Human Saga

On March 24

On March 24, the Human Saga records one pivotal event: Germ Theory of Disease Established by Pasteur and Koch (1882).

On this day

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.

Also this week in history (Mar 21 – Mar 27)

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.

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.

26 March – 16 December 1971Bangladesh Liberation War and independenceMilitary & conflict

The Bangladesh Liberation War arose from Bengali demands for self-determination in East Pakistan after the Pakistani military, under Yahya Khan, refused to honour the 1970 election won by the Awami League and launched Operation Searchlight…

26 March 2015Saudi-led intervention in Yemen beginsMilitary & conflict

On 26 March 2015 a Saudi-led coalition launched airstrikes against Houthi rebels in Yemen, intervening on behalf of the internationally recognised government of President Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi.

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