20 Moments That Shaped The World
Incredible Images Capture Moments That Changed Life As We Know It!
Moments that changed life as we know it, we don’t think about it much do we? But what if you were able to look at snapshots in history that represent truly incredible scenes that shaped our world? Time to dust off the history books because The British Council has formed a list of the top 80 moments and trends across the world in areas of global politics, culture, science, and education.
This list reflects the views of between 749 and 1,249 adults, aged 18-65 with a minimum of secondary level education in countries across the globe. The participants in Brazil, China, Egypt, Germany, India, Japan, Russia, South Africa, The UK & The US share their thoughts via a poll conducted by YouGov. Here we show you the top 20 images that represent the life-changing moments that shaped our world.
Strap yourselves in for around the world in 80 years (like what I did there?)
In 1932, Robert C. Wiles captured an unforgettable moment with his photograph of the 'Falling Man' at Rockefeller Center, revealing the fragility of life in a bustling metropolis, immortalizing a tragic moment in history.
#1. Invention Of The Worldwide Web In 1989-90
Probably the biggest game-changer of them all! The photograph shows Time Berners-Lee, posing next to a PC in this office in 1998.
#2. How To Mass Produce Penicillin – The Discovery Of The First Method 1943
Pharmacists fill culture flasks with a nutrient solution that allows penicillin mold to grown in 1943.
#3. Widespread Availability Of Home Computers
You couldn’t imagine a world without them, could you? This advert from UK magazine Spectrum from the 1980s is giving us nostalgic vibes.
#4. The United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights, 1948
Probably one of the most important pieces of documentation of our time, Eleanor Roosevelt holds the Universal Declaration Of Human Rights – she helped draft it too!
#5. September 11th , 2001 – The Terrorist Attacks In New York & Washington DC.
This is a moment that the world will never forget and still haunts us to this day. This image not only represents the thousands of lives lost but the emergence of terrorism as a major international phenomenon.
#6. Rise Of Global Awareness Of The Importance Of Environmental Protection/Conservation
The image shows British designer Vivienne Westwood campaigning with Greenpeace at Glastonbury Festival in 2014.
#7. Nelson Mandela’s Influence (1918-2013) On South African And International Politics And Society
Mandela was incarcerated at Robben Island prison for over 20 years. He stares out of a cell window whilst keeping all composure.
#8. The Break Up Of The Soviet Union in 1991
Here you can see Soviet army tanks parked up in Moscow’s’ Red Square after a coup has temporality overturned Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev.
#9. The Invention Of The Atomic Bomb And The Subsequent Bombings In Japan, 1945.
The image shows the mushroom cloud over Nagasaki, rising more than 60,000 feet. It killed between 39,000 and 80,000 people on the 9th of August 1945, one of the most devastating losses in humanity.
#10 Gender Equality Movements – Women Fighting For Rights Had Started To See Changes In Many Parts Of The World.
Females on strike in their place of work. Machinists from the Ford plant in Dagenham attended a women’s conference on equal rights in the industry in 1968.
#11. The Spread Of English As A Global Language
The image shows a sign outside of a shop in France letting customers know that they speak English.
#12. The Growth, Power & Influence Of Social Media
The big one, the second biggest game-changer and one that will live on in some form for years to come. The image shows a Tweet from Barack Obama on November 7th, 2012 in Rome after he was re-elected as president – those RT’s though!
#13. Satellite Technology And Its Impact On The Way We Live
The sky is full of them and they allow us to communicate globally, an incredible feat when you think about it, it’s hardly a conversation starter during happy hour, but it has changed the way we communicate with the world.
#14. The Holocaust
The word itself sends shivers down your spine. Another moment in time of mass human loss in Nazi-occupied Europe, the image shows families being forced out of their homes by Germans in Warsaw, Poland.
#15. The Development, Reliance & Widespread Adoption Of The Mobile Phone
This incredible image shows young Monks gathering around a smartphone in Bagan, Myanmar. They will only become more and more advanced and more easily accessible as time goes on.
#16. The Human Genome Project – Completed in 2001, It Mapped The Genetic Structure Of The Human Body.
“…the HGP gave us the ability, for the first time, to read nature's complete genetic blueprint for building a human being.” The image shows a visitor looking at a digital representation of the human genome at the American Museum of Natural History in NYC.
#17. The ‘Open Door’ Policy by Deng Xiapoing Started The Economic Transformation of China In 1978.
The image shows tourists standing in front of a painting of the late leader.
#18. The Beginning Of The Second World War – The Invasion Of Poland September 1st, 1939.
An action that was justified by Nazi propaganda as a means of defense against Poland’s ‘plans’ to attack Germany. A newsvendor stands with posters, depicting the headlines.
#19. The Development Of Nuclear Energy
A poster for an Atomic Power Plant circa 1939.
#20. The Work & Influence Of Albert Einstein, 1879-1955
Most known for his theory of relativity, Physicist Albert Einstein is captured here in probably his most famous photograph, on his 72nd birthday on March 14th, 1951.
Next Up, A Day In The Life Of A Rebel
(images via The Guardian)
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