top professional Go player, announced his retirement, citing the increasing dominance of artificial intelligence (AI).
- 2024: End of negative interest rates by the Bank of JapanThe Bank of Japan (BOJ) ended its policy of negative interest rates.
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