1292⚡ Event
Marco Polo begins journey home
Marco Polo began his journey home from China after many years of travel.
explorationeconomics
This Week in History: Week 22
May 27 – June 2
Over 107 historical moments took place during these 7 days of the calendar year. Explore our curated digest of the most world-changing events, iconic births, and notable deaths.
Explore the Full Daily Timelines
Major Events (May 27 – June 2)(20)
1292⚡ Event
Mongol conquest of Song Dynasty China completed
Kublai Khan completed the Mongol conquest of the Song Dynasty, establishing the Yuan Dynasty in China.
warpolitics
1953⚡ Event
Mount Everest Conquered
Edmund Hillary of New Zealand and Tenzing Norgay, a Nepali Sherpa, become the first climbers confirmed to have reached the summit of Mount Everest. They achieved this feat on the expedition's final day.
explorationsports
1953⚡ Event
First ascent of Mount Everest
Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay became the first climbers confirmed to have reached the summit of Mount Everest.
explorationsports
1954⚡ Event
Diane Leather Breaks Five-Minute Mile Barrier
Diane Leather became the first woman to run a mile in less than five minutes. This achievement marked a significant milestone in women's athletics.
sports
1969⚡ Event
Curaçao Uprising
A demonstration by workers and activists on the Caribbean island of Curaçao escalated into a violent uprising, destroying much of Willemstad.
politicsdisaster
1972⚡ Event
Lod Airport Massacre
Members of the Japanese Red Army carried out the Lod Airport massacre in Tel Aviv, Israel, killing over 20 people and injuring almost 80 others.
war
1982⚡ Event
Falklands War nuclear weapons decision
The British War Cabinet ordered that nuclear depth bombs on British ships return home during the Falklands War.
warpolitics
1987⚡ Event
Mathias Rust lands in Moscow
West German aviator Mathias Rust flew his Cessna 172 through Soviet air defenses, landing near Red Square in Moscow.
politicslaw
1995⚡ Event
Christopher Reeve's accident
American actor Christopher Reeve was thrown from his horse, leaving him quadriplegic. He later became an activist for people with spinal cord injuries.
entertainmentmedicine
1997⚡ Event
Jarrell tornado
A destructive F5-rated tornado tracked through a subdivision of homes northwest of Jarrell, Texas, killing 27 people.
disaster
1998⚡ Event
Afghanistan Earthquake
A magnitude-6.5 earthquake struck northern Afghanistan, killing at least 4,000 people and destroying over 30 villages.
disaster
1999⚡ Event
Olusegun Obasanjo takes office
President Olusegun Obasanjo took office as Nigeria's first elected and civilian head of state after 16 years of military dictatorship.
politics
1999⚡ Event
Eurovision Song Contest won by Sweden
Charlotte Perrelli, representing Sweden, won the Eurovision Song Contest, the first edition not to feature an orchestra or live accompaniment.
musicentertainment
2001⚡ Event
Dos Palmas kidnappings
Twenty tourists were kidnapped by Abu Sayyaf militants in Palawan, Philippines. This triggered a hostage crisis that lasted for over a year.
law
2002⚡ Event
Wimbledon F.C. relocation approved
An independent commission voted to allow Wimbledon F.C. to relocate from London to Milton Keynes.
sports
2006⚡ Event
Yogyakarta earthquake
A powerful earthquake struck near Yogyakarta, Indonesia, causing widespread damage and killing over 5,700 people.
disaster
2010⚡ Event
Train derailment in West Bengal, India
A train derailment and collision in West Bengal, India, caused the deaths of at least 148 passengers.
disaster
2011⚡ Event
Hands Across Hawthorne rally
Residents of Portland, Oregon, held a rally called Hands Across Hawthorne in response to an attack against a gay couple.
politics
2014⚡ Event
Kerala Blasters FC formed
The Indian football club Kerala Blasters FC and its first supporters' group, Manjappada, were formed.
sports
Famous Birthdays This Week(15)
2006🎂 Birth
Dommaraju Gukesh
Dommaraju Gukesh is the youngest contender to compete for the title of World Chess Champion.
sports
Notable Deaths This Week(15)
2018🕊️ Death
Jens Christian Skou
Jens Christian Skou was a Danish medical doctor and Nobel Prize laureate.
sciencemedicine
2020🕊️ Death
Larry Kramer
Larry Kramer, an American playwright, public health advocate, and LGBT rights activist, has died. He was born in 1935.
politicslaw
2021🕊️ Death
Poul Schlüter
Poul Schlüter, former Prime Minister of Denmark, has died. He was born in 1929.
politics
2021🕊️ Death
Gavin MacLeod
Gavin MacLeod, an American actor, Christian activist, and author, has died. He was born in 1931.
entertainment
2022🕊️ Death
Ronnie Hawkins
Ronnie Hawkins was an American rockabilly singer-songwriter and guitarist.
musicentertainment
2022🕊️ Death
Sidhu Moosewala
Sidhu Moosewala was an Indian singer, rapper, actor, and politician.
musicentertainmentpolitics
2023🕊️ Death
David Brewer
David Brewer was an English politician and Lord-Lieutenant of Greater London.
politics
2024🕊️ Death
Bill Walton
Bill Walton, an American basketball player and sportscaster, has died. He was born in 1952.
sports
2025🕊️ Death
Freddie Aguilar
Freddie Aguilar, Filipino musician and singer-songwriter, died.
musicentertainment
2025🕊️ Death
Bernie Kerik
Bernie Kerik was an American police officer, the 40th Police Commissioner of New York City, and served as interior minister of the Iraqi Coalition Provisional Authority.
politicslaw
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