ON THIS DAY

EVENTS FROM THIS DAY IN HISTORY VISUALISED BY AI

futurustic_style_collage_of_famous_historical_landmarks history ai

a_modern_dynamic_world_map_with_key_historical_landmarks and historic figures history ai

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NOVEMBER 20

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In 762, Bögü Qaghan led the powerful Uyghur cavalry to capture Luoyang, the imperial capital of China’s Tang Dynasty. The Uyghurs had been summoned as allies, but their dominance soon shifted to occupation. The conquest marked a rare moment when nomadic horsemen dictated terms to one of history’s greatest civilizations, reflecting the turbulent alliances and betrayals that shaped the vast Silk Road empires.

Early morning mist over rolling plains outside Luoyang, 762 CE, ranks of Uyghur horsemen in ornate

762 – Khan of the Uyghurs, Bögü Qaghan, Conquers Luoyang, the Capital of the Chinese Empire

Uyghur cavalry riding through Luoyang’s grand city gates under a gray sky

Twilight over makeshift Uyghur military camp outside Luoyang’s massive city walls

In 1521, a strange accusation circulated in Jerusalem. Arab officials blamed a city-wide water shortage on the Jewish community’s alleged wine production, believing precious water was being diverted for vineyards. Though the claim had no scientific basis, it exposed deep social and religious tensions in the Ottoman-controlled city, reflecting how natural crises were often twisted into weapons of prejudice and scapegoating.

Hot afternoon, 1521, narrow streets of Ottoman-era Jerusalem

1521 – Arabs Attribute Shortage of Water in Jerusalem to Jews Making Wine

Bustling open-air market near Jaffa Gate

alm golden sunset casting long shadows over Jerusalem’s walled Old City

On November 20th, the whaling ship Essex was rammed and sunk by a massive sperm whale in the remote southern Pacific. Adrift and starving, the surviving crew faced unthinkable choices, with only eight men ultimately rescued. The horrifying ordeal of survival and cannibalism later inspired Herman Melville’s legendary novel Moby-Dick, a haunting tale born from this maritime nightmare.

Bright midday in the open Pacific, early 19th century, the whaling ship Essex navigating

1820 – The Whaling Ship Essex Meets Its Doom by a Furious Whale

Dramatic scene under stormy skies, the ship Essex listing sharply as it encounters rough seas

ilent desolation at dawn, small whaleboats floating alone in the vast ocean

In a burst of inspiration, journalist Geo Lefevre and cycling promoter Henri Desgrange plotted a bold new event over lunch: the Tour de France. Designed to boost newspaper sales, the race would become the world’s most famous cycling competition. What began as a publicity stunt in 1902 soon evolved into an annual test of human endurance, stamina, and sheer determination across punishing French landscapes.

Parisian café interior, 1902, journalist Geo Lefevre and Henri Desgrange seated at a small table

1902 – Geo Lefevre and Henri Desgrange Create the Tour de France Bicycle Race

Early dawn at a cobblestone road outside Paris, dozens of cyclists in wool jerseys and caps

High alpine pass in southern France under blazing sun

In 1914, the U.S. State Department quietly introduced a now-standard travel requirement: passport photos. With World War I erupting and borders tightening, photographs became essential for identification. This simple policy change revolutionized international travel, creating the first visual travel document system. Today, millions carry the legacy of that decision in their wallets, tucked into passports stamped with the record of their journeys.