The world’s largest database of social change milestones from throughout human history
We are building the world’s largest database of social change milestones, from the first fire to today’s good news. Change is not only possible, it has happened consistently throughout human history.
Filter by era, country, topic, actor, source, and more. Submit your own milestones!
3899
social change milestones archived
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Era
- Agriculture (10000 - 3000 B.C.E.)
- Civilization (3000 B.C.E. - 500 C.E.)
- Modernity (1500 - 1945 C.E.)
- Post-classical (500 - 1500 C.E.)
- Post-modernity (1945 - 2016 C.E.)
- Prehistory (250000 - 10000 B.C.E.)
- Today (2017 C.E. - ???)
Year
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Filters
Search
Era
- Agriculture (10000 - 3000 B.C.E.)
- Civilization (3000 B.C.E. - 500 C.E.)
- Modernity (1500 - 1945 C.E.)
- Post-classical (500 - 1500 C.E.)
- Post-modernity (1945 - 2016 C.E.)
- Prehistory (250000 - 10000 B.C.E.)
- Today (2017 C.E. - ???)
Year
Topics
Region
Countries
State/Province
Institution
Sources
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2020 C.E. June 3Gay weddings boost U.S. economy by $3.8 billion since landmark ruling
Some $3.2 billion has been spent on weddings, while thousands of traveling wedding guests spent $544 million. The events generated an additional $244 million in state and local taxes, the research found.
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2020 C.E. June 3South Korea sends 10K masks to Navajo Nation to honor their service during Korean War
When the South Korean government realized that the Navajo Nation had been suffered infection rates of COVID-19 rivaling that of New York City, it shipped them 10,000 masks and other PPE to honor their service seven decades years ago to the East-Asian nation.
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2020 C.E. June 2Gay widower wins historic victory for Social Security benefits in federal court
The U.S. District Court for Arizona said that it was unconstitutional for the Social Security Administration (SSA) to deny benefits to LGBT+ spouses wed for less than nine months as same-sex unions were illegal in some U.S. states until 2015.
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2020 C.E. June 2EU pledges to raise $20 billion a year to boost biodiversity
The European Commission has committed to protecting 30% of the EU’s land and oceans by 2030. The 10-year plan includes reducing chemical pesticides by 50% and planting 3 billion trees by 2030.
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2020 C.E. June 1Tens of thousands around the world protest George Floyd’s death in global display of solidarity
Tens of thousands of protesters have marched in the US for six consecutive nights over the death of George Floyd at the hands of a police officer. Demonstrators now have gathered in London, Berlin and Auckland, among other cities, in solidarity with the US crowds.
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2020 C.E. June 1Spain introduces basic income scheme to tackle poverty
Spain's government has introduced a basic monthly income for struggling families amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The measure will affect about 2.3 million people in need and guarantees income of maximum $1,100 per family.
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2020 C.E.Giant media publisher Condé Nast pledges to become carbon-neutral by 2030
The publisher of Vogue, GQ, The New Yorker, Wired and others will also work with suppliers to transition to more sustainable materials, with a commitment to use 100% sustainably-sourced paper by the end of 2021.
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2020 C.E.World’s largest all-electric airplane takes historic first flight
The all-electric Cessna Grand Caravan 208B successfully completed its first test flight—and it is being hailed as a significant milestone in disrupting the transportation industry and accelerating the electric aviation revolution.
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2020 C.E. May 28Oman is building a massive 500 MW bifacial solar farm
Less than a decade ago, a 500 MW solar power plant would have been the largest in the world. Oman's new solar farm stand out in that it uses bifacial colar technology that can collect energy from the front side and the rear side.
-
2020 C.E. May 28Virginia decriminalizes cannabis
Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam signed legislation on Thursday that decriminalizes marijuana possession, joining a majority of states that have ceased treating the drug as a criminal offense.
-
2020 C.E. June 3Gay weddings boost U.S. economy by $3.8 billion since landmark ruling
Some $3.2 billion has been spent on weddings, while thousands of traveling wedding guests spent $544 million. The events generated an additional $244 million in state and local taxes, the research found.
-
2020 C.E. June 3South Korea sends 10K masks to Navajo Nation to honor their service during Korean War
When the South Korean government realized that the Navajo Nation had been suffered infection rates of COVID-19 rivaling that of New York City, it shipped them 10,000 masks and other PPE to honor their service seven decades years ago to the East-Asian nation.
-
2020 C.E. June 2Gay widower wins historic victory for Social Security benefits in federal court
The U.S. District Court for Arizona said that it was unconstitutional for the Social Security Administration (SSA) to deny benefits to LGBT+ spouses wed for less than nine months as same-sex unions were illegal in some U.S. states until 2015.
-
2020 C.E. June 2EU pledges to raise $20 billion a year to boost biodiversity
The European Commission has committed to protecting 30% of the EU’s land and oceans by 2030. The 10-year plan includes reducing chemical pesticides by 50% and planting 3 billion trees by 2030.
-
2020 C.E. June 1Tens of thousands around the world protest George Floyd’s death in global display of solidarity
Tens of thousands of protesters have marched in the US for six consecutive nights over the death of George Floyd at the hands of a police officer. Demonstrators now have gathered in London, Berlin and Auckland, among other cities, in solidarity with the US crowds.
-
2020 C.E. June 1Spain introduces basic income scheme to tackle poverty
Spain's government has introduced a basic monthly income for struggling families amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The measure will affect about 2.3 million people in need and guarantees income of maximum $1,100 per family.
-
2020 C.E.Giant media publisher Condé Nast pledges to become carbon-neutral by 2030
The publisher of Vogue, GQ, The New Yorker, Wired and others will also work with suppliers to transition to more sustainable materials, with a commitment to use 100% sustainably-sourced paper by the end of 2021.
-
2020 C.E.World’s largest all-electric airplane takes historic first flight
The all-electric Cessna Grand Caravan 208B successfully completed its first test flight—and it is being hailed as a significant milestone in disrupting the transportation industry and accelerating the electric aviation revolution.
-
2020 C.E. May 28Oman is building a massive 500 MW bifacial solar farm
Less than a decade ago, a 500 MW solar power plant would have been the largest in the world. Oman's new solar farm stand out in that it uses bifacial colar technology that can collect energy from the front side and the rear side.
-
2020 C.E. May 28Virginia decriminalizes cannabis
Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam signed legislation on Thursday that decriminalizes marijuana possession, joining a majority of states that have ceased treating the drug as a criminal offense.
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Submit a Milestone
Did we miss a social change milestone? What social progress have you seen around the world that I should include? Let us know!
NOTE: We cannot guarantee we will post all stories submitted here. We only post stories that represent milestones in human development (as opposed to “feel good” stories). We want something that would make sense to put on a timeline of human progress. For example, a story like “Random customer leaves a huge tip” isn’t a great fit. “Country X passes economic inequality reform bill” is a great fit.