Human Saga

On March 21

On March 21, 2 pivotal events are recorded in the Human Saga, including Promulgation of the Napoleonic Code (1804).

On this day

21 March 1804Promulgation of the Napoleonic CodePolitics & governance

On 21 March 1804 France promulgated the Civil Code of the French, soon known as the Code Napoléon.

21 March 1960Sharpeville massacreSocial & demographic

On 21 March 1960 South African police opened fire on a crowd of several thousand unarmed Black protesters outside the police station in the township of Sharpeville, in the Transvaal.

Also this week in history (Mar 18 – Mar 24)

1882 (Koch's tuberculosis bacillus, 24 March)Germ Theory of Disease Established by Pasteur and KochScience, technology & invention

The germ theory of disease holds that specific microorganisms such as bacteria invade the body and cause specific infectious illnesses, overturning the long-dominant miasma theory that attributed disease to bad air.

1600–1611 (VOC chartered 20 March 1602; exchange opened 1611)Joint-stock companies and the world's first stock exchangeEconomy & trade

Between 1600 and 1611 the institutional core of modern finance took shape in northwestern Europe.

20 March 2003The US-led invasion of IraqMilitary & conflict

On 20 March 2003 a US-led coalition including Britain, Australia and Poland invaded Iraq, opening with a 'shock and awe' bombing campaign aimed at the government of Saddam Hussein.

Get today's card / Share →