Today in History: Einstein unveils general relativity field equations in 1915

The following are some of the major events that occurred on November 25 throughout history:

1491 – Treaty of Granada (Capitulations of Granada): On November 25, 1491, Abu Abdullah Muhammad XII (Boabdil), the last Muslim ruler of Granada, and Catholic Monarchs Ferdinand II and Isabella I signed the Treaty of Granada. This agreement formally surrendered Granada to the Spanish crown, ending the Granada War and marking the completion of the Reconquista – nearly 800 years of Islamic rule in Iberia. Its significance was profound: it unified Spain under Christian rule and paved the way for the rise of Spain as a global power in the Age of Exploration.

1758 – Capture of Fort Duquesne (French and Indian War): On November 25, 1758, British and Colonial American forces under General John Forbes took possession of Fort Duquesne (at the forks of the Ohio River) after the French burned it and withdrew. This victory effectively ended French control of the upper Ohio Valley in the Seven Years’ War, securing the region for Britain. The capture paved the way for British colonization of western Pennsylvania (the site became Fort Pitt and later Pittsburgh) and shifted the balance in North America toward the British, influencing the continent’s colonial future.

1783 – Evacuation Day (New York City): On November 25, 1783, nearly three months after the Treaty of Paris, the last British troops withdrew from New York City – the final British-held stronghold in the former American colonies. This withdrawal effectively ended British rule in the United States. General George Washington entered New York in triumph the same day, symbolizing the success of the American Revolution and the establishment of the United States’ full independence.

1915 – Einstein’s General Relativity Field Equations: On November 25, 1915, Albert Einstein presented the definitive field equations of his general theory of relativity to the Prussian Academy of Sciences. These equations – later published as “The field equations of gravitation” – provided the mathematical foundation for general relativity, reconceptualizing gravity as the curvature of spacetime. This was a milestone in science with global impact: it revolutionized physics and astronomy, predicting phenomena like light deflection by gravity (confirmed in 1919) and underpinning modern technologies (e.g. GPS) and cosmology.

1936 – Anti-Comintern Pact: On November 25, 1936, Nazi Germany and Imperial Japan signed the Anti-Comintern Pact, a mutual agreement ostensibly aimed against the Communist International (Comintern). This alliance was a cornerstone of Axis cooperation before World War II. By formally linking these major powers (Italy joined in 1937), it signaled a realignment of global forces against the Soviet Union and helped set the stage for the coming world war, making it a politically and militarily significant event on the global stage.

1952 – Premiere of The Mousetrap (London): On November 25, 1952, Agatha Christie’s play The Mousetrap debuted at the Ambassadors Theatre in London. The premiere marked the start of what would become the world’s longest-running stage production. Its significance lies in cultural history: The Mousetrap became an enduring international theatrical phenomenon and a symbol of popular culture’s reach, demonstrating how a single work of art can achieve lasting global impact in entertainment.

1960 – Assassination of the Mirabal Sisters (Dominican Republic): On November 25, 1960, three sisters (Patria, Minerva and María Teresa Mirabal), who were outspoken opponents of Dominican dictator Rafael Trujillo, were ambushed and beaten to death by Trujillo’s secret police. Their murder shocked the nation and inspired international outrage. Significantly, the Mirabals became martyrs for human rights; in 2000 the United Nations designated November 25 as the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women to honor their legacy and raise global awareness of gender-based violence.

1986 – Iran–Contra Affair Revealed (USA): On November 25, 1986, U.S. Attorney General Edwin Meese publicly announced that profits from clandestine arms sales to Iran had been illegally diverted to support Contra rebels in Nicaragua. This disclosure exposed the Iran–Contra scandal, a major Cold War political controversy. The revelation had worldwide ramifications: it undermined confidence in the Reagan administration, triggered congressional investigations, and highlighted the covert dimension of U.S. foreign policy, making it a defining event of the 1980s.

1992 – Dissolution of Czechoslovakia: On November 25, 1992, the Federal Assembly of Czechoslovakia voted to approve the separation of the country into two independent states. This act formally set the terms for the “Velvet Divorce” that took effect on January 1, 1993, creating the Czech Republic and Slovakia. The peaceful split was globally significant as an example of nonviolent resolution of ethnic and political tensions, reshaping Central Europe’s map after the Cold War and demonstrating a new model for state sovereignty and self-determination.

2000 – First UN International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women: On November 25, 2000, the United Nations General Assembly recognized the first International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women. The date was chosen to commemorate the 1960 assassination of the Mirabal sisters (see above). This event is significant globally as it institutionalized international attention on gender-based violence, mobilizing governments and organizations worldwide to address women’s rights and human rights, and establishing a recurring annual focus on combating violence against women across nations.