Today in History: Velvet Revolution ends communist rule in Czechoslovakia in 1989

The following are some major events that occurred on November 24 throughout history:

380 – Theodosius I’s triumphant entry into Constantinople: Roman Emperor Theodosius I entered Constantinople in a formal ceremony on Nov. 24, 380, consolidating his power as sole ruler of the Roman Empire. This “adventus” solidified Constantinople’s status as an imperial capital and prefaced Theodosius’s decree making Nicene Christianity the state religion.

1221 – Mongol conquest at the Battle of the Indus: On Nov. 24, 1221, Genghis Khan defeated the Khwarazmian prince Jalal al-Din at the Battle of the Indus, completing the Mongol conquest of Central Asia. This victory extended the Mongol Empire into the Middle East and marked one of the largest land empires in history, profoundly reshaping Eurasian politics.

1639 – First observed transit of Venus: The first known transit of Venus recorded by humans took place on Nov. 24, 1639 (Julian calendar), when English astronomer Jeremiah Horrocks observed Venus crossing the Sun. Horrocks’s observation – the very first of its kind – was a milestone in astronomy, improving measurements of the solar system and advancing observational science worldwide.

1642 – Abel Tasman discovers Tasmania: Dutch navigator Abel Janszoon Tasman became the first European to sight the island of Van Diemen’s Land (later Tasmania) on Nov. 24, 1642. This discovery expanded European maps of the Pacific and contributed to global navigation and colonial history by linking Australasia to Western exploration.

1700 – Bourbon ascends Spanish throne (War of the Spanish Succession begins): On Nov. 24, 1700, King Louis XIV of France proclaimed his grandson Philip of Anjou as King Philip V of Spain, following the death of Spain’s Charles II. This succession triggered the War of the Spanish Succession, a major European conflict that realigned colonial empires and dynastic alliances across Europe and the Americas.

1859 – Darwin publishes On the Origin of Species: British naturalist Charles Darwin’s groundbreaking book On the Origin of Species was first published on Nov. 24, 1859. Introducing the theory of evolution by natural selection, this event revolutionized biology and had profound global impact on science, philosophy, and society by challenging prevailing ideas about life’s diversity.

1974 – Discovery of “Lucy” (Australopithecus afarensis): Anthropologist Donald Johanson uncovered the 3.2-million-year-old fossil skeleton nicknamed “Lucy” on Nov. 24, 1974, in Ethiopia. Lucy’s discovery provided the most complete early hominid skeleton then known, dramatically advancing understanding of human evolution and origins on a global scale.

1989 – Velvet Revolution ends communist rule in Czechoslovakia: Amid nationwide protests, the entire Presidium and Secretariat of the Czechoslovak Communist Party resigned on Nov. 24, 1989. This event effectively ended four decades of communist rule in Czechoslovakia, inspiring democratic movements across Eastern Europe and contributing to the collapse of the Soviet Bloc.

1991 – Death of Freddie Mercury: British rock icon Freddie Mercury died of AIDS-related bronchial pneumonia on Nov. 24, 1991. Mercury’s death was a major global cultural moment, raising international awareness of the AIDS epidemic and marking the loss of one of the world’s most famous musicians.

2013 – Iran signs interim nuclear agreement: On Nov. 24, 2013, Iran and the “P5+1” world powers (US, UK, France, China, Russia, and Germany) signed the Joint Plan of Action, an interim deal limiting Iran’s nuclear program in exchange for sanctions relief. This landmark agreement was a critical step in international diplomacy to prevent nuclear proliferation, affecting global security and Middle East politics.