Human Saga

On March 22

No pivotal events are recorded on exactly March 22 in the Human Saga — here is the surrounding week in history.

This week in history (Mar 19 – Mar 25)

25 March 1807Britain abolishes the transatlantic slave tradePolitics & governance

On 25 March 1807 the Slave Trade Act received royal assent, making it illegal for British subjects and British ships to engage in the transatlantic trade in enslaved Africans; the ban took effect on 1 May 1807.

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.

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.

25 March 1957 (in force 1 January 1958)Treaty of Rome establishes the European Economic CommunityEconomy & trade

On 25 March 1957 Belgium, France, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and West Germany signed the Treaty of Rome, establishing the European Economic Community (EEC); a parallel treaty created the European Atomic Energy Community (Euratom).

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.

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.

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