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Jan 1, 700
Fignerprinting is Invented
Fingerprinting InventedBefore 700, there were few signs that fingerprinting was in use: surely, there was some indication that it was in use while the Egyptian Pyramids were being constructed in 2000 B.C. However, it wasn't until 650 A.D. that there were clear signs of fingerprinting, when China began to use it for personal identification. Used initially as a means of identification, fingerprinting has now taken on various other roles in society. -
Jan 1, 1100
First Law School
First Law School
Irnerius was a popular choice among students for teaching Roman law - particularly, Justinian's Code Corpus Juris. By the middle of the twelfth century, there were over 10 000 students enrolled. -
Jan 1, 1215
Magna Carta
Magna CartaMagna Carta
The Magna Carta served to provide the people with freedoms and rights such as fair taxes and habeas corpus. For the first time, it forced the King to obey laws. Possibly the most important law was ensuring that people could only be imprisoned by "lawful judgement of his peers or by the law of the land." -
English Bill of Rights
English Bill of Rights
The English Bill of Rights, which came before the American Bill of Rights, restricted the ultimate power of the Royal Family. For example, Parliament was now required to approve a monarch's decision to suspend laws or levy taxes. Freedom of elections and security from unjust punishment were also given. -
Salem Witch Trials
Salem Witch Trials The Salem Witch Trials, which occurred in Massachusetts, erupted as a result of numerous claims that women were practicing witchcraft. These claims spurred into a religious debacle, in which more than 300 people were accused and twenty were executed. -
The American Declaration of Independence
American Declaration of IndependenceThe American Declaration of Independence was created at the birth of the United States. Having just separated from Great Britain, the U.S. laid with this document the foundations for democracy. It stated that "all men are created equal" and stated that those in power would be decided by those being governed. Such a document was, at the time, revolutionary. After all, it was the first time that the theory that certain people possessed the power to rule others had not been obeyed. -
The Constitution of the United States of America
American Constitution
The Constitution was a tremendous breakthrough in American history. Signed on September 17, 1787 in Philadelphia, it served to provide the foundation for the first-ever republican government. The Constitution served to lay out the duties of the executive, legislative, and judicial branches. To this day, it remains a model for countries whose governments are becoming fully democratic. -
American Bill of Rights
American Bill of Rights
The American Constitution having been signed a mere four years prior, The American Bill of Rights was created to restrict the powers of the federal government. They became the first ten Amendments to the Constitution. Such rights as free speech and freedom of press and religion were introduced. -
Geneva Convention
Geneva Convention
The Geneva Convention was an extremely necessary document during a time of war. It provided people with the most minimal human rights, and although it was later followed by the Prisoner of War Convention, for the time being it successfully outlined basic requirements. It was the first time ever that such requirements had been laid out. -
Thirteenth Amendment
Thirteenth AmendmentThe Thirteenth Amendment served to abolish slavery in the United States. Having had a Thirteenth Amendment that served to legalize slavery rather than ban it only four years ago, Congress had come a long way in the years between 1861 and 1865. However, it was a largely Republican effort, as only four Democrats voted in favour of it. The Thirteen Amendment has had lasting effects on society today, as the United States continues to remain free of slavery.
